In honor of John Hughes’ passing today, I’m rerunning one of our first posts and the road trip that was the inspiration for this site. RIP John, we won’t forget about you…
If you don’t know what the Brat Pack is, this road trip isn’t for you. For everyone else, we have compiled a list of the quintessential Brat Pack movies- Class , Sixteen Candles , The Breakfast Club , Weird Science , About Last Night , and Pretty in Pink and set out to find their locations. So get out your favorite mixed tape and a pair of leg warmers and lets hit the road!
Now, we should also add that this road trip could actually be called “Brat Packing Across the Prairie State” since we never have to leave Illinois to see locations used in each of our Brat Pack movies. This is in part due to the fact that Illinois is the home state of John Hughes.
John Hughes was the uber-director of the 1980s who happened to direct four of the films on our list, three of which star Molly Ringwald-what a team! All of you thirtysomethings remember spending Saturday nights watching these movies wishing you were Molly Ringwald or wishing you could get with Molly Ringwald, well, now you can stand in her footsteps, literally.
We’ll start in Elgin, Il. for our first Hughes film and the only film where we don’t see a filming location per se. Elgin is the speculated setting for Pretty in Pink. A street sweeper in the film has the word “Elgin” emblazoned on it’s side but this is also the name of a company that makes street sweepers so we leave this portion of the trip to your discretion. Unfortunately, we need to travel across the country to see locations actually used in the film, like the high school, which is John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, CA.
Next we move to 2300 Shermer Road, Northbrook, IL where we find Glenbrook North High School. If you walk to the back of the school you will see the football field Judd Nelson walks across in the final scene of The Breakfast Club. We can just see you now, walking across the field, fist in the air…..
While still in Northbrook we can check off one of the locations for our next film, Sixteen Candles. Remember that dreamy scene at the end of the movie when Sam (Molly Ringwald) walks out of the church and there is her crush Jake Ryan(Michael Schoeffling) waiting across the street? You can find the church, Glencoe Union Church, at 263 Park Avenue.
Travelling south to Des Plaines, Illinois, specifically, 9511 Harrison Street, we’ll find the Illinois State Police Station. This police station was once the Maine North High School which was used as the exterior of the high school in The Breakfast Club during the Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald kiss; you know the one where she gives him one of her diamond earrings, aw, so sweet.
Then we head to Skokie and kill two birds with one stone. If you make your way to 7700 Lincoln Ave you will find Oakton Community College which was once the site of Niles East High School used in both Sixteen Candles and Weird Science. Though it is sad the majority of the school has been torn down, part of the building remains and the name of the school can still be seen on the flag post in front of the college.
This leaves us with 2 non-Hughes movies, Class and About Last Night. It also brings us to the city of Chicago. The club featured in About Last Night was Mother’s at 26 W. Division St in Chicago. Now there is also some debate over whether they actually used Mother’s for the exterior shots or Bootleggers at 12 w. Division St, they are in the same block, we say check them both out- that is what any true Brat Packer would do. Mother’s is also the real life location of the Free and Easy club in Class. So you can hit two bars and two films in the same block, Chicago is a great town!
While you are enjoying the Brat Pack locations of Illinois, check out what else the state has to offer and for something more offbeat try this. We hope you enjoy your walk down memory lane!
To get directions for this road trip click on the map below!
Tagged as:
About Las Night,
Class,
Pretty in Pink,
Sixteen Candles,
The Breakfast Club,
Weird Science
Any photos, questions, non-urgent requests or information sent to us between Monday, July 20th and Tuesday, July 28th will not be answered or posted until Wednesday, July, 29th.
We will still be updating all location information on a daily basis (at least once a day). Please post any updates throughout the day in the comments, it would be much appreciated! Thanks!
And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, we’ll be sending out updates via Twitter too!
Tagged as:
OLV
We have been flooded with emails from Fringe fans who are in sightings withdrawal since the show left NYC and is now filming in Vancouver.
We would love to get a few tipsters in “Hollywood North” who could keep us up-to-date on where the show is filming! And you all know I personally love any updates I can get on my beloved Joshua Jackson.
Not to mention, a little movie called Eclipse begins filming in Vancouver in August and we’re hoping to get some help with that one too!
If you are in Vancouver and spot Fringe (or any other production) filming, please send us an email at olv@onlocationvacations.com!
In the meantime, even though they are the bane of my existence for stealing my information, Spoiler TV did have a few awesome set pictures from Fringe this week, here’s a look at a few, you can find more here. (Thanks to Rand for the head’s up!) (Update: SpoilerTV and OLV are friends again:))
Tagged as:
Fringe
On Location Tours’ Gossip Girl Sites Tour is celebrating Chuck Bass’ (Ed Westwick’s) Birthday!! This special tour will be dedicated to “all things Chuck.” Birthday cupcakes, Chuck Bass trivia, and a contest for best dressed Gossip Girl character will be the order of the day. You can also enter the costume contest, whoever has the best Gossip Girl character costume will win a Gossip Girl-themed gift basket!
The bus tour departs from midtown Manhattan on Friday, June 26th at 12 Noon-3:30pm.
The cost is $40 per ticket. You can purchase tickets here (choose the June 26th 12 pm tour). Plus we have an exclusive offer for OLV readers! When you purchase your Gossip Girl Tour Tickets, use the promo code OLV09 and receive 10% off your tickets!
Tagged as:
Gossip Girl
Two years ago we created our Scary Excursion which we think is the perfect fall road trip. This year we decided to expand that trip to the west coast and make a special California edition of our horror movie themed road trip! And this trip doesn’t include just any scary movies, it takes you to the locations used in by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock.
The first stop is Bodega, CA, the filming location of The Birds. Many of the original locations still stand, including the church where they found refuge, located on Bodega Highway. If you would like more location information check out Roadside America and for more on Bodega Bay check out the official site.
The next stop is San Francisco, the backdrop for the film Vertigo. Some of the locations used in the film have been torn down but most still exist and are still celebrating their place in cinematic history as featured in a recent USA Today story. The story also points out that no Vertigo tour is complete without venturing to the mission used in the film’s final scene.
No Vertigo fan should miss the two-hour drive south to sleepy little San Juan Bautista, where the largest of California’s 21 Spanish missions served as the setting for the film’s dizzying finale. The church welcomes visitors, but the tall bell tower that terrified Scottie doesn’t exist: Built in a studio, it was added to the real mission via special effects.
After leaving San Fran head down to Bakersfield, used in North By Northwest (even though the movie was primarily filmed on the east coast). The scene where Cary Grant’s character is attacked by a crop duster was filmed just off of Garces Highway. From Bakersfield take Route 99 to L.A., driving scenes in Psycho were filmed along this route.
Once in L.A. check out the Arboretum and Botanic Gardens: The Arboretum of Los Angeles County where scenes for Notorious were filmed. We’ve mapped out the entire route for you here. So get packing and hit the road for another scary excursion, if you still dare!
Tagged as:
Alfred Hitchcock,
Road Trip,
Scary Excursion
A few weeks ago Budget Travel Magazine featured a story entitled We Stalked George Clooney that chronicled the journey of four girlfriends on a vacation to Lake Cuomo, Italy. Intrigued by the idea of finding travel inspiration in not only a favorite celebrity’s movies but also their vacation destinations, I have created a fun road trip through the best of the west.
Santa Fe, NM
Shirley MacLaine may be famous for exploring her past lives but in this one she calls Santa Fe, NM home. The Quintessential Southwestern spirit of Santa Fe can be felt in its many cultural, historical, and recreational destinations but this city has a few tricks up its sleeve too. First, the galleries of Canyon Road open their doors on Friday nights to create one large open air exhibit. Another surprise is gourmet tailgating at the Santa Fe Opera.
Taos, New Mexico
Taos, NM is where Julia Roberts calls home when she isn’t working. Taos draws visitors from across the country for its variety of spas and retreats. Views of fiery sunsets against the dry desert landscape make the perfect backdrop for getting away from it all.
Telluride, CO
The third stop on our road trip is probably the most exciting for star seekers, Telluride, CO, a.k.a Tomkat’s home away from home. The town’s summers are packed with festivals drawing tourists from around the globe but it is Telluride’s funky charm and breathtaking views that keeps them coming back year round.
Aspen, CO
Finally, our trip ends in Aspen, Co, where Goldie Hawn’s clan famously spends Christmas and Mariah Carey goes skiing. Even if you aren’t a skiier, Aspen offers plenty of opportunities for great food and relaxing spa treatments.
The entire road trip is approximately 547 miles and would take 12 hours if driven non-stop. You can see the route below. Or step off the beaten path and take the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway while en route from Taos to Telluride. For fun, check out each of these star’s vacation homes on Google Earth. Simply search for the city or town and the actor (Telluride, CO Tom Cruise) and Google Earth will fly you by!
Tagged as:
Road Trip
With the rising cost of gas, many travelers are looking for an alternative to the traditional family road trip or cross country flight. Train travel may be the perfect option for the budget conscious vacationer this summer. If you are looking for an inexpensive “on location vacation”, take a ride on the rails and see some of film’s most famous locations.
Most train service offers an array of amenities including at seat outlets for DVD players or laptops, adjustable lighting, roomy seats, and a café car. If you choose to upgrade to first class there is even a hot meal service. The train is stress free, eco-friendly, safe, and reliable. The best part is you can keep your shoes on while boarding!
Taking the train from Boston to Philadelphia (or vice versa) is perfect because unlike other parts of the country you will never need a car as each train station on the route is centrally located. A one way ticket from Boston to Philadelphia (with a stop in NYC) is only $132. (All prices are subject to change.)
Boston Commons
Boston’s Movie Mile is located in the Beacon Hill area of the city within walking distance to dozens of hotels, historic sites, and the South Street Station. The route also cuts through the Boston Common, the starting point for the Freedom Trail and one of the first known public parks in the United States.
Trailers for Indy in New Haven
New Haven, CT is worth a stop over between Boston and New York and will cost only $43 for the regional service from Boston. From the train station it is less than a mile to the location where Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was filmed between College and High Sts on the Yale campus. There are several restaurants and shops in this vicinity, including the usual Starbucks or Au Bon Pain. A one way ticket to NYC is only $32 from New Haven. This is a real bargain considering the expense of tolls and parking in the city.
Meryl Streep On Location in NYC
In New York there are endless possibilities for things to do including watching a movie being made. On any given day there are between 30-40 productions in the NYC area. For a list of filming locations, you can always check out our daily filming locations. If you are travelling as a couple, take a look at our We Love NY walking tour for a more romantic way to spend the day. Best of all, considering the gas money you are saving you can actually afford a night or two in the Big Apple.
Rocky Running Up Those Famous Steps
A ticket to Philadelphia from New York will only set you back about $61. You won’t want to miss running up the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art just like Rocky. Philadelphia draws most of its visitors because of its rich history. But there is plenty else going on in the city this summer including “screenings under the stars”.
After a few relaxing days on the train, you’ll feel refreshed and ready for anything. You also won’t have to worry about someone seeing you naked before you can get back home!
Tagged as:
Road Trips
