A Star Stalking Western Road Trip
September 4, 2008 by Christine · Leave a Comment
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!
Boston to Philadelphia, On the Rails and On Location
July 4, 2008 by Christine · Leave a Comment
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!
OLV INTERNATIONAL Road Trip: The Enchanting Locations of Stardust
September 1, 2007 by Christine · Leave a Comment
Stardust, in theaters now, may not have this summer’s biggest box office numbers but it does have this summer’s most stunning scenery.
This fairy tale with a big name cast including Robert DeNiro, Michelle Pfieffer, and Claire Danes, was filmed during the spring and summer of 2006 in the UK. Here is a guide to four of the main locations used in filming, for a list of all locations, check imdb.com.
Much of the film was made in Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands. We stumbled across the Highland Council’s report on filming in Ross. The document states they had nothing but positive feedback from the location manager and that they were hoping to double the amount of revenue they made in filming from the year before. Here is a list of hotels in the area. This site also contains information about what there is to do and special events taking place year round.
Road Trip Round Up
June 1, 2007 by Christine · Leave a Comment
Take A Look At Our Road Trips!
Don’t Forget We have compiled a few fun theme road trips for you! Check them out below to get stated on your very own On Location Vacation!
Our Valentine’s Day trip, “We Love NY”, takes us on a special walking tour of New York City landmarks that have been featured in our favorite romantic movies. We start at the Empire State Building and end in Riverside Park where Meg Ryan (Kathleen Kelly) and Tom Hanks (Joe Fox) finally find love in You’ve Got Mail. Bring your sweetheart along to experience all of the charm of New York in winter.
Our December trip, “Have A Holly Jolly Road Trip” starts in Cleveland, Ohio for a tour of the Parker family home. After leaving Cleveland we hit New York City for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and end our trip in Vermont to experience the charm of New England in winter.
Our “Scary Excursion” brings us from Cape Cod to Washington D.C. and every scary site in between. We visit the apartment building seen in Rosemary’s Baby and the lake where we first saw Jason in Friday the 13th as well as other classic horror film locations! This trip is great for fall so come along, if you dare.
Why not take a trip down memory lane on our “Brat Packing Across America” road trip. We never have to leave Illinois to see the coolest locations from our favorite Brat Pack movies. So get out your walkman and leg warmers for some ’80s style fun!
OLV Road Trip: We Love New York
Forget Paris, for our money the most romantic city in the world is New York and countless filmmakers agree with us. This city has been the backdrop for some of the most romantic movies ever made which is why our Valentine’s Day road trip is actually a special walking tour of NYC landmarks that have been used in our favorite romantic movies.
We start off at the Empire State Building, an icon of romance. From King Kong to Sleepless in Seattle and its predecessor An Affair to Remember the Empire State Building has been used in film to bring couples together or sooth the aching hearts of those who can’t be. It is mandatory to include such a famed location on our walk but we have to admit, it may not be worth the price of admission. The lines are always long and when you finally reach the top you have to fight through tour groups and vendor’s booths to see anything. It is not exactly Hollywood magic but it is a must see so go early and get it over with.
We have a long walk ahead as we start up Fifth Avenue to Tiffany’s. You may want to take your time and do some window shopping, stop in to St. Patrick’s or watch skaters at Rockefeller Center. This stretch is probably one of the best walks in New York. If you aren’t up for it, since there is still a long way to go on our journey, you can always find a cab, subway, horse and carriage, or bus, NY has it all!
Of course our stop at Tiffany’s is an homage to the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s where Audrey Hepburn is looking longingly into the front window of Tiffany’s. After gazing in the famous window yourself be sure to step inside and take it all in. Next you can take a walk over to The Plaza. They are in the process of turning this famous hotel into residences so you may not be able to get too close but even from a distance this building has charm and majesty. The Plaza was featured in several romantic movies including The Way We Were and Barefoot in the Park.
After you have taken a stroll by The Plaza cross the street to Central Park. Central Park is the gem of this romantic walking tour. There are so many romantic movies that have been filmed in the park it is hard to know where to begin. Serendipity, When Harry Met Sally, Two Weeks Notice, and Kate and Leopold all include scenes shot in Central Park. The Boat House, Wollman Rink, and Strawberry Fields are all picturesque anytime of year. There is nothing more romantic than walking hand in hand through the park or even just sitting down on a park bench watching the world pass by. Take your time passing through or come back when you can spend the whole day, it is worth it.
We continue on to The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center. This opera house was the setting of a dream night for Ronny (Nicholas Cage) since he is finally able to enjoy both of his loves together (opera and Loretta played by Cher) in Moonstruck. From here we move on to Riverside Park, it is lovely, a different vibe from Central Park but equally romantic. This is the park where Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly (Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan respectively) finally meet again in You’ve Got Mail.
By now you will be hungry so what better way to end your day than with a Gray’s Papaya hot dog? These were Alex Whitman’s (played by Matthew Perry) favorite in Fools Rush In, the same hot dogs Isabel (Selma Hayek) had shipped to him for his birthday in Nevada. How romantic! If you want something more upscale, head back into the park for Tavern on the Green, this opulent restaurant is perfect for a romantic dinner just for two.
This wraps up our walking tour of New York and we are exhausted just writing about it. Hope you enjoy the beauty of New York in winter as much as we do! To see directions and addresses for all of the locations on our walking tour click on the map below.
OLV Road Trip: Brat Packing Across America
January 10, 2007 by Christine · Leave a Comment
For this trip we will hit landmarks from all 6 movies, so get out your favorite mixed tape and leg warmers so we can hit the road!
Now we should also add that this road trip should 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 also 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 will 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.
Now we will travel south to Des Plaines, Illinois, specifically, 9511 Harrison Street, where you will 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 with OLV!
To get directions for this road trip click on the map below!
OLV Road Trip: Holly Jolly Road Trip
December 11, 2006 by Christine · Leave a Comment
Christmas is a hectic time for everyone. Our Holly Jolly Road Trip lets you get away while still enjoying the season. This trip starts in Cleveland, OH, the real home of A Christmas Story. The house used in the film is now open for tours and after a tour you can stop by Higbee’s Department Store to say hello to Santa. There is plenty to do in the Cleveland area during the holiday season, check it out here.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is not only the setting for the 1947 movie Miracle on 34th Street but also an unforgettable experience everyone should have. If you decide to go to the parade remember to get there early and don’t forget your mittens, it is New York in November after all. If Thanksgiving is a little too soon to start your Holly Jolly Road Trip there is plenty to do in the Big Apple throughout the holiday season. Check out the windows at Macy’s, see the Rockettes, or watch the tree lighting in Rockefeller Center. New York is magical at Christmastime and you don’t want to miss a thing!
One snag in planning a great holiday movie road trip is that many of these classic films were made on studio stages, not actually on location. We try to capture the same cozy atmosphere of New England in winter that we feel when watching Holiday Inn, White Christmas, and Christmas in Connecticut by exploring two different inn tours that capture exactly what we are looking for, snow on the window, a cozy fire, and plenty of treats! The Inn to Inn Cookie Tour in New Hampshire is just as it sounds, quaint and delicious, a great way to kick off your holiday season. Seventeen local Inns in the Mount Washington Valley provide sweet treats to sample. You do not have to stay at one of the inns but if you do your pass for the tour is free.
The Holiday Inns Tour is another way to experience a bit of New England holiday charm. This tour offers refreshments at eight historic inns in Southern Vermont. This holiday road trip is a great getaway for couples, families, or singles, to enjoy the holidays without the hustle and bustle.
Here is a link for directions. Happy Road Tripping and Happy Holidays from all of us at On Locations Vacations!
OLV Road Trip: Our Scary Excursion
Our Northeast Scary Excursion is perfect for the fall. Many towns along the route have fall festivals, apple picking, and beautiful fall foliage. If you dare try our route, we start in Martha’s Vineyard, home of the movie that made us all afraid of the water, and we end in Washington D.C. in search of the world’s most famous exorcism.
Many of the scenes in the movie Jaws were filmed off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, specifically, Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, so we start our scary excursion here. There is plenty to do after paying homage to Spielberg’s scariest creature. Spend some time exploring the island, Martha’s Vineyard is full of great shopping, hiking, and um, water sports, anytime of year. For more information about Martha’s Vineyard take a look at Martha’s Vineyard Online.
Our next stop brings us into the heart of the Big Apple. To see the location of Rosemary’s Baby take a walk by the Dakota Apartments at One West 72nd St. Beatles fans will take a special interest in the building since this is also where John Lennon was shot in 1980. Fans still flock here from all over the world to pay their respects. Of course there are endless amounts of attractions in NYC. Take in a play, hit a museum, walk through Times Square or if you want to continue to scare yourself silly check out this link for walking tours of New York’s best haunted places.
Next we set out for Camp No Be Bo Sco just south of Blairstown, NJ on Route 818 in New Jersey. Friday the 13th was filmed here. The exact address is 11 SandPond Rd and the Lake is actually called Lake Cedar (in the movie it was called Camp Crystal Lake). This is where Jason made his first appearance- ever.
From New Jersey we head to Burkittsville MD, home of the Blair Witch. The movie, The Blair Witch Project was shot in Seneca Creek State Park, 25 miles west of Burkittsville (it was called the Black Hills Forest in the film). The house that was used in the film is also near by and can be found in the Patapsco Valley State Park in Ellicot City. Even though Burkittsville might have a bad rep it actually has a quaint historic district and is a great place for an afternoon stroll, just be sure not to get lost! For more information check out their website here.
For our grand finale we pay a visit to the country’s capital and home to what is arguably the scariest movie ever made. Many of the exterior shots used in The Exorcist were filmed at 36th Street NW, Georgetown, Washington D.C. Like, New York, Washington D.C. has countless activities especially for history buffs most of which you can find here.
That wraps up our Scary Excursion but if you can’t quite let go, head over to The J. Edgar Hoover FBI Headquarters. This building’s exterior was used several times in The Silence of the lambs.
To get directions for this road trip click here.
