If you’re like many other people, you have no idea where you want to go on your next vacation or trip. You just know you want to go ASAP, and your ready to get goin. Don’t fret if you’re not sure where to go, though. If you’re up for an exciting new adventure, we have some ideas. Instead of going to a typical destination, you can choose one of several big movie filming locations. You can go to the following places where popular actors and actresses have filmed huge movies.
1. Timberline Lodge — The Shining
The Timberline Lodge is one of the nation’s most popular big movie filming locations. It’s where certain parts of the classic movie ‘The Shining’ were filmed. Almost everyone remembers Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of a highly disturbed husband and father in the film.
Timberline Lodge is located in Timberline Lodge, Oregon, and has an average rating of about 4.5 stars on popular sites like Trip Advisor. Most people say they enjoyed the coziness and amenities when they stayed there. Fortunately, no one reported running into any creepy guys named Jack.
The lodge is conveniently located near mountains, bike trails, ski slopes, etc., and its scenery can fit a variety of occasions. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can go there on a ski trip with a couple of friends during the winter. Alternatively, you can use it as a wedding venue. At least six wedding venues exist at the site, including the theater, Barlow Room, Raven’s Nest, and Ullman Hall. They even have an outdoor setup for visitors who want to get married in nature. It will be a great choice for a new trip if you’re not easily frightened by dark nostalgia.
2. The Ohio State Reformatory — Shawshank Redemption
The Ohio State Reformatory is another one of the big movie filming locations you can consider visiting on your next trip. Actors starred in the 1994 film ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ at this Mansfield, Ohio correctional institution. The movie was about a man accused of committing a capital crime and sentenced to life in prison. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman played inmates in the movie, an amazing adaptation of one of the most popular Stephen King novels ever written.
You can’t stay at the reformatory, but you can take a trip to Mansfield, OH, and add it to your itinerary. The facility is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. up until 4 p.m. on weekends for walkthroughs and guided tours. The prices are pretty fair for such activities as well.
There are many things to do in Mansfield before or after you visit this popular movie filming location. For example, you can visit the Ohio Bird Sanctuary or the Richland Carousel Park. Of course, you can also walk the Shawshank Trail, but ensure you have a good criminal defense lawyer in your pocket before you go.
3. King’s Cross Station — Harry Potter
The King’s Cross Station might be your favorite one of the big movie filming locations if you’re a fan of the vastly known Harry Potter series of movies. It’s located in London and is a huge remodeled railway station that can get you to various parts of the UK. The railway station has doughnut shops, coffee shops, ice cream spots, gift stores, etc. You can even find a local cafe nearby.
King’s Cross Station is an interesting attraction, even if you don’t use the railway for traveling. You can also find many other attractions near the site. The London Canal Museum is an example of one place you can go. The Lower Stable Street Market is another. Consider visiting this site for a ‘magical’ experience if you like Harry Potter movies and have a passport to travel.
4. Devil’s Tower — Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Devil’s Tower can easily be one of the most intriguing big movie filming locations ever. It’s the filming site for a portion of the movie ‘Close Encounters of a Third Kind.’ The 1977 Sci-Fi movie featured Richard Dreyfuss, Melinda Dillon, and others, and it’s about encounters with UFOs and aliens. It’s a great tourist site if you’re a nostalgic sci-fi fan.
There is much to do at Devil’s Tower. For one, you can walk or drive around the park to sight-see and capture images for social media. Just ensure you get new car tires for the trip because it will be a bumpy ride. If you’re an adventurous soul, you can get some adrenaline pumping by climbing mountains. Such activities are available on the site. Alternatively, you can get more in tune with nature by going on an exciting camping trip. The site is typically open 24 hours a day, and the entry fee is inexpensive. You might want to consider visiting if you adore mountains and being in the outdoors.
5. Point Dume — Planet of the Apes
Point Dume is a spot you can consider as one of the big movie filming locations. It was where parts of the original ‘Planet of the Apes’ movie were filmed. Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowell were in the movie, and the move was an adaptation of a book called La Planète des Singes written by French author, Pierre Boules.
Point Dume is in Malibu, California, and offers a wealth of activities and adventures. You can swim, surf, rock climb, or ride a skiff if you visit the area. Beach locations are best for people looking for peace, serenity, and beautiful water. If that sounds like you, maybe you should consider making some reservations.
6. The Philadelphia Museum of Art — Rocky
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is another big music filming location worth seeing on your next trip. It’s the home of filming for the ‘Rocky’ movie, starring Sylvester Stallone. The site is on Benjamin Franklin Parkway and houses a magnificent collection of classic artwork from various cultures.
You’ll have access to American, Contemporary, East Asian, and South Asian artwork you can admire. Tickets can be pretty pricey, but the facility offers promotional discounts, senior citizen discounts, and access to group rates. The museum isn’t the only site in Philadelphia. You can also plan a few other stops while staying in the city of brotherly love. The Liberty Bell is a beautiful historical site you can see, for example. The Eastern State Penitentiary is another.
Visiting some older businesses, like the local pressure washing company, is a good idea, too. You can also visit one of the many restaurants and diners in the area if you want to have a Philly cheese steak for the first time in your life. It’s a great place to visit if you’re interested in spending time in one of the most historical cities in the world.
7. Doune Castle — The Monty Python and the Holy Grail
‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ is one of the funniest and most popular comedy movies of the late 70s and early 80s era. Doune Castle is one of the big movie filming locations where scenes from the flick took place. The site is in Castlehill, Dune, in Scotland, and is currently open for viewing. You can schedule a long and insightful guided tour at the site or visit at your leisure. You can also rent a cottage and retreat there for serenity and solace.
You’ll find many other things to do in the same town as Doune Castle. Deaston Distillery is a place you can go if you want to grab some good food. Drummond Safari Park is another location you can put on your itinerary. This spot is great if you have children who like animals.
Stirling Old Towne Jail might be a place to visit if you want to see a historical punitive site. Argaty Red Kites is a site to frequent if you want to do bird watching. Many species of birds hang out in that location. You could get a bunch of snapshots for your social media accounts just from that single location. You can find just about anything in the area, even a stone service provider.
9. Hotel Sidi Driss — Star Wars
You’ll love staying at Hotel Sidi Driss if you’re an avid fan of one or all parts of the ‘Star Wars’ movie franchise. It’s considered one of the big movie filming locations because part of the ‘New Hope’ movie was filmed there. The hotel is in Matmata, which is a town in Tunisia. You can plan an exotic vacation in this captivating area and tell all your family members and friends that you have been to a Star Wars movie site. Of course, you’ll have to be able to speak the language of the natives, but Han Solo didn’t seem to have a problem with it.
Matmata may not be a huge vacation spot with a janitor on every floor, but you can still find an array of things to do there. Have you ever ridden a camel? You could have your first experience there? Do you like sporting events? There are plenty of such activities to watch. Alternatively, you can choose to go on a Star Wars set tour and enjoy that alone. Consider visiting this interesting area if you want your trip to be unique and uncharted by many people.
9. Griffith Observatory — Rebel Without a Cause
The Griffith Observatory is yet another one of those big movie filming locations you might love. Some of the movie ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ was filmed there. You’ll enjoy the nostalgia if you’re old enough to appreciate Jimmy Dean and Natalie Wood. If you aren’t, you’ll enjoy it because of its beauty and everything it offers. The observatory is open daily from 12-10 p.m. and is in the heart of Los Angeles. You can observe the sky, check out interesting scientific exhibits, or attend special events. You’ll also have other places to visit in the town, such as popular restaurants, shopping malls, and the local mechanic shop.
A wealth of attractions and activities are available in Los Angeles. For one, you can visit the Getty Center or Huntington Library. Griffith Park Tea House is a great place for food and hot beverages. You can also visit the Hollywood sign, which is one of the biggest landmarks in the entire world. Gift shops, shopping malls, and theaters are also vastly spread across the area. You might have to spend a few days in Los Angeles to finish everything on your list.
10. Petra — Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Petra is an ancient city where producers filmed many scenes in the ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ movie. Any fan of the Indiana Jones franchise will like visiting this area. There are many things you can do while you’re in Petra. One thing you can do is visit the High Place of Sacrifice. You can also stop by the Temple of Winged Lions or visit the Petra Museum. Another thing to do when you are in the area is to spend some time sitting down and having a delicious meal. You have at least two options for those activities. You have Petra Kitchen and the Basin Restaurant, both gorgeous locations. Why not grab a bite of some authentic Jordanian food while you’re there?
Petra is also a great place to look for antiques or have your antique items appraised. You can find a good antique appraiser office and a few other places with a little bit of research and then take care of business like Indiana Jones. Get ready for an unforgettable experience!
Now you have a few ideas about big movie filming locations you can visit. You can plan a vacation around any site in the piece and have a wonderful time. You’ll probably have the best time at big movie filming locations that are family to you. You can use this list if you know a lot of the movies on it.
Alternatively, you can think of some additional movies and filming sites on your own that might be fun and interesting. It’s all about having a good time and making memories. As long as you enjoy yourself, it doesn’t matter where you choose to go. Have fun!