My Favorite Travel Movies

Well here we are, just past Independence Day weekend. And generally the kick off for summer vacations. If you’re like me as soon as the weather starts to warm up and the days get longer you begin pining for some time away from the hum-drum of your daily existence. That might take the form of jetting off to a Mexican beach, taking the family to Yellowstone National Park as a “rite of passage” trip, or simply tossing your dogs in the back seat and road tripping down Highway 1 through the verdant shade of the pines in Big Sur.

Whatever your vacation of choice is I find there is nothing better than a good old movie to whet my appetite for some windshield time. Below are some of my favorites (in no particular order) but because I’m a little OCD…they are grouped topographically and/or geographically:

Mountains

Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana

A River Runs Through It – Quite possibly my favorite Brad Pitt movie because he was at his most “Robert Redford”-ness. Nothing calls me back to my care-free childhood summers like watching the early scenes of that movie when the boys are young and just goofing off in the river during the summer…throwing rocks, fishing, etc. The backdrop of the Canadian Rockies is simply breath taking. If you enjoy the mountains in summer, I’d highly suggest reading my post from last summer at Glacier National Park, MT. What an extraordinary place. Highly recommend the “Glamping” option over the high cost of the park lodges and simply the ickyness of camping on your own on the ground with rocks in your back and no plumbing. Just sayin’…

Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

Brave Heart/Skyfall – If you need some “heritage site” inspiration I highly suggest these two movies. Nowhere else will you get these cinematographic sweeping views of the Scottish Highlands. Though not as high as our mountains in the US…the Highlands are not without their rugged charm. The way the mist appears out of nowhere and seems to cradle these craggy, rolling hills in mystery is otherworldly. If you’re a fall traveler like me…fall is a wonderful time to go there.

Band of Brothers – This HBO mini-series is one of my all-time favorite WWII series. I watch it every time it’s on TV…and consistently ask for the boxed DVD set every year for Christmas. But I digress…the shots near the end of the series after they’ve survived Bastogne where they are in the Swiss Alps are mesmerizing. The Alpine lake surrounded by mountains and blue sky is visually like popping an Altoid in your mouth…so refreshing and minty! Note to self…if you don’t have the $$$ for an Alpine Adventure, why not check out some of our state-side options? The Cascades through Washington and Oregon have some beautiful alpine lakes as do the Rockies up around Jackson Hole, WY and Swan Valley, ID.

Europe/Cities

Amelie – This is a sweet little French movie that I absolutely adore. It embodies everything that is sweet and storybook-like about Paris. If you’re planning a Parisian escape this summer, add this to your movie list while you’re packing. It will get you SO excited to visit this beautiful “city of lights” and all its unique cafes and patisseries. And as a bonus…you might pick up some French words since it’s subtitled.

Love Actually – though this movie takes place at Christmas I find there is never a bad time to watch it…especially if you’re gearing up for a London excursion. This movie is “so London” watching it is like watching a movie filmed in your home town. The value of this movie, visually, is that it doesn’t pander to the major tourist attractions of London (The Tower, The Bridge, Westminster, Big Ben, etc)…but rather spends most of the time meandering thru the little side streets of the West Bank and Covent Garden. If you want a true Londoner’s vision of that city…watch this movie.

Under the Tuscan Sun – now I had a hard time deciding whether to put this under “beach” or “Europe” since, when I think of this movie, I always think of the scenes shot in Positano a gem of the Amalfi Coast. Now I don’t say “the” gem of the Amalfi Coast for a reason and that’s because I think Amalfi itself is the true gem. Positano is great, but touristy, overpriced, and crowded. Amalfi, on the other hand, is just a short drive (or in my case a bus ride) away from “Posi” and is far more genuine. If you want the true Amalfi Coast experience…take my advice and skip a little further south to the true heart of Amalfi.

A Good Year – The movie version of “A Year in Provence” is another stunner for those hoping to take a summer vacay to the south of France. This movie makes me want to throw on a little cotton, wispy dress, rent a Vespa and hit the dusty back roads of rural France. Or, if we’re honest, the dusty back rural roads of just about anywhere.

Beaches

Jaws – So…I highly considered leaving this one off of the list simply due to all the REAL shark attacks we’ve been seeing daily up and down the east coast. However, it seemed dishonest to leave it off. Martha’s Vineyard is the site for this classic. If you remove the menacing, mechanical shark…you’re left with a beautiful New England beach town in the ‘70s. Which, when you look at Martha’s Vineyard now…hasn’t changed a whole lot from the ‘70s and therein lies its charm.

Momma Mia – Watching Meryl Streep sing and ludicrously  trip around a Greek Island was slightly annoying (and I LOVE her), but the scenery! Oh. My. GAWD. The scenery. If that movie doesn’t make you want to jump on the first flight to Mykonos…I don’t know what will. The azure water, the whitewashed cottages…I’m relaxing just thinking about it!

White Squall – This movie was shot primarily in Charleston, SC. An absolutely gorgeous colonial city on its own…but add in some sailboats (and a very tan, younger Jeff Bridges) and I’m thoroughly IN. Ignore the fact that the boat sinks and nearly everyone drowns. The gorgeous pre-disaster sailing scenes are worth renting this movie…and Jeff Bridges of course.

Cannon Beach, OR

Goonies – Most people would not necessarily think of this as a “beach movie” BUT…it was shot at Cannon Beach the home of Haystack Rock…aka the rock where One Eye’s Willies ship was hidden. I LOVE summer in the Northwest. The Seattle-ites have a saying “visit after the 4^th of July when it stops raining”. Although Cannon Beach is in Oregon…I find the same holds true there. This is a gorgeous little, seaside village that is more up-scale. Not crazy expensive…but more like the west coast version of Martha’s Vineyard. So quaint. So friendly. I love it here. It’s, hands down, one of my favorite places on God’s beautiful earth. Watch “Goonies” and then go here.

Charlie St. Cloud – Don’t judge. I’m perfectly self-aware enough to admit that I have a little thing for Zac Effron. I think we can all admit (now that he’s legal) that he’s VERY pretty. However, he is not the main reason I watch this movie over and over…it’s the gorgeous British Columbia scenery. I’m totally stoked because I’m headed there this summer as a little “mini-break” after a work trip to Seattle. Again, this is a movie with sailboats. Sorry…I’m starting to see a trend here as I type this. Most of this movie was shot in the Vancouver area and spotlights stunning coastline comprised of craggy rock cliffs covered with giant pines.

Love and Mercy – I was really excited to see this movie this summer. I love the Beach Boys and have been intrigued with Brian Wilson’s “tortured genius” reputation. Add to this John Cusack is playing said genius and I’m totally in. Readers…if you have not seen this movie…do yourself a favor and go see it NOW. This is an absolutely beautiful movie about one man’s struggle with mental illness, the a-holes who preyed on him, and the woman who finally “saved” him. See this movie especially if you’re planning a trip to southern California…LA area.

Aloha – I was really excited to see this movie this summer namely because of the cast. Okay…namely because of Bradley Cooper AND because it’s a Cameron Crowe movie. I love Cameron Crowe movies…or perhaps I should say I LOVED Crowe movies. This one is a stinker. Even the gorgeous Hawaiian seascapes aren’t enough to salvage this movie. No plot. Bad dialogue. Not even a good soundtrack and he’s KNOWN for good soundtracks! Nancy please come back! He’s lost without you!!! Skip this one. If you’re headed to Hawaii…I suggest re-watching “LOST” on Netflix.

 

Random USA

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – I love this movie because it’s based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, my favorite American author, but also because it’s shot primarily in New Orleans. New Orleans is such an amazing city. Nowhere else FEELS quite like New Orleans. There is so much history and culture in this city that it’s worth a visit. I’d suggest visiting closer to the fall…not so much in July or August unless you simply like to sweat. A lot. When you go…stay in the French Quarter or the Garden District as you’ll want to walk the cobbled streets here.

The Hangover – What do I think of when I think of Las Vegas??? Bachelor Parties. And boy does this movie deliver. Given…it’s the bachelor party from hell…but this movie gives you a good view of the Las Vegas Strip! I’m not a Vegas fan. I don’t gamble. I don’t drink a TON or smoke. And frankly I don’t like walking around in an oven…but there is something to be said for the flight…at night…in and out of Vegas. Nowhere else has quite the same skyline. Watch this to get geared up for your trip to the desert.

Forest Gump/Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – I’m splitting this one for Savannah, GA. What a marvelous place. It’s like a more genteel New Orleans. Did you know that Savannah has more fountains than any other city in the US? It’s also a great place if you like pirates and stories about pirate ghosts. The food is amazing, the shopping is grand, and the people are incredibly courteous. These two movies will have you ready for the Spanish moss draped trees and the southern plantations that this city, and the surrounding area, have to offer.

When Harry Met Sally – Easily my Top 5 favorite movies of all time. I love this movie. It is the “Love Actually” version for NYC. This movie depicts the very best of NYC. This movie makes me want to go to NYC/Manhattan every time I watch it. Sadly the two times I’ve been to NYC I’ve frozen my tail off and been miserable. Hopefully one day I will actually experience the NYC that Harry and Sally did (and the bazillion people who choose to live there). I long for summer walks thru Central Park and strolling down cobble stoned streets amidst the fall foliage. Nevertheless, if you’re headed to NYC this summer…Netflix this classic.

There you go! A LONG post…but hopefully if you watch just a couple of these movies they will inspire you update your passport, put some gas in your car, or simply lace up your sneaks and GET OUT THERE!