Need a bit of inspiration for your next family vacation? Sure, you could go camping, head to some beachy resort or visit Grandma for a spell. But instead, why not look to the big screen for something a bit more adventurous and interesting, with a hint of movie magic.
Here are 7 vacations inspired by the locations of some of the biggest family-friendly flicks out there. So… what character’s footsteps do you and your kids want to walk in most?
San Francisco
For: Big Hero 6 Fans
Your family can’t head to the fictional city of San Fransokyo, but you all can head to the city that inspired it – San Francisco. There are a couple of places in the film that were based on real locations in the Bay Area, namely the Angel Island military base that’s featured in a pivotal scene in the film and San Francisco’s Japantown that helped form the style of animated San Fransokyo.
Must do: Go the Exploritorium. Although there is no direct relation to the film, if your kids are interested in science and engineering, then the Exploritorium is the place to go in SF.
New York City
For: Annie Fans
Head to New York City and take a walking tour of the Big Apple, singing all along the way. Since Annie was a huge hit on Broadway, it would be a good idea to take your family to a show; there’s always some sort of family-friendly production being presented. Bonus points if you get the whole family to sing “You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” while going for a stroll through Central Park.
Must Do: Take a helicopter tour similar to the one that Annie and Will Stacks took above NYC.
New Orleans
For: Princess and the Frog Fans
Disney’s Princess and the Frog is a beautiful tribute to New Orleans. The music, the architecture, the food and the culture are in celebrated in this beloved 2009 animated feature. You can almost taste the jambalaya when watching it. When in the Big Easy, make sure to check out the French Quarter and the Garden District and soak in the ambience. Since most of the film takes place in the bayou, take your family on a swamp tour where you’ll probably see a gator or two (but these won’t play the horn like Louis does).
Must do: Feast on some gumbo and get beignets from Café du Monde.
Scotland
For: Brave Fans
While it’s impossible to go back in time (or to turn your mother into a bear), going to the place that inspired Pixar’s Brave is very doable. When prepping for the movie, the filmmakers traveled to Scotland to get a nuanced (and accurate) representation of Merida’s home country. If you head there, make sure to travel from the big city out to the countryside to fully appreciate the natural landscape and all its beauty. Note: Adventures by Disney, as with Frozen, created a trip inspired by Brave for film-loving families.
Must do: Go horseback riding and let your kids try their hand at archery.
London
For: Paddington Fans
There was another star that shared the bill with the lovable bear from “darkest Peru” in the delightful film Paddington. Its name is London, beautifully represented in the movie in all her glory. One of the first stops your family will have to make is to Platform 1 in Paddington Station, where you will find a statue of Paddington Bear, situated in the place where the Brown family first meets him. If you want to explore more of the London that was featured in the film, you can on the Paddington Bear Movie Tour that includes Mr. Gruber’s antiques shop, Windsor Gardens and Portobello Market.
Must do: Pose with the life-sized bronze statue of Paddington Bear at Paddington Station. Go to afternoon tea and ask for extra marmalade in Paddington’s honor.
Sussex, England
For: Winnie the Pooh fans
Ashdown Forest, located 30 miles south of London, inspired author AA Milne when he was writing Winnie-the-Pooh. This large tranquil area became Hundred Acre Wood in his Winnie-the-Pooh tales. When Disney revisited the bear in 2011, the filmmakers observed Ashdown Forest to help form the landscapes and vistas that appear in the movie.
Must do: Play a game of Poohsticks on the footbridge in the lower part of the forest.
Norway
For: Frozen Fans
Norway has had an influx of tourism thanks to a pair of now famous fictional sisters named Anna and Elsa. As anyone could have guessed, after Frozen became the biggest kids movie like, ever, families began to look to this Nordic country as a must-see destination. Adventures by Disney even has a trip revolving around the film with a visit to Bergen (the inspiration for Arendelle), tours of wooden stave churches, and a lesson in Norwegian Folk Dancing among other Frozen-ish moments.
Must Do: Sing “Let It Go” while climbing a mountain.
Sunny Chanel is a regular contributor to Fandango Family, Babble.com, Mom.me, Disney Imagicademy and Mommy Nearest as well as her own whimsical site Wonder and Company. When she isn't writing, watching movies or doing crafts, she is playing dress up with her 8-year-old daughter.
