With streaming services, pay-per-view, and movies coming out every few weeks, we’re lucky enough to have a whole pile of cinema and series content to consume. Whether it’s Netflix, a night at the movies, or renting a new release through Google, we’ve got access to more TV and movie content than ever before. Knowing this, it’s no surprise that every day people are taking inspiration from this content, especially when it comes to where they should take their next local US vacation. We’ve done the research so that you don’t have to, and these are some of the US destinations that have been gorgeously highlighted in film or TV that are the perfect choice for your next holiday adventure.

Why Do Films and TV Influence Travel?

Characters in film and TV are often so important to the fans of those productions that parasocial relationships are formed. Even though the character isn’t real (in most cases), the viewer feels that they’ve connected to them in some important way and formed an (albeit one-sided) bond. If that feeling is strong enough, it could be worth it to travel to a place where the show or movie was filmed to really put themselves in the characters’ shoes.

Then there’s the obvious reason: in many cases, shows and movies are filmed in some of the most beautiful places in the world! In some cases, these are places that may not have been well-known before the show or film came out, so that location may become a trend quickly.

Nevada

Nevada is known all over the US as the Silver State, thanks to the overflow of silver mining that went on in the state in years past. It’s ironic that it’s not called the Silver State thanks to its gorgeous silver screen filming locations! Nevada owes much of its global fame to one place: Las Vegas. It’s certainly one of the cities featured in the most movies over the years, and that’s thanks to the casino culture (think the MGM Grand, The Bellaggio, etc), which is what made the city into the icon it is.

Movies like Ocean’s Eleven showcase the glamorous side of Vegas and the incredible wealth that resides there in such an inviting way that it’s hardly surprising that travelers flock there from all over the planet! Films like The Hangover and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas were also shot here, showcasing the party aspect of Sin City, which is also a massive draw for tourists looking to let loose and have a good time. In terms of series, Vegas is known for CSI: Las Vegas, which has an incredibly dedicated fan following. Most recently, Pamela Anderson made a splash in The Last Showgirl, which shows a grittier side of the city but also the timeless glamour that can be seen and enjoyed here.

Vacationing in Nevada or in Las Vegas in particular has hardly anything new, but fans who love their films and series REALLY love them, and they want to see the places and spaces that their favourite actors have spent time or done their thing- this is definitely a factor that influences travel plans! If you’re looking for a more reasonable temperature than Vegas sees in the summer, take a trip to Nevada in the winter for a cool-cation. The days are often clear, but cold: the perfect combination.

Best stays:

MGM Park Resort
Rumour Boutique Hotel
Edgewood Tahoe Resort

New York

New York is one big red dot of filming locations, so many that it would be impossible to list them all! New York City itself is naturally one of the hotspots (Law and Order SVU, Gossip Girl, Taxi Driver, Apartment 7A…the list goes on), but places like Hudson, the Catskills, the Hamptons, and Niagara Falls have also seen their share of location shoots. Each of these destinations is a travel spot that never goes out of style, so it’s challenging to tell which films and series influenced this year’s travel plans in particular, but New York is once again one of the most booked destinations in the USA.

New York City has a lot to offer travelers year-round, so the travel bookings don’t decrease in the winter like they would in many cases. Every season has its own unique character in the Big Apple and in the gorgeous, more countryside-esque locations like Hudson that surround it. The food, the fashion, the leaves as they change in autumn, summer in the Hamptons, Christmas skating at Rockefeller Center, the iconic locations… What’s not to love?

Best stays:

Mohonk Mountain House
The Ritz
The Sagamore Resort

Massachusetts

Massachusetts is principally famous for two things: witches and seafood. Many of the shows and movies filmed in this stunning part of New England where the weather is gloomier and the seas stormier than many other parts of the USA. The remake of Little Women, Good WIll Hunting, I Care A Lot, The Witches of Eastwick and Hocus Pocus were all shot in Massachusetts and the series Castle Rock, Dawson’s Creek and Fringe.

To no one’s surprise, Salem is one of the most travelled-to destinations in Massachusetts, especially to the spooky crowd who love all things witchy. Summering on Cape Cod is always trending, as is a beautiful springtime visit to Martha’s Vineyard for a little rest and relaxation. Seaside towns and gorgeous foliage are what people expect to see and they book a vacation here — and maybe to see the Sanderson Sisters if they’re extra lucky and someone lights a black flame candle! Massachusetts tourism is thriving, and it shows no signs of ever slowing down.

Best stays:

The Four Seasons Boston
Berkshires Untold
The Edgartown Inn

Life Imitating Art

Taking vacations to stunning filming locations is just another way that life imitates art. Connecting to these stories in such a personal way that you want to see the locations in real life is something truly special, and we hope the vacation will be too.