Movie Inspired Travel, Take 2

Here are just a few more movies that may get you itching to hit the road.

Under the Tuscan Sun: While in Europe, head over to Italy. A large part of this movie was filmed in Tuscany. The scenery was a natural player in the movie since the premise of the story was about living in Italy and all that accompanies such a lifestyle.

Twilight: Some will scoff at this choice, and whether or not you are a vampire fan, it cannot be denied that the amazing scenery of the Pacific Northwest was on display in this popular teen film. While the movie was set in Washington, most of the filming was done in Oregon. So, fans of the film will want to book a plane ticket to Oregon to catch some of the scenery from the movie. Specifically, seek out Silver Falls State Park, Multnomah Falls, and Indian Beach in Ecola State Park.

50 First Dates: This comedy starring Adam Sandler tickles the funny bone, but the beautiful Hawaiian scenery that it featured may get you itching to book a flight to our 50^th state. The majority of the movie was filmed on the island of Kawaii, so book your plane tickets accordingly.

Mamma Mia: ABBA fans loved the movie, and the beautiful scenery stole the show. The majority of this movie was filmed on the small island of Skopelos in Greece . Kastani Beach was one of the main filming locations, and a quick jaunt to Greece to affords the same views that were enjoyed in the movie.

The Motorcycle Diaries: This film traces the journey of 23-year-old future Marxist revolutionist Ernesto Guevara (who later becomes Che Guevara) on a journey across Latin America. Film locales for this movie were extensive, including Buenos Aires in Argentina, Cusco and Machu Picchu in Peru, and the Atacama Desert in Chile, just to name a few. Those with an interest in South America will enjoy taking in the rich scenery of this movie, regardless of whether or not you embrace the message of the film.

Movie Inspired Travel

Many movies inspire the audience to want to pack their bags and hit the road.  Here are a few to load into your DVD or Blu-Ray player for some travel inspiration.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Filmed entirely in New Zealand, the best scenery that the country has to offer was on brilliant display as Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Notable sights to visit include Tongariro National Park, home of three active volcanoes and the setting for the Land of Mordor: Mt. Ruapehu,  the largest active volcano in New Zealand, Mt. Tongariro and Mt. Ngauruhoe. The Whakapapa Ski Field on the slopes of Mt. Ruapehu hosted the battlefield for the opening battle sequence in Fellowship of the Ring. Want to visit the Shire? Then head over to the private Alexander Farm in the Waikato area. This farm now proudly advertises itself as “Hobbiton.” The city of Wellington supported quite a few filming locations such as the town of Bree and the road where the Hobbits first hide from the Black Riders.  A host of tour companies offer packages that take travelers around New Zealand to the locations of the movies’ filming spots.

A River Runs Through It: This Academy Award winning movie was set in Montana and was filmed there, as well. The scenery played a large part in the telling of the story, and the Academy win for cinematography speaks to that. The river scenes were shot on three different rivers. To take in the wonderful river scenery from the film, travel close to Paradise Valley on the Yellowstone River, south of Bozeman on the Gallatin River, and south of Big Timber on the Boulder River.

March of the Penguins: Adventurous souls may be inspired by the scenery of Antarctica seen in this award-winning documentary on penguins. This film was shot mainly around the permanent French scientific base Dumont d'Urville in Adélie Land, Antarctica. Those who like it cold, rugged, and rough may find that this movie gives the push needed to schedule a journey to the south.

The Sound of Music: This movie has been inspiring travel to Austria for years, and with good reason. The bulk of the movie was filmed in and around Salzburg, Austria. For example, the exterior of the Von Trapp Villa was filmed in two different locations. The front of the house was Schloss Frohnburg which was a country house but is now a music academy. The lakefront terrace at the back was filmed at Schloss Leopoldskron, a castle which is now a private college. The Do-Re-Mi song begins on the Winkler Terrace which provides great views of Salzburg. The abbey where Maria married Captain von Trapp is the twin-towered church of Mondsee Cathedral, just 15 miles from Salzburg. Sound of Music fans will have no trouble finding any number of companies in Salzburg that tour the actual film sights. Sing the songs, and make it seem even more authentic!

Braveheart: Fans of this movie will be interested to know that while the entire movie is set in Scotland, only a fraction of the movie was filmed there, such as the sweeping mountain scenes with William Wallace traipsing along the mountain pathway which were filmed on the Mamores, a group of ten mountains that stretch between Glen Nevis and Loch Leven.  Glen Coe and the base of Ben Nevis were a few of the other Scottish sights that made it into the film. The rest of the outdoor movie scenes were shot in Ireland, such as Trim Castle which became the town of York. Dunsoghly Castle stood in for the more famous Edinburgh Castle of Scotland, the base of Robert the Bruce. Either way, travels to one or both of these countries would satisfy the appetite for what the British Isles have to offer.

The Harry Potter Saga: Speaking of the British Isles, consider the recently popular movie series, Harry Potter. The beautiful U-shaped gulley at Glen Coe in Scotland provided the backdrop for the area around Hogwarts Castle, although the castle is strictly a CGI creation. Scotland also provided the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the 21-arch viaduct that the Hogwarts Express steamed across. In England, swing by Alnwick Castle in Northumberland to see where Harry first rode a broomstick, Christ Church at the University of Oxford which provided the inspiration for the Great Hall of Hogwarts, and Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire which became the setting for many of the classrooms and hallways at Hogwarts.

These are just a handful of the wonderful movies that have graced the silver screen and inspired movie goers to pack their bags.

LEGOLAND Florida is a LEGO Fan's Dream Come True!

The main entrance

LEGO. Approximately 19 billion LEGO elements are produced every year. Over 400 billion LEGO bricks have been sold since 1958. That’s 62 bricks for every person on Earth. Considering these facts it’s no wonder that a place like LEGOLAND Florida is a huge draw for LEGO fans, both young and old.

LEGOLAND Florida is the newest LEGO theme park to hit the United States. With the only other U.S. LEGOLAND park being in California, the Florida park is a great asset to Midwestern travelers who’d like to have the ultimate LEGO experience. Located In Winter Haven, Florida, LEGOLAND Florida is a just an hour’s drive from Orlando or Tampa which means that a day at LEGOLAND Florida can easily be included in a vacation that’s based out of either of those cities.

LEGOLAND Florida sits on the site of the old Cypress Gardens Park, and it still includes some of the past features of that park. The beautiful botanical gardens are still intact, as well as the waterski show. The water-skiers now include the famous LEGO minifigures zooming around on water skis alongside other performers doing the traditional tricks and flips.

Rides are mild but still fun!

But what about the LEGOs? Indeed, this is the place for the ultimate LEGO fan. The park is designed for kids ages 2-12, but for true fans of the LEGO, there will be something for all ages. The park’s areas are designed to focus on some of the more popular LEGO sets, including LEGO City, LEGO Technic, and LEGO Kingdoms, just to name a few. All the rides and theming for each area revolve around the LEGO sets.

The rides at LEGOLAND Florida are mostly mild. Height requirements on the majority of the rides are 48 inches or less. This park doesn’t focus on big heart-stopping thrills. The draw here is how cleverly LEGO has been incorporated into every ride in the park. Theming is king here, and LEGOLAND Florida has mastered that aspect.

Even caped crusaders are made from LEGO's at LEGOLAND.

No LEGOLAND Florida visit would be complete without a stop in the Imagination Zone. Here kids can spend hours building LEGO cars and racing them on a track. There are endless possibilities for building and testing kids’ own creations. Builders are issued a set of wheels at the door which must be returned at the exit, but beyond that requirement, thousands of LEGO pieces wait to be turned into the next racecar. This is a spot where the creative juices can flow.

Kids and parents alike will marvel at the LEGO creations throughout the park. At every turn there is a new LEGO figure that boggles the mind. In Miniland USA, visitors can view seven themed scenes that mirror their actual counterparts from around the United States. Have cameras ready when viewing places such as New York City, Washington DC, and Las Vegas all created out of those famous LEGO bricks.

The newest section of LEGOLAND Florida is the water park, which just opened in summer 2012. This is a great way to beat the Florida heat. The park features a wave pool, lazy river, multiple slides, and a splash element. Again, the LEGO rules the theming here, and it’s definitely a unique water park.

You never know which characters will get
the LEGO treatment.

What would a visit to LEGOLAND Florida be without a little shopping? LEGO fans will salivate at the number of different LEGO sets and pieces that can be purchased at LEGOLAND Florida. The various stores around the park provide all the sets, plus many other LEGO themed souvenirs. LEGO sets can be expensive, but the selection at the park is unmatched.

LEGOLAND Florida is a family-friendly park that will delight LEGO fans young and old. A one-day visit is usually sufficient for most visitors, although season passes are available for those who want to be frequent visitors.  Start planning your LEGOLAND Florida trip at their website, http://florida.legoland.com/ , and get ready to enjoy a fun-filled LEGO kind of day at LEGOLAND Florida.

Lobster Ice Cream...Only in Maine!

Visions of Maine include lush forests, sparkling blue water along a rocky coast, lighthouses, and  of course, lobster. If this intrigues you, then pack your bags and head to Bar Harbor, Maine, where lobster is king. There you’ll find lobster prepared in a hundred different ways, even in ice cream.

Yum...lobster ice cream!

What exactly is the make-up of lobster ice cream? It starts as vanilla ice cream, but chunks of lobster meat are distributed throughout the confection.  The taste of the lobster is evident with every mouthful. Not a treat you’re likely to find in Ohio, it’s a must-do for the Bar Harbor visitor, if, for no other reason, than to be able to brag about eating such a unique sweet.

If you prefer your lobster in its more natural form, then you’ll want to dine at a lobster pound. These restaurants serve up the state crustacean on picnic tables with lots of drawn butter close at hand. You order the lobster by weight, and it’s cooked immediately in large, boiling vats of water. Keep some paper towels handy because by the time you’ve cracked and eaten it, your hands will need some attention. These lobsters come straight off the boat into the lobster pound. It doesn’t get much fresher than that.

Speaking of lobster boats, it’s great fun to take a ride on one. Visitors can tour on a lobster boat to learn about lobsters and lobster fishing. On these excursions you’ll see seals basking on the rocks, bald eagles by a lighthouse, and live lobsters pulled up in traps from the ocean floor. Lobsters, who are scavengers, are carefully fished in Maine to help keep the population healthy and well-stocked. The lobster fishermen of Maine pride themselves on their work to keep a thriving lobster population. The entire family will enjoy learning all of this and more when you cruise the waters off Bar Harbor in a lobster boat.

Visit a lobster pound to eat fresh Maine lobster.



If you want more than lobster on your vacation, then you’re still in the right place because Bar Harbor is the home of Acadia National Park. This national park is a nature lover’s dream come true. Miles of hiking trails snake along the rocky Atlantic coast, into the forests, and up and down the mountains. Cadillac Mountain is the tallest mountain in the park, and views from the top afford a wonderful panorama of the surrounding area. You can see where the blue sky meets the blue-green waters of the Atlantic, a breathtaking reminder of our country’s natural beauty.

Swimming in the waters off the Bar Harbor coast will be a chilly experience. The waters of the north Atlantic are not warm, even in the summer. A swimsuit with more coverage will suit you well if you plan to do more than dunk your feet. The Maine coast is also very rocky, so plan in advance if you want to find a sandy beach. Sand Beach in Acadia is a great place to visit if sand is a requirement for your ocean-going experience.



Hiking to the top of Cadillac Mountain is fun for everyone.

Bikers also have plenty to do in Acadia, and you will often see bikers tackling the many hilly roads that cross the park. The park contains 45 miles of carriage roads which are off-limits to motor vehicles, and these are wonderful pathways for avid bicyclists. Horse drawn carriage rides are another popular way to enjoy the carriage road system.



Bar Harbor and Acadia have addressed pollution problems by offering free shuttle busses around town and also into Acadia. These busses, fueled by natural gas, have helped alleviate traffic issues. It’s easy to hop on and off the many busses that run all day long.

If you crave the outdoors and want to enjoy some of the finest nature that Maine has to offer, then Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are sure to be a hit for the entire family. Couple that with the king of the coast, the lobster, and you’ve got an experience just waiting for you unlike any that you can have elsewhere.

Tour on a lobster boat to learn all about Maine's lobsters.