# Have you ever chosen to visit (or avoid visiting) someplace because of a TV show or movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies, documentary-bio\ **Created:** [April 30, 2025, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703 "2025-04-30T13:15:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/41 "2025-04-30T18:36:31Z")
I was 13 when Patrick McGoohan’s _The Prisoner_ aired in the summer of 1969. I was a huge fan. So when I went to Britain for the first time in 1976, I made a side trip to the [Hotel Portmerion](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portmeirion), which was The Village. We got there by way of the Festiniog Railway, a lovely narrow-gauge train that ends a mile or two away. I took a bunch of pictures with my then-new (to me) Hasselblad camera. Good times. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/42 "2025-04-30T19:16:21Z")
Not as exotic as most of the others in the thread, but I took a road trip to Mt. Airy, North Carolina. This is where Andy Griffith grew up and the town upon which he based the fictional Mayberry from “The Andy Griffith Show”. I enjoyed it tons, being a long-time fan of the show. Among other sites to see there is Andy’s boyhood home. Also, while on a New England road trip, I went a little out of the way to visit the Kennebec Cabin Company in Manchester, Maine. This is the home store connected to the [Maine Cabin Masters](https://mainecabinmasters.com/) show. Did not see any “celebrities” there. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/43 "2025-04-30T19:27:41Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Also, while on a New England road trip, I went a little out of the way to visit the Kennebec Cabin Company in Manchester, Maine. This is the home store connected to the [Maine Cabin Masters](https://mainecabinmasters.com/) show. Did not see any “celebrities” there. When it was still on, my wife and I would travel around town (Indianapolis) to see the results of the show “Good Bones”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/44 "2025-04-30T19:30:14Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Of course, my husband will joke that he’d never go to _Shetland_ because of all the murders there. He says the same about the fictional island that’s the setting for _Death in Paradise_. I want to live on Shetland. Death in Paradise is filmed in Guadalupe. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I wanted to take the Underground Seattle tour because of the Kolchak film _The Night Strangler_ but it was sold out when I was there. I took it when I was detailed there, and I love Kolchak. The Tour was worth it. Want to hear something odd? When my plane touched down, it had just stopped raining. During the 3 weeks i was there, no significant rain- then as my plane took off- rain. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I visited The Bradbury Building (_Blade Runner, Demon With A Glass Hand, DOA_), and yes it is as cool in person. I did when i was working in Downtown, but I remember little of it- i didnt take the actual tour. I tend to stay away from much visited film locations however. > [@MacDoc](#): > > Chasing Hobbits in New Zealand complete with butter beer Hobbiton is now a tourist attractions, complete with pub- in New Zealand. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/45 "2025-04-30T20:24:09Z")
The first two places that come to mind are [The Hitching Post II](https://discoverbuellton.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Sideways4.png) in Buellton (from _Sideways_) and [The Inn At Sunset Cliffs](https://veronicamars.fandom.com/wiki/The_Mars_Residence) in San Diego (Home of Keith and Veronica Mars) ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/46 "2025-04-30T22:21:47Z")
Any number of British cop and spy shows have convinced me England is a shithole with some nice green bits scattered about. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/47 "2025-04-30T23:04:42Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#): > > with some nice green bits scattered about. And even in those green bits, don’t have tea with the vicar or attend the village fête. And if you do, for God’s sake, don’t eat or drink anything. If you go walking in the woods, prepare to find a body. Or three. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/48 "2025-04-30T23:08:20Z")
I assumed the American Pickers location in LeClaire, Iowa would also be in one of the town’s bigger buildings. Alas, it wasn’t; it’s in an old two-bay auto repair shop. My sister didn’t go to London, England just for this, but she has visited Platform 9 3/4 from the “Harry Potter” series. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/49 "2025-04-30T23:09:07Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#): > > Any number of British cop and spy shows have convinced me England is a shithole with some nice green bits scattered about. Sure, but rest assured that if you’re murdered there, it WILL be solved. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/50 "2025-04-30T23:13:18Z")
Likewise, the house in “A Christmas Story” is quite a tourist attraction, complete with leg lamp. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/51 "2025-04-30T23:13:39Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Sure, but rest assured that if you’re murdered there, it WILL be solved. Not if Charlie Brooker is writing the screenplay. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/52 "2025-04-30T23:30:08Z")
I probably never would have visited the World Famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop, had it not been on _Pawn Stars_. Now, I’ve been there a few times. Kind of fun to see some of the things they bought on TV, on display and for sale in the shop. Similarly, if you remember _Vegas Vacation_, you’ll recall that the Griswold family stayed at the Mirage. So, because of the movie, I had to stay there too. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/53 "2025-04-30T23:35:23Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > If you go walking in the woods, prepare to find a body. Or three Or even _be_ one. We were at the beach south of Wilmington, NC, and Mom wanted to see the Orton Plantation. **They filmed the exterior scenes for _Firestarter_ there**! Yay! What a dud. It’s not even a tourist attraction anymore. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/54 "2025-04-30T23:41:27Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > _Homicide: Life on the Street_ was filmed half a block from where my sister tended bar Would that have been **The Horse You Came In On**? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/55 "2025-04-30T23:50:10Z")
My friend and I actually tried to find ‘Salem’s Lot! During the day, of course. No luck, there is no Jointner Avenue. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/56 "2025-04-30T23:59:16Z")
How fun! There’s some confusion about where that (imaginary town) is - it’s described in one place as being in southern Maine, but then for a while there was a map on his website that had it in northern Maine…did you go to the southern spot? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/57 "2025-05-01T00:09:27Z")
Yep! We were not prepared for how long you could drive without seeing another road. When we stumbled upon this really nice restaurant and had a really nice dinner, we made sure we got explicit instructions how to get back to US 1. Our motel was right across the street from a smallish cemetery so, of course, we waited until midnight and had a little stroll through the joint (didn’t go too far from the well-lit main road, naturally). That night we learned that highly polished headstones can reflect sound from _way the hell over there_ and scared ourselves silly with our own noises. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/58 "2025-05-01T00:13:02Z")
But then covered up by a charming bureaucrat. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/59 "2025-05-01T00:30:34Z")
I like to do this on Google Street View. In last year’s _All Creatures_ Xmas special they showed the rear of the Vet offices, but they filmed those two villages over from Grassington. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703/60 "2025-05-01T00:32:35Z")
I forgot one- The Clive Barker novella Cabal was made into a movie called Night Breed. It is my favorite film. The location of the secret caves filled with monsters varies from book to movie to comic book. It is usually “North of Athabasca, east of Peace River, near Shear Neck.” The idea of a city of monsters where (minor spoilers) an outcast man not only finds acceptapnce but becomes a hero really resonates with me and a lot of other fans. I have been very curious for many years as to what, if anything, is actually at that location. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-chosen-to-visit-or-avoid-visiting-someplace-because-of-a-tv-show-or-movie/1017703.md?page=4)