Make Glorious Benefit and Travel to Moviefilm!
Holidays are just around the corner. In addition to last minute shopping, competitive eating, and extended visits with your in-laws, this time of year brings Oscar movies. True to form, Martin Scorsese has released a three hour epic, which will not win Best Picture. The big screen inspires wanderlust, and a hit movie can do a lot for a country’s tourism from Lord of the Rings to Out of Africa. Get in the spirit by checking out these cinematic scenes.
As soon as you arrive in LA, you’re on a movie set. LAX airport, Laurel Canyon, West Hollywood, Muholland Drive — you’ll be dodging paparazzi and drunken celebrity drivers. Visit Paramount Pictures for a tour of their sets, prop departments, and historic memorabilia. When you’re done snooping through the wardrobe and underwear of the stars, head down to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Grauman’s Chinese Theather to see the infamously cemented handprints of the stars. Once you’ve had your fill of celebrity culture, stop by Venice Beach in Santa Monica for an array of outrageous performers; it’s like live reality TV theater.
- Flights to Los Angeles
- Hotels in Los Angeles
- Talk to other Kayakers about Los Angeles
- Save $10 on tickets to the Universal studio tour
- Stay at the boutique Paramount hotel from $199
Kazakhstan has recently emerged as a hot movie destination, thanks to the efforts of its ministry of information. Be sure to visit Kuçzek, where Borat Sagdiyev was born, and the forest outside Astana, where his first wife Nursultan was tragically mistaken for a bear and shot. Nightlife in Astana is usually a family affair and the Kazaks are famously hospitable, so be sure to make friends with the locals. If you are visiting in April, look into the annual dog shoot; it’s world renown!
Nothing says filmmaking like the Caribbean’s Dominica. Well, perhaps it’s an understated movie themed experience. But this island has something the Hollywood desert doesn’t: Pirates of the Caribbean II. Hang out where Johnny Depp acted like an effeminate Keith Richards. Until Jerry Bruckheimer took over the island, its main film influences were documentary projects and nature shows. Embrace this beauty before the rest of the world finds out about it.
You can hardly think of the Empire State building without thinking of a love-smitten ape swatting at airplanes for the tiny woman he adores. Whatever warm fuzzies this tower evokes for you, head on over and check out the amazing view from the 102nd floor observatory. Next, skip, hop, and frolic your way on over to Broadway to see The Wedding Singer live. Unlike the movie, you can actually propose on stage at this date. Round out your trip with one of NYC’s many movie tours to see the places made famous by heroes from Spiderman to the Ghostbusters. Remember getting slimed? Your correspondent once thought it was cool too.
Visit the hub of filmmaking in the south, Savannah. A variety of movie tours will give you an eyeful of locations for Forrest Gump, The Gift, and a slew of other films featuring actors with bad southern accents and sweaty brows. Don’t hold it against Savannah that Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, a rare miss by John Cusack, was filmed here.
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