Make the most of the lockdown by catching up on a classic romcom movie or two - and discover some new and interesting parts of the USA at the same time. Our selection of iconic romantic comedies will take you on a virtual tour of some of the most picturesque spots in the States.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Set during the 1990s, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is centred around the heart-warming friendship between three teenagers. Filmed in Pittsburgh, locations include the West End Overlook - which does what it says on the tin and overlooks the city skyline - and Point State Park, the Hollywood Theater located in a small quaint town outside of Pittsburgh called Dormont. Most of the school scenes are filmed in Peters Township High School. Some of the most memorable tunnel scenes feature Fort Pitt Tunnel and Fort Pitt Bridge, where Emma Watson can be seen riding in the back of a pick-up truck. www.visitpittsburgh.com
Silver Linings Playbook, Philadelphia
A more recent contribution to Philadelphia’s film repertoire, director David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook stars Jennifer Lawrence and Philadelphia-native, Bradley Cooper. Set in the suburbs of Philadelphia, the film features key scenes at the historic Lansdowne Theater and the Llanerch Diner, both in Delaware County. Other filming locations include Jeweler’s Row, which is the oldest diamond district in America; a parking lot at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles American football team, Lincoln Financial Field; and The Franklin Residences, which is within walking distance to the iconic site of Independence Hall. Virtual travellers can follow the #VisitFromHome and #PhillyFromHome hashtags on Twitter or visit www.discoverPHL.com
Image: Philadelphia-native Bradley Cooper starred in Silver Linings Playbook, which was filmed in the city. Photo by Andrea David @filmtourismus.
Sleepless in Seattle, New York and Seattle
There are plenty of US locations to tick off your virtual visit list in this classic romantic comedy starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, including the Empire State Building in New York. But you can also soak in famous Seattle sights such as the Space Needle, Pike Place Market and the famed boathouse on Lake Union. View on Amazon Prime.
27 Dresses, Rhode Island
This ‘always a bridesmaid, never the bride’ comedy starring Katherine Heigl was filmed in Providence, Charlestown, East Greenwich, and other Rhode Island towns. Two of the historic mansions in the town of Newport - Rosecliff and Marble House - were also used in the making of the movie. Those two stunning mansions also feature in the 1974 The Great Gatsby, as Gatsby’s mansion. @NewEnglandVisit #VisitNE
Girls Trip, New Orleans
You’ll get a good look at the vibrant city of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the summer 2017 box-office hit Girls Trip, which is all about adventure and sisterhood in New Orleans. Since its premiere, the movie has inspired women far and wide to take their own ‘girls trip,’ to the Crescent City to experience the world-renowned Essence Festival. In addition to the famous Bourbon Street scene and the Essence Fest action at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Centre. See more of New Orleans in other iconic movies including The Pelican Brief, The Big Easy, King Creole and A Streetcar Named Desire. @VisitNewOrleans #OneTimeInNOLA
Dirty Dancing, North Carolina
The holiday resort that features in the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing - Kellerman’s Resort was set in the Catskills in upstate New York, but the location for the filming itself was actually in North Carolina. The movie, with its iconic lake lift scene, was largely shot in Lake Lure among the Blue Ridge Foothills. Each September, fans celebrate the film at the Dirty Dancing Festival, which draws fans for an annual Lake Lift Competition, a lakeside screening of the film and overnights in Dirty Dancing-themed cabins at The 1927 Lake Lure Inn and Spa. @VisitNC #VisitNC
Wedding Crashers, Washington DC
Rowdy, raunchy and hilarious, Wedding Crashers was a blockbuster hit in 2005. John Beckwith (Owen Wilson) and Jeremy Grey (Vince Vaughn) play two Washington DC-based divorce lawyers who crash weddings to meet and seduce women. That’s until the duo arrives at the Cleary wedding, where John quickly falls in love with Claire (Rachel McAdams), who’s unfortunately in a relationship with the egotistical Zachary (Bradley Cooper). Keep your eyes peeled for shots of Washington DC landmarks including the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.