5 Summer Road Trip Ideas From Your Favorite Cult-Classic TV Shows
When we binge a TV show, we connect with the characters on an emotional level, the way we would with a friend. But the series’ we watch not only create a distinct identity for the characters but also for the place it’s filmed. The characters’ homes begin to feel like another living, breathing character of its own.
So, to celebrate our favorite television shows and their iconic locations—ones that have begun to feel like our second home—below are our summer road-trip ideas inspired by destinations from the small screen.
1. Gilmore Girls, Washington Depot and Hartford, Connecticut
As much as everyone enjoys Lorelai and Rory’s relationship, the quintessential rural New England town of Stars Hollow is truly the star of the show. I mean, who didn’t dream of grabbing a burger at Luke’s Diner or attending one of those heated Town Hall Meetings? While you may not be able to meet Luke Danes IRL, you can visit the Stars Hollow-inspired town of Washington Depot and pretend you’re living in a quirky small town. Perhaps even pay a visit to Hickory Stick Bookshop, the closest thing to Stars Hollow Books. Even though you won’t find Rory sorting books here, it’s still the perfect place to spend an afternoon browsing.
There’s also the city of Hartford, home to the affluent Gilmore matriarch and patriarch, where there is an abundance of museums, like the Mark Twain House and Wadsworth Atheneum.
2. Twin Peaks, Snoqualmie and North Bend, Washington
Lay your head to rest at The Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie, which served as the exterior of the Great Northern Hotel. If you’re looking for a damn good cup of coffee and a slice of pie at an old-fashioned diner, visit Twede’s Café, which served as the show’s Double R Diner.
While you’re there, don’t forget to take in those natural wonders Cooper raved about to the elusive Diane. Visit Snoqualmie Falls (featured in the opening credits) to marvel at the 270 ft. iconic waterfall.
3. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Albuquerque, New Mexico
A mini-break to the dusty, drug-filled neighborhoods of New Mexico doesn’t really sound that appealing for a summer getaway.
Or does it?
If you’re a die-hard fan of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, a road trip through meth country may be the best way to spend your carefully saved vacation days. Along with historic architecture and national monuments, you can visit several locations from the show’s filming. Pay homage to Saul Goodman’s Breaking Bad days at 9800 Montgomery Blvd—home to Saul’s law office and several other stores and bars. But that’s not the only recognizable location you can visit. There are 11 more filming locations from the series you can see while in town. Check them all out here.
4. The X-Files, British Columbia, Canada
With its moody atmosphere and varying types of landscape, British Columbia may transform you into a “Spooky.” Visit the Britannia Mine Museum, which was featured in the series prior to renovation.
If you’re ever looking for an alien abduction, or you just feel like “ascending to the stars," you can head to the top of “Skyland Mountain.” In reality, you can climb on board a gondola at the Grouse Mountain Skyride: the actual location of the fictional Skyland in the second season.
There’s also the historically grand Orpheum Theatre in the core of downtown, which features exterior that could be architecturally compared to a European opera house—also serving as the location where Mulder takes down killer and salamander mutant John Barnett.
5. Big Little Lies, Monterey, California
If HBO’s description of its series Big Little Lies doesn’t make you long to visit Monterey, fine; the place does sound a bit scandalous. But one glimpse of the series’s opening credits—with its dreamy shots of the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge on Highway 1 and the rugged Pacific coast beaches near Carmel and Big Sur—may be enough to change your mind.
See the harborside café where Nicole Kidman’s, Reese Witherspoon’s, and Shailene Woodley’s characters often meet located at Fisherman’s Wharf. With its local seafood markets and souvenir shops, it is a Monterey classic. Those wanting an up-close peek at the area’s crashing waves have plenty of options. The most popular spots are Garrapata State Park Beach and Point Lobos State Reserve. For a more lowkey experience, head to the tucked-away beach of Del Monte in Monterey. Big Little Lies fans will recognize it for its long sandy shore where many of the show’s jogging and flashback scenes occur.
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