Movie Buffs Find Action-Packed Vacations on Location in Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. – Movie buffs looking to live out their passion for cinema will give two thumbs up to Virginia’s movie-inspired vacations. Travel in the footsteps of stars such as Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Tom Hanks and Sissy Spacek on vacation through some of Virginia’s famous film and television locations. From action-packed movies like “Mission Impossible III” to the famous “Dirty Dancing,” to the hilarious “What About Bob”, movies filmed in Virginia are as diverse and beautiful as the state itself.

Check out these ten hot spots to vacation where movie magic was made in Virginia:

Dirty Dancing: Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey heat up the dance floor in the 1987 hit “Dirty Dancing,” filmed at Mountain Lake Resort in Giles County. This mountain getaway is a grand hotel built in 1936 out of native sandstone. Twenty years after filming, magic still occurs at Dirty Dancing weekends, where guests can join in a Dirty Dancing film location tour, trivia contest, dance lessons, and of course, Dirty Dancing each evening. And remember, nobody puts Baby in a corner.

Mission Impossible lll: Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, an award-winning engineering marvel, is showcased in “Mission Impossible lll,” starring Tom Cruise. A tourist attraction and a travel convenience, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel provides passage over and through the Chesapeake Bay to Virginia’s Eastern Shore. While on the Shore, kayak to a winery with Southeast Expeditions in Cape Charles, taste the best of Blue Bay Crab Company in Melfa and visit the wild ponies on famed Assateague Island.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets: Scenes from the 2007 Nicolas Cage film “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” were filmed in and around Alexandria at George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon. Old Town Alexandria is known for its rich history and includes attractions where the nation’s founding fathers frequented. Stroll the lovely streets of Old Town and revel in the history, boutique shopping and world-class restaurants.

Evan Almighty: The 2007 comedy “Evan Almighty,” starring Steve Carrell and Morgan Freeman, was filmed entirely in Virginia. The Arc in the movie was real and was built on set in Crozet, near Charlottesville. Many of the Washington, DC scenes were shot in downtown Richmond. Enjoy the history, wineries and beauty of the area before making plans to visit Staunton, Waynesboro and Shenandoah National Park for more scene locations.

The New World: Much of the 2005 epic “The New World,” starring Colin Farrell as Capt. John Smith, was shot on location near Jamestown and along the Chickahominy River, the same region where Smith originally met Pocahontas and her father, Powhatan. A trip to Historic Jamestowne takes travelers back in time, just as the film does. Historic Jamestowne boasts more than one million artifacts recovered by the Jamestown Rediscovery project, which is an ongoing archeological dig. Visit the nearby Jamestown Settlement to experience a re-created English fort and Powhatan settlement with living history interpreters and replicas of the settlers’ ships.

War of the Worlds: Steven Spielberg’s remake of “War of the Worlds,” starring Tom Cruise, shot several pivotal scenes in the Shenandoah Valley. Nicknamed “The Big Valley,” Shenandoah features picture-postcard farms and inns along country roads and the popular Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway, two of the most beautiful parkways in the nation. Parkway highlights such as Luray Caverns, the Frontier Culture Museum in Stanton and Mabry Mill make the trip memorable.

What About Bob? Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss are hilarious in the 1991 “What About Bob?” filmed at Smith Mountain Lake and in Roanoke. Smith Mountain Lake expands for 40 miles and offers 500 miles of shoreline and excellent accommodations. Roanoke’s Center in the Square features the focal point of cultural activity with museums and Virginia’s oldest, year-round farmer’s market.

John Adams – HBO’s award-winning mini-series ” John Adams,” starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney, focused on the life of this founding father and patriot. The visual stunner produced by Tom Hanks was filmed in Richmond as well as Colonial Williamsburg. Plan a visit to Colonial Williamsburg to walk in the footsteps of the stars of the series. Take charge as part of Revolutionary City and experience America’s fight for freedom first-hand. In Richmond, jump on the bus with Virginia Film Tours, for an in-depth, guided tour of all of Richmond’s sites featured in film and television.

Lake City: The 2008 film “Lake City,” filmed near Richmond and starring Sissy Spacek and musician Dave Matthews will be available on DVD in March of 2009. Movie lovers of any kind would enjoy a trip to the Historic Richmond Region as there’s something for every taste including: history, arts, gardens, antiques, fine dining, outdoor recreation along the mighty James River and more. While in Richmond, take a spin with a Segway tour of the city’s historical sites.

Transformers; Revenge of the Fallen: The Udvar-Hazy Center at the National Air and Space Museum in Fairfax County was the setting for one of the spectacular scenes from “Transformers; Revenge of the Fallen,” scheduled for release in May of 2009. The huge facility houses important icons of aviation and space history. After checking out the museum, explore more of Northern Virginia, with wineries, historical sites, out of this world shopping and culinary treasures.

Visit www.Virginia.org for more trip ideas built around the more than 100 movies and television shows that have been filmed in Virginia. Or call 1-800-932-5827 and request a free, Virginia is for Lovers – Live Passionately travel guide.

February 17, 2009   Posted in: United States East