PAY A VISIT TO THESE TV HOT SPOTS

Pop culture sites have been intriguing destinations since family road trips became a common pastime. While television brings stories to life in our living rooms, we can leave the couch and travel to familiar places where the stories unfold while contributing to local tourism. Here are eight acclaimed television shows that are filmed on location where you can visit and feel like a part of the story.

• BY HEATHER DALE

Since the release of the muchanticipated season two of HBO’s The White Lotus, Sicily has seen a spike in tourism interest. Internet searches for the show’s filming locations have almost doubled according to Google Trends data. If you want to stay in The White Lotus hotel and experience Sicily’s alluring locale, you can. The show was filmed on location at the palatial Four Seasons’ San Domenico Palace hotel in Taormina. Also seeing a surge in interest are the two private palazzos featured in the show as well as areas like Palermo, Noto and the Ionian Sea.

Richmond, England

Richmond, England is the quintessential postcard picture of London, or at least what Americans see when they think of the idyllic location. But when Ted Lasso, one of the world’s most-watched TV shows was filmed on location there, tourists from around the globe started flocking to the area. Visitors can walk the cobblestone alley where Ted’s flat is located and have a drink at the fictional The Crown & Anchor, known in real life as Richmond’s beloved The Prince’s Head pub.

Bath, England

Netflix captured global audiences with the phenomenal period piece Bridgerton. Fans of the show have shown interest in places featured on screen including Lady Danbury’s opulent estate located in historic Bath. The stand-in is really the Holburne Museum and former Sydney Gardens which is open and invites the public to study over 10,000 artifacts collected over 200 years by the Holburne family.

With stunning landscapes and jaw-dropping scenery, it’s no wonder Tyler Sheridan’s hit series, Yellowstone has fans racing to Big Sky Country. According to a study conducted by the

University of Montana (UM), the show attracted more than two million people to the state in 2021. The study also stated that a whopping $730 million was spent in Montana thanks to new tourism opportunities contributing significantly to their economy. Most of the show was filmed in Missoula driving tourism revenue up in that area and surrounding destinations. Over 10,000 jobs were created and thousands have relocated to the Wild West.

FX’s original series, The Bear, has added to the already appealing Chicago cityscape as a prime filming location. Based on a family sandwich shop and the turmoil of life after loss, this show was filmed on location at a few iconic Chicagoland sites. Mr. Beef on Orleans is the actual restaurant where the shop scenes were filmed. Cravings for the show’s classic Italian beef sandwich have grown exponentially since the show became a hit, not only in Chicago but in delis around the country.

Upper West Side, New York City Hulu’s popular show, Only Murders in the Building, was filmed on location at The Belnord in the posh Upper West Side of Manhattan. With its stunning courtyard and elegant façade, The Belnord was transformed into the show’s iconic Arconia building which Steve Martin, Selena Gomez and Martin Short all live.

The 1908 building is on the National Register of Historic Places and has since embraced an influx of visitors since the filming of the show. According to Maya Kadouri, sales director at The Belnord, a younger demographic has shown interest in the building thanks to Gomez while seasoned comedians Short and Martin continue to captivate audiences everywhere.

New Zealand

Not just any old place would do when it came to filming on location in J.R.R. Tolkien’s magical Middle-earth. As the newest Lord of the Rings installment plays to millions of fans on Prime Video, The Rings of Power is putting the spotlight back on New Zealand’s captivating unspoiled landscapes.

According to Tourism New Zealand, “Tolkien Tourism” was worth a whopping $330 million in 2019 from the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) fans alone. One in five visitors learned about the ruggedly awe-inspiring country through LOTR and Hobbit franchises driving tourism way up.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

For fans of Showtime’s blockbuster TV show Yellowjackets , braving frigid temperatures are worth the visit to Calgary where many of the shots were filmed on location. Another filming locale was Vancouver, British Columbia where fans can visit Finch’s Market, the tea house that served as a backdrop for the revered cast of characters. Other Vancouver staples noticed an uptick in tourism thanks to the show’s appearance in their rugged region.