11 Real Places Kids Wanted to Visit Because of Movies and TV
Believe it or not, there was a time when the world wasn’t at your fingertips. If you wanted to experience far-off places, you either picked up an Encyclopedia Britannica (remember that guy?) or caught your favorite movies and TV shows (when they were on).
TV and Movie Locations That Fueled Every Every Kid’s Sense of Adventure
These days, you can fire up the ol’ Google Street View and wander up to the Taj Mahal or Eiffel Tower. Where’s the adventure in that?
Astoria, Oregon From ‘The Goonies’
But if you give it some thought, there were so many places that you desperately wanted to visit as a kid, and for the most part, that wanderlust was all sparked by what you saw on screens, both big and small.
READ MORE: Can You Recognize These Iconic TV Openings?
One prime example may not be very exotic, but John Hughes had a talent for making the Chicago suburbs feel like the center of the universe, and that’s because, for him, it was.
Ferris Bueller
And due to the popularity of his films, the streets of Chicago from Ferris Bueller and the tree-lined, cozy neighborhood in Home Alone felt magnetic for an ’80s kid with no connection to the Windy City.
Keep scrolling to see the TV- and movie-inspired places that had every kid ready to pack a bag and chase adventure.
LOOK: Every ’80s Kid Wanted to Go to These Famous TV and Movie Settings
Before Google Earth and instant streaming, your imagination had to do the traveling, and TV and movies were your passport. From pirate coves to suburban streets, these were the places every kid dreamed of visiting.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
Totally ’80s: The Pictures That Take You Back
Take a nostalgic journey through the ’80s with these iconic photos—capturing the fashion, toys, and unforgettable news events that left a lasting impact on a generation. Keep scrolling to relive the moments that defined the decade.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz