Travel inspiration, we all need a little now and again. Inspiration can help break the log jam of where to go, or when to go, or even IF to go. I have found that there are some movies that make me want to book the next trip.
They don’t have to be classics, sometimes they don’t even have to be that good. Really all they need to do is have a lot of gorgeous scenery of a place you want to go. There are a couple of go-to movies that always put me in the mood. I thought I would share them here.
My First Travel Inspiration Movie
The Quiet Man. This classic was the first movie that really made me want to go somewhere. In fact, it made me want to go to Ireland. No, that’s not strictly true. This movie made me want to move to Ireland.
A lovely movie about a man (John Wayne!) who returns to his homeland and falls in love. He falls in love with Maureen O’Hara; really, how could he not? He also falls in love with the country.
Even in black and white, the Irish countryside is lovely. Picturesque thatched roof cottages, low stone walls, and long shots of gently rolling fields fill the frames of this movie. Add to this a cast of characters that are wonderfully quirky; I want to head back to Ireland as soon as the movie is finished.
As travel inspiration it may work too well for me. As I said in my recent post about falling in love with Ireland, this movie gave me some out-sized expectations of the country that were severely tested on my first trip there. However, now that I’ve been there, I find that I love this movie even more. I’ve been there, a little voice says as I watch.
When You Dream of France
There are a lot of movies that can offer travel inspiration if you dream of France. French Kiss is the one that works best for me. Kevin Cline and Meg Ryan take a road trip across the country; it is a romantic comedy that doubles as a travelogue. We see Paris, the gorgeous beaches in the south and take a tour of wine country.
Our hapless heroine manages to grump her way through some beautiful places, from the George V in Paris to the stunning sands of Cannes, she reminds us constantly of her hatred for travel. One of my favorite scenes is Kate (Meg Ryan) walking with Luc (Kevin Kline). She has finally relaxed a bit and is beginning to really see France. Throwing out her arms she says “Beautiful! Wish you were here!” I admit I have used this line on more than one occasion.
In this moment we watch as Kate finally succumbs to the charms of this beautiful country. She finally embraces all the uncertainty and upheaval that has been her impromptu trip and decides to just revel in it. Good lesson for all of us there. Kate allows herself to be transformed by her adventure, as we all become transformed when we stop trying to make a place into our vision of it.
Undiscovered London
Forget Me Not is my travel inspiration movie for London. Before the series Outlander, Tobias Menzies played a musician losing his memory. This lovely little movie starts in a pub and ends up walking us all through London during a long night in which, with the help of a pretty barmaid with higher aspirations, he decides if he should go on or end it all.
This is not light comedy and this is not the usual London we see in movies. We don’t wander through Hyde Park or get sweeping views across Hampstead Heath. No Beefeaters and nary a palace in sight. This is the London people live in rather than the one tourists see.
Along with the two main characters, we walk through Farrington and across Blackfriars Bridge. We stroll along the Southbank, and take a spin on the London Eye. In the meantime there are lots of beauty shots out across London; all glistening and gorgeous.
For the span of this movie, we live in London and this is our experience. We participate in the dance party where everyone is grooving to their own music and we are patrons of a corner pub. This is the movie I watch when I miss London. It meshes nicely with my idea of being a temporary local and it also reminds me of all the things I love about London.
Rome with Audrey Hepburn
I saved the best for last; Roman Holiday. First off, who wouldn’t want to see Rome with Gregory Peck? Who wouldn’t want to discover the joys of Rome with Audrey Hepburn?
This movie is the ultimate travel inspiration movie, in my book. Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) longs to just spend a day as a tourist. Her greatest desire is to put aside the responsibilities of her role and have a day that is all hers. Basically she runs away from home and has an amazing adventure.
Every frame of this film is a love letter to Rome. All the big sites are on show, from the Trevi Fountain to the sidewalk cafes, our intrepid pair hit all the spots. You can’t help but want to go to Rome after seeing this movie. There is a reason so many other movies reference this one; it is iconic.
What I love about this movie is that it isn’t just Princess Ann who falls in love with Rome. Her erstwhile tour guide, Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) who thinks himself terribly jaded and tired of Rome, falls in love with the city he sees through her eyes. The ability to see a city for the first time again is always a gift.
Travel Inspiration Through Film
There are literally thousands of movie that can provide your travel inspiration. Peruse IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes with the destination you long to see and then go find it on your favorite streaming service. Honestly, I even use movies as part of my travel research.
Movies are a great way to get ideas on where to go, even if you already know what country or city you want to visit. Think of them as a test drive for your trip; a way to feel more familiar with a place so it doesn’t seem so strange when you finally get there. Make yourself a promise to go to that place you saw if you need a little motivation to go. Movies can be inspiration and motivation!
What is your favorite destination movie?