March 29, 2016

My 5 Favorite Travel Movies

These five movies have definitely impacted my choices in travel and, in turn, inspired my world grow.

When I found out our theme for this week's Travel Tuesday prompt was "Movies and Travel," I immediately knew which movie I wanted to spotlight. Then I thought of another one. And another one. And another fifty....

I then realized that the movie industry has probably been the top influence and reason why I wanted to travel in the first place. I don't know if this means I grew up watching too many movies or that the entertainment industry successfully fuels the tourism industry.

favorite travel movies

Here are the top movies that influenced my European travel decisions.


5. Mary Poppins with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in London, England.


Made me want to: sing "Feed the Birds" on the steps of St. Paul's cathedral, jump into sidewalk chalk drawings, and dance on the rooftops with the chimney sweeps. My first time in London was in 2001, and I've been there a total of three times.

4. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Dick Van Dyke (and sort of Disney's animated Sleeping Beauty) at Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany.


Neuschwanstein castle

Made me want to: find the underground cave where all the children hid, fly above the castle in my car, and chase colorful fairies throughout the woods. Still working on accomplishing these tasks, but it's probably because I've only been once, in 2012. Now that we live in Bavaria, Neuschwanstein is only a car drive away, and we'll be going with my friends twice in the upcoming months!

3. Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Rome, Italy.


roman holiday gelato

Made me want to: eat gelato on the Spanish Steps, ride scooters all over the Eternal City, and, most of all, prove my honesty by putting my hand inside the Mouth of Truth. I went to Rome twice in 2013, and enjoyed the city all the more for tracing the princess' and reporter's steps.

roman holiday mouth of truth


2. French Kiss with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline in Paris and the French Riviera.


paris eiffel tower first time

Made me want to: find the elusive Eiffel Tower, say, "I will triumph" outside the Arc de Triomphe, try all the wine and cheese, and eventually have my own Frenchman vineyard. I've only been to the Riviera briefly twice, but I've happily and magically rambled my way through Paris hundreds of times now since first setting foot in my favorite city in 2011.

1. The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer in Salzburg, Austria.


sound of music salzburg austria

Made me want to: reenact the entire movie. Seriously. No movie has ever resonated within me so deeply than The Sound of Music. My favorite scenes are from the songs, of course, especially "Do-Re-Mi" in the Mirabell Gardens, "The Hills are Alive" in the mountains, and "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" in the gazebo. Every time I go to Salzburg, I'm literally singing out loud every chance I get. It was one of the very first places I went after Paris on my first Eurail pass back in 2011, and I'm excited to hop the Do-Re-Mi steps with my friends in the next few months!

I clearly prefer classic romantic comedies, musicals, and a lot of Hollywood glamour. Probably the most recent travel-inspiring movies I loved were The Tourist with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie set in Venice, Italy, and every Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen adventure ever (you may not count the twins' material as real movies, but they changed my life!).

Maybe you share some of the same, or have more to add?

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The Travel Tuesday link-up is live!

My favorite posts from last week were...
How To Ace Long-Haul Flying by Jessi at Two Feet, One World
Trees Around the World by Marcella at What a Wonderful World

This week's themed post is: Movies and Travel.
Share with us a destination you were inspired to visit because of a movie!

Join me and my cohosts, BonnieAnna, and Diana below!