10 US Movie Destinations for Families with Autism

Have you ever thought about a taking your children to some of the places in their favorite movies? There are so many movies that are real places, all over the country that you can visit on a family vacation. The movie destination cities below, include some of the greatest movies ever filmed.

Ghostbusters-New York City, NY.

New York City, has so many locations that are in popular children's movies. Ghostbusters, filmed in New York City. Here your family can explore places that are in the movie such as the New York Public Library, Manhattan Bridge, City Hall, Lincoln Center and Rockefeller Center. In the film Home Alone II: Lost in New York, you can watch Macaulay Culkin explore New York City locations such as the Queensboro Bridge, Plaza Hotel, Chinatown, Radio City Music Hall, and Central Park. Perhaps you have a teenage daughter and have a fan of the TV series Gossip Girls. Here in NYC, you and your girls can walk the same streets as their favorite character.

It's a Wonderful Life-Seneca Falls, NY.

Although It’s a Wonderful Life was filmed in California, it is based and designed off of Seneca Falls. Seneca Falls has embraced this kudos, and now have a museum based off the movie.

Back to the Future-Los Angeles, CA.

Back to the Future has been a children's movie favorite since the mid—1980’s. When you bring them to LA, you can walk down Victory Blvd. As you are walking down the street, you can explain the scene to them too.  Also if you take the Universal Tram, you can see the courthouse that one of the skateboarding scenes happened. It is a Universal permanent fixture that they occasionally use for other films.

The Hunger Games-Atlanta, GA.

Hunger Games- Catching Fire. While you are on vacation in Georgia, you can easily visit some of the main scenes from the film. Your Hunger Games fans will love to visit the Marriot Marquis Hotel or Georgia World Congress Center, or even Atlanta Motor Speedway. Here you can also visit the Swan House. The X-Men: First Class fans will love visiting the city of Atlanta

The Hunger Games -Asheville, NC.

The Hunger Games, also filmed in a place between Asheville NC and Charlotte, along with the Blue Ridge Parkway. DuPont State Park is here, and while you have a small hike to get to where the footage for the film was taken. You can see where Katniss and Peeta both have scenes.

Twilight -Forks, WA.

Forks Washington is home to the Twilight Series. While you are here, you can book a tour of the city of Forks, that takes you all through the books and shows you the actual places that filming took place. After this trip, you will feel as if you know the characters on a much more personal level.

Pirates of the Caribbean-Kauai, HI.

Kauai Hawaii is home to many box office films. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, they filmed at places such as Honopu Beach and Kilauea Falls. The Disney Movie Lilo & Stitch creators decided to have scenes from the Kilauea Lighthouse and Na Pali Coast in their film. While on the great island of Kauai, you are going not only to be seeing movie destination location but also have a great time exploring the beautiful island.

Mrs. Doutfire -San Francisco, CA.

The favorite family movie Mrs. Doubtfire filmed in San Francisco. While you are here, make sure you check out the Hillard House. The Hillard home is the home that we all see throughout the Mrs. Doubtfire Movie. It is also quite funny to know that Sally Field’s also gave the exact address of the real house as 2640 Steiner St at the corner of Broadway in the film.

Ferris Bueller's  Day Off-Chicago, IL.

The home of Ferris Bueller's Day off. The producers of this iconic movie wanted to catch as much of Chicago in this film as possible. You can visit the Sears Tower, the Art Institute of Chicago and Downtown Chicago.

Goonies-Astoria, OR.

While visiting Astoria Oregon, you can visit authentic Goonies locations. The Oregon Film Museum is where the Clatsop County Jail and where Jake was in jail at the beginning of the film. The Oregon Film Museum also has interesting facts and memorabilia about movies such as Free Willy and Twilight that also filmed in Oregon.

Autism Travel Tips

When visiting locations of where famous movies have been filmed, take time beforehand to show your kids the movies. Allowing them to see the film first can help them and create excitement. Also, make sure when you head to these destinations, dress appropriately for the weather. Some places are streets or seeing the outside of a building, therefore no protection from the elements. Have you ever been to any of these iconic movie locations? If so, what was your favorite movie destination?