7 ‘Set-Jetting’ Vacation Destinations

These popular TV and movie locations double as great getaways

"the pitt" stars looking at each other while standing on the roof of a building

Need an idea for a trip? The latest movies and TV shows, such as “The Pitt,” may provide the inspiration you need.

Warrick Page /HBO MAX/ Courtesy Everett Collection

Sheeka Sanahori,

Updated January 26, 2026

AARP

Published January 04, 2024

/ Updated January 26, 2026

The most influential person generating serious wanderlust may not be your travel adviser or globe-trotting friend: It’s a Hollywood location scout. More and more, travelers are inspired to go to the places they’ve seen on screens big and small. AARP’s research shows that more than 61 million adults 50-plus attended movies and more than 84 million subscribed to streaming services in 2024. According to a survey by Expedia, 47 percent of respondents age 55 and older plan trips based on what they’ve watched in film or TV. If you’re planning to take part in this “set-jetting” trend, look to 2026’s most buzzworthy films and series for inspiration.

An image of “Wuthering Heights” stars overlaid on a fields in england

A visit to Yorkshire Dales National Park will help you become familiar with the featured landscapes from “Wuthering Heights.”

AARP (Getty Images, Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)

Wuthering Heights

Yorkshire, England

The film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, is scheduled to open in theaters in February. The Yorkshire moors are an iconic setting for the book and movie, with gusty winds that anchor the Gothic tale. Visit the nearby Yorkshire Dales National Park to become familiar with the featured landscapes. Ponden Hall in West Yorkshire is another notable attraction. See the exterior of the home, which is believed to have inspired Brontë’s fictional farmhouse in the novel. After spending the day immersing yourself in the English countryside, stay at Simonstone Hall, an intimate hotel, where Robbie and much of the cast and crew stayed during film production.

If you can’t make it to Yorkshire: The largest forest in Massachusetts, October Mountain State Forest, is preserved as a state park. Located in the heart of the Berkshires, it offers a dramatic setting of rugged landscapes, meadows and lakes similar to Yorkshire’s views.

An image of “Outlander” stars overlaid on a castle in scotland

AARP (Courtesy Kenny Lam/VisitScotland, Starz)

The Scottish Highlands feature prominently in “Outlander,” which is ending in 2026.

Outlander, Season 8

Scottish Highlands

After a decade of loyally following Claire Fraser, our favorite time-traveling World War II nurse, the final season of Outlander — the show that made us fall in love with the Scottish Highlands — ends in 2026. The Starz TV series, based on novels by author Diana Gabaldon, has created years’ worth of swoon-worthy travel locations. Tour operators offer Outlander-themed trips that take tourists to Edinburgh’s Old Town as well as the 15th-century Blackness Castle.

If you can’t make it to the Scottish Highlands: Millions of years ago, the Appalachian Mountains and Scotland’s Cairngorms Mountains were connected on one large land mass, so they share a similar landscape. Camp in West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, which became the newest national park in 2021. The New River carves the deepest and longest gorge through Appalachia, providing breathtaking views at every turn.

An image of “Sinners” star overlaid on a bar during a musical performance

Blues music remains a key part of Clarksdale, Mississippi’s heritage, as it was in “Sinners.” Visit Red’s for a show.

AARP (Courtesy Visit Clarksdale, Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)

Sinners

Clarksdale, Mississippi: For an authentic taste of blues music and juke joints (minus the vampires!) make your way to Clarksdale. It is there that the banks of the Mississippi River set the scene for the box office hit Sinners, an AARP Movies for Grownups nominee for best picture. Blues music remains a key piece of heritage in the northwest Mississippi town; visit Red’s for a front-row seat in one of the city’s last preserved juke joints. In 2026, Clarksdale celebrates the centennial of its two blues highways, U.S. Highways 61 and 49. Stop at the intersection to see the legendary crossroads where, according to legend, blues artist Robert Johnson allegedly sold his soul to the devil in exchange for the ability to play the guitar.

If you can’t make it to Clarksdale: Just like Sammie, the film’s hero, made his way north to pursue his music, you, too, can get a rich dose of the blues in Chicago. Visit legendary speakeasies such as The Bassment and Blue Chicago, or time your visit to catch the annual Chicago Blues Festival, a free event in June.

An image of “Rental Family” stars overlaid on a shot of a cherry blossoms on tokyo

“Rental Family” was filmed on location in Tokyo. To experience the nuances of daily life in Tokyo, walk through neighborhoods, such as Meguro, above.

AARP (Getty Images, Courtesy Searchlight Pictures)

Rental Family

Tokyo

This comedic drama — a Movies for Grownups nominee for best intergenerational film — offers a fresh perspective on bustling Tokyo. Get a feel for living in Japan’s capital city when you watch the film as Phillip, played by actor Brendan Fraser, 57, meets neighbors and fulfills their needs for friendly and familial bonds. Following in the footsteps of this film as a tourist requires stops at some of Japan’s iconic sites, including the Imperial Palace and the Tokyo Tower. However, to truly experience the nuances of daily life in Tokyo, walk through the neighborhoods of Meguro and Setagaya.

If you can’t make it to Tokyo: Portland’s Japanese roots extend back to the 1890s and are still felt throughout the city. Stop in Kinokuniya Portland and browse through dozens of Japanese books, stationery and art for sale. Or take a stroll through Portland’s Japanese Garden for stunning scenes of flora and fauna native to Japan.

An image of “Wicked: For Good” stars overlaid on a shot of a flower field in england

Millions of tulips in Norfolk, England, served as a backdrop in “Wicked: For Good.”

AARP (PA Images via Getty Images, Courtesy Universal Pictures)

Wicked: For Good

Norfolk, England

Although most of the Wicked sequel was filmed on set in other areas of England, there are some dazzling outdoor backdrops that will have you seeing through different eyes. Among them is Belmont Nurseries in Norfolk. Millions of tulips dazzle the backdrop behind actors Ariana Grande (Glinda) and Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) in the lively musical. In the spring, a ticket to the nursery allows you to recreate the scene for yourself, or at least stop to admire the beautiful blooms.

If you can’t make it to Norfolk: The Grand Rapids, Minnesota, childhood home of Judy Garland, who played Dorothy in the original 1939 film, is now the Judy Garland Museum and home to an impressive collection of Wizard of Oz memorabilia. See the original carriage used in the film and several of Garland’s personal collections, including a dress.

An image of “The Pitt” star overlaid on a shot of pittsburgh

From Point State Park, you can catch a view of Pittsburgh’s skyline, where “The Pitt” is set.

AARP (Getty Images, HBO Max/Courtesy Everett Collection)

The Pitt

Pittsburgh

The Emmy- and Movies for Grownups–winning medical drama returned for its second season on HBO Max in January. If you’ve been following Dr. Robby Robinavitch (played by Emmy and Movies for Grownups winner Noah Wyle, 54), then getting more acquainted with Pittsburgh’s most iconic scenery may be top of mind. Make a stop at Point State Park to see Pittsburgh’s skyline, much like what you’d see in the show. Some exterior shots of Pittsburgh’s Allegheny General Hospital are used in the series, although the interior hospital scenes are filmed on set in California. Before you leave town, head to Pittsburgh’s historic bowling alley Arsenal Bowl, which has been open since 1935.

If you can’t make it to Pittsburgh: As Pittsburgh has three rivers, so does Milwaukee, which sits at the joining of three rivers downtown. Combine that with their shared histories as rugged, industrial towns and the parallels become clearer. You may be familiar with Milwaukee as a brew town, but its culinary scene is rising, with many James Beard–recognized restaurants and chefs.

An image of “The Devil Wears Prada 2” stars overlaid on a shot of new york city

AARP (Getty Images, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection)

New York City and fashion are on the menu in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”

The Devil Wears Prada 2

New York City

New York? For fashion? Groundbreaking. It’s been 20 years since we first watched the iconic movie starring Meryl Streep, 76, and Anne Hathaway. With the sequel hitting theaters in May, it’s the perfect time to step up our wardrobes and make an appearance in Manhattan. New Yorkers have spotted cast members filming in Central Park and near SoHo’s Glossier store, but taking a fabulous walk anywhere in the Garment District will do: The neighborhood even offers free walking tours.

If you can’t make it to New York: Las Vegas is emerging as a new fashion hub in the U.S. The inaugural Vegas Fashion Week took place in November 2025, showcasing local and international design talent. Visit The Shops at Crystals for luxury brands, or search for vintage items at one of the city’s many thrift shops. Window-shop on the Strip to soak it all in. The best part: no one will get upset if you do it at a glacial pace.

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Sheeka Sanahori is a freelance travel journalist and video producer. She writes about family travel, ancestry travel and the South.

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