10 Family Trips Where Kids Can Step Into Their Favorite Movies and Shows

Help your little film fans step into their favorite films.Set-Jetting, or traveling to visit popular filming locations, has been popular among adults for years. But why should grown-ups get to have all the fun? Around the world, from animated hits like Frozen and K-Pop Demon Hunters to live-action classics like Moana and How to Train Your Dragon, kids can step into the sights where their favorite pop-culture moments played out. Watch your child’s eyes light up as they get the chance to become a part of their favorite stories from the big (and small) screen. Whether your child dreams of going on a quest with Percy Jackson or checking into Hotel Transylvania, there is a set-jetting trip that will make them light up with wonder. 1 OF 10 'Frozen' WHERE: Hallstatt, Austria Most of the real-life inspiration for Disney’s Frozen came from Norway and Canada. However, nearly a million fans of the movie, big and small, flock to the small town of Hallstatt, Austria, each year. The town bears a striking resemblance to Arendelle, the hometown of Anna and Elsa in the classic movie. Frozen fanatics wander through Old Town Hallstatt’s cobblestone streets and pose for photos in Marktplatz, Hallstatt’s main square, which bears an uncanny resemblance to the spot just outside Arendelle’s castle gates where Anna literally runs into Hans. While in Hallstatt, take the funicular for a picture-perfect view of Lake Hallstatt and the surrounding mountains, which closely resemble Arendelle’s fjord and landscapes. Hallstatt is about an hour from Salzburg and approximately three hours from Vienna.For another set-jetting experience in the area, stay at the nearby Villa Trapp in Salzburg. Villa Trapp was the real-life home of the Von Trapp family, made famous by The Sound of Music. The villa is surrounded by Salzburg’s largest park, where the VonTrapp children once played. 2 OF 10 'Hotel Transylvania' WHERE: Transylvania, Romania Bran Castle, widely believed to be the home of Count Dracula, can easily be mistaken for Hotel Transylvania. The animated franchise, with four full-length movies and counting, remains popular among young Dracula fans. Wander through the castle for a family-friendly tour, which includes not-so-spooky royal decorations and cartoonish videos related to vampire myths and legends. Nearby, head to Cantacuzino Castle, better known on the small screen as Nevermore Academy from Netflix’s Wednesday. While there, step into a replica of the supernatural outcast’s bedroom. Both castles are near the quaint village of Brasov, filled with cafes and shops. Set in the stunning Carpathian Mountains, both can easily be visited on a day trip from Romania’s capital, Bucharest. The Eastern European capital is home to Europe’s largest bathhouse, Thereme Bucharest, which has an enormous waterpark with multiple slides and kid-friendly pools, perfect to add to a trip to Transylvania.The historic family-friendly Aro Palace hotel in the heart of Brasov is within walking distance of the village’s Old Town and across the street from a large park. The hotel has a large indoor pool, so kids can swim year-round once they are done exploring. 3 OF 10 'National Treasure' WHERE: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia may be better known as the setting for Rocky, The Silver Linings Playbook, and Abbott Elementary. However, children may recognize several sites around the city from National Treasure. In the film, Nicholas Cage playing Ben Gates races around the City of Brotherly Love in search of hidden treasure linked to the Declaration of Independence. Some notable Philadelphia locations in the film include The Franklin Institute, Reading Terminal Market, and Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church. While in Philadelphia, kids can participate in a Colonial Muster, learn with hands-on exhibits at the Please Touch Museum or Franklin Institute, and play at the Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse.The Rittenhouse Hotel, located on Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, is the perfect family-friendly base for exploring the city. Enjoy the hotel’s indoor pool and garden after a full day of set-jetting around the city. 4 OF 10 'Paddington in Peru' WHERE: Machu Picchu, Peru The beloved Paddington Bear famously leaves his home in “darkest Peru” before settling in London. In Paddington in Peru, the beloved bear returns to his home country to help his Aunt Lucy. Along the way, Paddington travels through the country, from the bustling streets of Lima to the Andes Mountains, the Amazon Rainforest, and the legendary Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu, the legendary city of the Incan empire, also features prominently in other children’s movies, including Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and The Emperor’s New Groove.Travel in Paddington’s footsteps on a small-group family tour through Peru with Intrepid. The tour takes families through the jungle, ancient Incan ruins, and the mountains with plenty of family-friendly activities along the way. Bring along your own Paddington for photo ops at each stop. 5 OF 10 'How to Train Your Dragon' WHERE: Iceland The original How to Train Your Dragon drew much of its inspiration from Iceland’s dramatic landscape. When the movie transformed from an animated hit to a live-action film, Iceland was a natural choice for many of the movie’s otherworldly, magical scenes. Iceland’s South Coast serves as the backdrop for dramatic flight scenes and dragon battles. Vestrahorn Mountain’s jagged peaks and black sand beaches also appear in the movie. For an immersive experience, visit the Viking Village to learn more about how dragon-trainers Hiccup and Astrid might have lived. Other family-friendly movies filmed in Iceland include Justice League, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Rogue One, Batman Begins, and more.Hotel Ranga on Iceland’s South Coast makes a great base for exploring filming locations in the area. The family-friendly hotel has a game room, northern lights wake-up calls with hot chocolate, and plenty of space for kids to wander the grounds. Icelandair offers discounts on children’s fares to Iceland to make getting there easier. 6 OF 10 'Moana' WHERE: Oahu, Hawai’i Moana isn’t exactly set in Hawai’i. Instead, the film is about a legend set in the South Pacific 2,000 years ago. However, the live-action movie was filmed at various locations on Oahu, Hawai’i, including Pokai Bay, Manoa Falls, and the Ka’ala Mountains, as well as various points around Honolulu. In Pokai Bay, families can try their hand at wayfaring on an Outrigger Canoe, just like Moana. Then, take a gentle hike through a lush rainforest to reach Manoa Falls. Other family favorites, including Lilo & Stitch, Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, and Finding ‘Ohana were also filmed in Oahu.The Royal Hawaiian in Oahu is a pink palace suitable for princesses and princes. A short drive to both Pokai Bay and Manoa Falls, the beachfront hotel has a pool and is steps away from the white sand Waikiki Beach, known for its calm waters. 7 OF 10 'Coco' WHERE: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico The classic animated movie Coco takes place on the Day of the Dead in Mexico. Several places around the country inspired the film, but the best way to step into a real-life Coco is to visit Mexico during the joyful celebration when the country comes alive with food, drink, and enduring love for friends and family who have passed on. Puerto Vallarta is a perfect, family-friendly town to experience Day of the Dead. Each year, the city comes alive with vibrant marigolds that help guide souls back to earth, music, parades, nonstop festivities, and cultural performances. During Day of the Dead festivities, Puerto Vallarta’s waterfront Malecon is home to a display right out of Coco, including an enormous skeleton called a Catrina, sugar skulls, ofrendas, and other fantastical works of art created to mark the occasion.The beachfront Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa is the perfect family-friendly destination for Day of the Dead. The resort hosts its own Day of the Dead celebration, and is close to the town center. The hotel has a kids’ club and a family pool, so kids can relax while enjoying Coco-inspired activities. 8 OF 10 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' WHERE: Seoul, South Korea Fans of Huntrix and the Saja Boys will recognize K-Pop Demon Hunter sites around Seoul, South Korea. Kids can live out their K-Pop Demon Hunters dreams by visiting Namsan Seoul Tower, which can be seen in several of the hit movies’ battle scenes. They can also visit Lotte World Tower, which doubles as Huntrix’s high-tech headquarters, before heading to Seoul’s Olympic Stadium to see the site that was the inspiration for K-Pop Demon Hunter’s spectacular opening performance and Idol Awards. Seoul’s popular Myeongdong shopping district is where the Saja Boys sing “Soda Pop” and have a showdown with the girls from Huntrix. It’s also a great place to wander and soak up K-Pop culture. Fans will also recognize the historic Bukchon Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung Palace from the movie as well.Stay at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, situated high on an iconic hilltop. It’s next to the expansive Namsan Park, which has a playground and kid-friendly walking trails. The hotel has indoor and outdoor pools along with a playroom, making it an exceptionally family-friendly choice. 9 OF 10 'Percy Jackson & The Olympians' WHERE: Greece If your child often wonders which god or goddess could be their parent, a trip to Greece is likely their dream come true. Although the Percy Jackson television show was not filmed in Greece, the country is home to many spots important to Percy’s story as the son of Poseidon. In Athens, visit the Acropolis and the Parthenon, where Percy and his friends battled Giants, then head to Olympia, where the first Olympic Games were held and where Percy and his demigod friends from Camp Half-Blood competed in a version of the games.Explore Greece with other Percy Jackson fans and mythology fanatics. Intrepid offers small-group family tours that hit many of the spots important to Percy Jackson’s story, from Athens to Olympia. 10 OF 10 'Willie Wonka' WHERE: Bath, England Key scenes of the 2023 film adaptation of Wonka were filmed across the pond in Bath, England. Fans of the whimsical retelling of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory will recognize Bath Abbey, Parade Gardens, the 17th-century Colonnades, and picturesque Bath Street, among other sites around town. To get in the Wonka spirit, try your hand at making your own fudge at the Bath Fudge Kitchen and try a handcrafted hot chocolate at Knoops Bath. While in Bath, parents can explore Bridgerton filming locations throughout the town.The Roseate Villa Bath is set across two restored Victorian homes. The hotel is in the heart of Bath, within easy walking distance of the city. The hotel has Wonka-esque vibes and offers high tea with plenty of sweets to help make children feel as though they won the golden ticket.