Bodie Ghost Town, California is where Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider" filmed in this genuine Gold Rush ghost town preserved in a state of "arrested decay." Bodie boomed in the 1870s with a population reaching 10,000, then died when the gold ran out and everyone left. About 110 buildings remain standing, frozen in time and maintained exactly as they were when abandoned. The remote location in the Eastern Sierra requires driving 13 miles on dirt road, keeping crowds manageable compared to more accessible attractions. Walking through Bodie's empty streets provides an authentic ghost town experience without the tourist trap modifications that ruin similar locations. Interiors visible through windows show furniture, goods, and personal items left behind when residents departed, creating time capsule scenes that filmmakers can't resist. Are you a fan of western movies and tv shows?

Stanley Kubrick used exterior shots of this Mount Hood lodge (Timberline Lodge, Oregon) for "The Shining," though he filmed interiors on sets in England and changed the room number from 217 to 237 at the lodge's request to avoid scaring potential guests. The lodge was built in 1937 as a WPA project and remains a working ski resort where you can stay in rooms that definitely aren't haunted despite what the movie suggests. The building's isolated mountain location and distinctive architecture made it perfect for Kubrick's purposes even if he completely rebuilt the interiors. Standing in front of the lodge recreates the film's iconic establishing shots, and the lodge embraces its Shining connection while also promoting its skiing and actual hospitality rather than axe-wielding caretakers. If you had the opportunity, would you stay in this lodge?

Trinity Church, New York City (NYC) is where Alexander Hamilton's grave site in Lower Manhattan appeared in "National Treasure" and "The Amazing Spider-Man," serving as a repository for historical secrets and dramatic confrontations. The current church building dates to 1846, though Trinity Church has occupied this site since 1698. The small graveyard contains graves of several Founding Fathers and prominent early Americans, making it both a tourist attraction and an active Episcopal church. The church's location at the head of Wall Street places it perfectly for films needing historic New York locations near modern financial district settings. You can visit during daylight hours for free, exploring the graveyard and church interior when services aren't in progress. Have you ever been to Trinity Church in NYC?

John Ford filmed countless Westerns in Monument Valley, Arizona–Utah, establishing the iconic mesas and buttes as the definitive image of the American West. "Stagecoach", "The Searchers", and others used the Navajo Tribal Park's dramatic formations as backdrop for stories of cowboys, cavalry, and frontier life. The valley sits on Navajo Nation land, meaning access requires permits and respect for tribal sovereignty and cultural sites. Guided tours led by Navajo guides provide the best experience and access to areas beyond the scenic drive. Standing among the formations made famous by John Wayne films creates immediate recognition even for people who've never been to the Southwest before, because Monument Valley has represented the West in American imagination for generations of moviegoers worldwide. Have you ever seen Monument Valley, Arizona–Utah in person?