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Four TV-inspired Travel Destinations Worth Hopping a Flight for

By Mike Richard Aug 10, 2021 7:39 AM

The most binge-worthy TV shows feature some of the world’s most jaw-dropping backdrops.

Many are real-world destinations that have inspired a new level of obsession where fans are no longer content to simply watch at home. They now need to fully immerse themselves in their favorite fantasy world. Here are four of the best television-inspired travel destinations worth hopping a plane for.

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Westworld (Utah)

dead horse state park — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The $40,000 daily admission fee to Westworld is a bit steep for most mortal men. But the real-world locations featured on the hit show can be easily visited with a quick flight to Utah. Dead Horse Point State Park — arguably the most beautiful in the entire state — features prominently throughout the show. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, head to the park visitor center just outside Moab. Meander along the 1.5-mile East Rim Trail to iconic Dead Horse Point, perched 2,000 feet over a gooseneck turn in the Colorado River. It’s simultaneously one of the easiest and most spectacular hikes in the United States.

Good to know: The view at sunset — overlooking the stunning buttes and pinnacles of Canyonlands National Park — is one of the most photographed scenic vistas in the world.

Game of Thrones (Ireland / Northern Ireland)

Generic-Northern-Ireland-Giants-Causeway-2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

With impossibly green hills, hundreds of preserved, centuries-old castles, and a picture-perfect air of fantasy-meets-reality, the whole of Ireland is a fitting landscape for HBO’s Game of Thrones. Ballintoy Harbour, a cave system in Cushendun, and Giant’s Causeway (a World Heritage Site) are among the featured destinations. The country has become such a hotspot for so-called “Thronies” (yes, that’s a thing) that large-scale GoT Exhibitions are held in Belfast each year.

Good to know: The aptly named Game of Thrones Tours provides niche tours to some of the show’s most breathtaking — and hard to reach destinations — including the “real” Westeros, the Iron Islands, and Winterfell.

Breaking Bad (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sure, Breaking Bad may have ended. But, the show left an indelible mark on Albuquerque that the city will likely never escape from. Taking a themed tour, shopping for Walter White-inspired “Let’s Cook!” chef’s aprons, and a stop at the candy store that provided the famous, ultra-pure “blue meth” — they’re all de rigueur experiences for fans of the show. Kitschy? Sure. But, until Vince Gilligan delivers a sixth season, these are the only things we have left to cling to.

Good to know: The woman who lives in the real life White residence still occasionally has pizzas tossed onto her roof by rabid (and clearly asocial) fans.

Lost (Oahu, Hawaii)

Kualoa Ranch – Oahu Hawaii – Glidecam & DJI Phantom

Like Breaking Bad, Lost may have ended years ago, but The Island lives on in many fan’s minds. Oahu’s famous Kualoa Ranch served as the backdrop for many of the series’ most memorable scenes, including a few of the Dharma Initiative stations, many of the stream and water-crossing scenes, and a golf course as well. The massive property can be toured via the Hollywood’s “Hawaii Backlot” Tour. Countless additional scenes were filmed throughout the island in other well-known locations such as Mānoa Falls Trail, Waialua Sugar Mill, and even Diamond Head.

Good to know: Once filming wrapped, many of the actors chose to continue living on the island.

Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He’s kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South… Read Full Bio

5 Tips If You’re Traveling With Cigars: I Learned No. 2 the Hard Way

Wood, Hardwood, Accessories

Traveling with cigars can be challenging if you’re not prepared. The lack of preparation can lead to your favorite cigars getting smashed from inadequate storage, or they can peel because they weren’t kept at the proper temperature, among other issues. Sometimes you do all the right things, and still come away shaking your head.

I’ve been smoking cigars for two decades now, and it’s not beneath me to admit that I’ve made plenty of cigar travel mistakes in that span, and as recently as two weeks ago. You live, you learn, and hope you don’t waste a stogie on the next trip. My most recent cigar travel mistake is what inspired me to share these tips. Sure, there are plenty of articles out there offering similar advice. But this list comes from a cigar smoker and writer who has visited six countries and about a dozen states in the last year alone. And in that time, mistakes were made, and lessons were learned.

The art of adventure packing: packing light but effective

Clothing, Coat, Jacket

If you are like me, you grew up with stories of adventure. Whether you were fans of fictional adventure like Indiana Jones and Alan Quartermain, or you loved the true-life accounts of Ernest Shackleton and David Livingstone, there is a deep pull to venture into the unknown. The desire to abandon the Mon-Fri 9-5 in search of something deeper. You could spend your time thinking about hopping a boat and sailing the seven seas like the pirates of old. You could look up at the elusive peak of a mountain and believe it begs to be summited. You could stare into the depths of a jungle and wonder what treasures it hides beneath its canopy. No matter what kind of adventurer you are, you need to be prepared for whatever the world throws at you. I have climbed Salkantay Peak and explored the jungles of Peru. I have scanned the plains of Africa in search of a giant cat (the prospect of which was much more comforting than the actual sighting and wondering if I was far enough away). And I have disappeared into the secluded areas of Svalbard. One thing that remained constant was the need for the right pack.

Here is what I learned when packing for my adventures.

Savannah Beyond the Postcard

Architecture, Building, Spire

Savannah is one of those cities that seems almost too easy to like. The live oaks are dramatic. The Spanish moss does exactly what it is supposed to do. The brick sidewalks buckle in all the right places. The houses look like they were designed by people who understood proportion, shade, and the value of a proper front step. Even the light seems to arrive with better manners than it does in most places.

I have a built-in advantage when it comes to Savannah. We have family there, so we have been back several times, not just once for the checklist version of the city. I have also done a photography workshop there, which is a terrific way to learn any city. You get up early, stay out late, and pay attention to alleys, doorways, ironwork, reflections, and the way a city changes when the tourists are still asleep.