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10 Top Places That Star in Movies

By U.S. News & World Report

Start mapping out a movie-inspired itinerary in these iconic film settings.

Memorable trips and films share a few key attributes: strong visuals, engaging characters and a good backstory. And these days, movie enthusiasts the world over can visit cinematic locations that artfully combine these elements, blending beautiful backdrops and intriguing narratives. Companies like Viator sell guided movie tours in destinations such as Las Vegas, Paris, Rome and Sydney. Film and literature fanatics can spend a week retracing Harry Potter’s footsteps through the U.K. or following Frodo across New Zealand. Start planning your own bucket list-worthy trip to alluring destinations that have inspired or served as the backdrop for an Oscar-nominated film.

Los Angeles

Film: “La La Land”

The Oscars are a Hollywood staple, so it likely comes as no surprise that LA has long been a coveted cinematic destination, featuring film locations for 10 best picture winners, including the classic “Gone with the Wind.” If you’re a fan of “La La Land,” the irresistible love song to the boulevards, pool parties and dreams of Hollywood, there are plenty of locations to explore. Travelers who fell for Sebastian and Mia should stop at the Starbucks on the Warner Bros. Studios lot, where their courtship began before making their way to Griffith Observatory or the carpool lane at the Century Freeway interchange with Interstate 110, the location for the film’s opening number.

Cape Ann, Massachusetts

Film: “Manchester by the Sea”

“Manchester by the Sea” is a drama in which Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) returns to the fishing port of the same name to deal with his brother’s sudden death. Filmed entirely on location in Cape Ann, Massachusetts, “Manchester by the Sea” and the area’s brooding harbor are augmented by wintry scenes shot in Gloucester, Essex, Rockport, Beverly and Salem that accentuate the sense of loss. More authentic than Amity Island, the fictional setting of the “Jaws” franchise filmed on Martha’s Vineyard, these Massachusetts towns provide opportunities to experience the serenity of the sea on whale-watching, fishing, schooner or sightseeing boat tours, offered daily throughout summer.

Paterson, New Jersey

Film: “Paterson”

“Paterson” is director Jim Jarmusch’s lyrical story of a bus driver named Paterson (Adam Driver) and his richly observant poetry about daily life in Paterson, a faded city that once inspired the poets William Carlos Williams and Allen Ginsberg. Though the small-town bar where Paterson ties up his dog each night was filmed in Queens, New York, travelers can make their way to New Jersey to admire Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, the waterfall that renews Paterson’s faith in the power of art. Plan a film-inspired road trip to visit the home lab of Thomas Edison in West Orange, New Jersey, and his museum and experimental lab at Menlo Park, New Jersey.

Fiji, Samoa and Oahu, Hawaii

Film: “Moana”

In Disney’s animated feature “Moana,” set in long ago Oceania, a teen uses traditional Polynesian wayfinding skills on a sailing adventure to save her people. The inspiring film settings — Viti Levu and Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park in Fiji; the Alofaaga Blowholes on the lava fields of Samoa; and Moorea and the Teahupo’o surf break in Tahiti — should ride a rising tide in family travel. Youngsters can learn about Oceania at Oahu‘s Polynesian Cultural Center, see lava fields on Hawaii or visit Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, for story time and a Moana makeup, hair and costume makeover.

Miami

Film: “Moonlight”

A graceful coming-of-age story, “Moonlight” follows Chiron, a young black man struggling with a crack-addicted mother and self-identity in a Miami ghetto. Director Barry Jenkins embraces the city that was backdrop to “Scarface.” The film was shot in Liberty City, which visitors can tour from above by following Chiron’s ride on the Miami Metromover and Metrorail transit systems to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza station. Meanwhile, Chiron’s joyful introduction to the sea was filmed at Virginia Key Beach, a public park with bike trails. And the beach where he finds love is between 21st and 22nd streets off Miami Beach Drive, a quiet corner of bustling South Beach.

The Maldives

Film: “Rogue One”

After the award-winning documentary “The Island President” about government efforts to combat climate change, the Maldives is back in the limelight for another apocalyptic moment in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” The Rebel Alliance forces make their last stand against the Death Star on the verdant tropical island of Scarif, a military base filmed on Berasdhoo Island and Gan, two of 82 islands in the Laamu Atoll. The former is uninhabited; the latter counts among its few hotels the eco-friendly resort Six Senses Laamu. If the final embrace of heroes Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor is any indication, the Maldives’ popularity for destination weddings will soar.

Jordan

Film: “Star Wars” series

Jordan has long been a popular film location, from Petra, the star of the two-time Oscar-winning action film “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” to deserts made famous by Academy Award winners “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Argo.” Recently, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” used the red rock desert of Wadi Rum’s national park to create Jedha, the pilgrimage site for Jedi knights and followers of the Force. Earthly travelers can sleep in Bedouin tent camps, feast on lamb barbecued in the hot sand and ride camels to explore hidden petroglyphs.

Iceland

Film: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”

Iceland, known among film fans for the acclaimed HBO series “Game of Thrones,” features a prominent backdrop in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” as the place where scientist Galen Erso reports to his Death Star commander. The film’s location team selected the volcanic beach at Hjörleifshöfði and the caves at Hafursey in Mýrdalssandur for the film’s imperial outpost of Eadu. This sparsely populated region of southern Iceland has unique landscapes popular with hikers and adventurers. Plan a trip soon and benefit from cheap flights on low-cost carriers Icelandair and Wow Air.

Liverpool, England

Film: “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is J.K. Rowling’s story of British wizard and “magizoologist” Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), who causes chaos when hippogriffs and other beasts escape from his luggage into1940s New York. Shot mainly on sets at the Leavesden studio in Watford, England, the movie is an especial crowd-pleaser for Harry Potter fans. Potterheads should embark on the Warner Bros. Making of Harry Potter tour in London before heading to Liverpool to see the Cunard Building, St. George’s Hall, Stanley Dock and other filming locations. If you have some extra days to spare, download the U.K. Film Office’s Location Guide and tour the country.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Film: “Star Trek Beyond”

While some sets featured in the film “Star Trek Beyond” were built in Vancouver, the movie’s locations are pure Dubai. Fans can spot several of the 900 actual futuristic skyscrapers in the Dubai International Financial Centre and the Jumeirah Lakes Towers development through the visual effects overlay. Start your tour on the 2,700-foot outdoor observation deck of the Burj Khalifa, the skyscraper Tom Cruise scaled in “Mission Impossible: Rogue Protocol.” Afterward, cruise through the historic Dubai Creek aboard a wooden dhow, a traditional vessel. What’s more, Dubai plays upon its cinematic history at the Dubai Mall Cineplex, which features cinemas that stay open 24/7 during holidays like Eid.

More from U.S. News

5 Oscar-Worthy Movie Tours for Film Fans

4 Great Movie-Themed Trips That Will Inspire You to Travel

10 Bucket-List Destinations That Don’t Cost a Fortune

10 Top Places That Star in Movies originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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