I'm An Autumn: Movies x Travel
I’m An Autumn
Let Gilmore Girls Fall Commence!
Shop some of my Fall Favorites my LTK or Amazon Shop / my travel essentials / my children’s travel book / Travel Aunties / Plannin Hotels
Revisit my previous post New England for Autumn (Gilmore Girls Style) for State trip details for the season
Every year I am relieved for Fall to arrive. September not only ushers in the beauty of Autumn, but a spectacular series of arts, culture, and social events, which has always been the best time to be in cultural powerhouse cities like NYC and London (both of which I have previously called home). There is something to the annual place marker, bringing everyone back together after a scattered summer. I crave the change of weather with its crisp air & colorful foliage, NYC & London vibes, film festivals & fashion weeks, new college student excitement & collegiate style, better fashion / cashmere /dark nails, new music playlists & books, quality writing time, apple cider donuts & anything cinnamon, a cold martini or great red wine with fries, and especially repeat watches of cozy comfort movies / shows and the small town weekend escapes that suit them. So let’s explore…
Gilmore Girls: This is a given, and many (many) people rewatch this classic series everywhere for good reason. The small town setting, and loving community, transports you immediately, not to mention the many collegiate nods to the NorthEast Harvard and Yale. They do an excellent job of capturing the charming colonial towns of Connecticut, and though Stars Hollow is not a real place, there are plenty of places to visit, and apple orchards to explore, that will feel the same. I roadtripped through it a couple years back, along with Upstate NY, and it was perfection. Also highly recommend NY’s Hudson Valley, especially towns like Beacon, that is just a quick train ride out of NYC.
When Harry Met Sally: One of the best RomComs ever - the scenes of them walking and talking around central park during a particularly colorful Autumn will be enough for you to book your plan ticket for late September or October.
You’ve Got Mail: Meg Ryan got me again! Another RomCom classic, set in one of my old NYC neighborhoods, it takes me right back in time. Paired with bookstores and Autumn as a backdrop, and I’m in. Take a trip and stroll around the Upper West Side, which was perfectly encapsulated in the film.
Devil Wears Prada: Ok, this is not seasonal, but given my love for NYC, and that the biggest Fashion Show Season is in September, this is the perfect fit. It’s also memories for me and my early days working in NYC and media.
Practical Magic: Certainly there is a whole group of Halloween movies that deserve their own list, but something about seeing this movie, set in another charming small town with all the cozy and moodiness, hits me just right. Is it particularly good? No. But I enjoy a rewatch nonetheless - who can resist Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, and Dianne Wiest. Although it is supposed to be set in New England, they actually shot on the other side of the country in Whidbey Island, San Juan Island, WA. However, there are many lovely small towns and fishing villages in Maine that may fit the bill for the season.
Little Women: Either recent version (1994 or 2019), set in Massachusetts somewhere in the countryside, enjoying the company of close family and friends, always makes for a lovely revisit. Author Louisa May Alcott lived in Boston, and often set her stories in the surrounding area, and she has a dedicated walking tour
Knives Out: Also set in Massachusetts, something about the overcast New England skies, cable knit sweaters, and murder mystery in a grand old house strikes a cord. Boston, Cambridge, and surrounding areas are wonderful to visit this time of year.
All Collegiate film vibes - Think Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, Rushmore, The Holdovers, Mona Lisa Smile, etc. From Private School to Elite Colleges, this is the feel of the season. Most of these are set around the North East, so spending a weekend in a college town in Connecticut, Vermont, or Massachusets could do the trick.
Harry Potter: This is more an annual Holiday season rewatch for me but it always makes me feel equal parts nostalgic and ready to get cozy. While much of the movie setting was inspired by places in Edinburgh, and you can take walking tours (I have, there are so many to choose from), it is mostly London that will have the big tours and dedicated locations (a few school hall locations in Oxford too, which makes for a lovely weekend trip)
All Jane Austen films - Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, etc: Certainly not all of these stories are set strictly in Autumn, but the intimacy of friendships and relationships, sweeping english landscape, lovely manors, and cozy quarters, makes me crave it all. I will throw in Jane Eyre too , just to make things extra moody. To capture Austen’s world, take a side trip to Hampshire outside of London, where you can visit her home too (it’s small, but oh so charming)
BONUS: There is a pretty famous 7-part PBS Documentary on NYC that is always worth a rewatch given it is one of my favorite cities this season, and always.
I’ll be back with both Halloween and Christmas movies x travel soon!
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