Forget Los Angeles and New York City. You’ve probably spotted Vancouver in many TV shows or movies. You just didn’t realize it. Do “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” “The Neverending Story,” “Legends of the Fall,” or “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” sound familiar?
All of those productions, and loads more, were filmed in Vancouver, largely because of generous tax incentives from the British Columbia government, diverse geography, neighborhood offerings that easily stand in for multiple cities, and a built-in selection of local film crews.
I’ll admit my fascination with Vancouver as a set-jetting location sprouted from my recent obsession with Amazon Prime Video’s “Off Campus” (which I may or may not have watched 10 times before visiting). However, I quickly discovered that the Canadian city played a starring role in hundreds of television and film productions over the past few decades, earning it the well-deserved nickname of Hollywood North.
During a trip to Vancouver, I found a wide variety of filming locations across multiple neighborhoods, landmarks, and popular spots. Here’s what I would recommend for your next set-jetting vacation.
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The University of British Columbia
It’s impossible to plan a trip to Vancouver without visiting The University of British Columbia, or UBC. I knew it would be a major stop on my set-jetting tour because of its prominence in “Off Campus,” but the college has appeared in a staggering array of productions throughout the years.
For “Off Campus,” though, fans will recognize multiple buildings on the picturesque campus that stands in for the fictional Briar University attended by Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli), Hannah Wells (Ella Bright), and their friends.
You can take a self-guided tour since the buildings look exactly like they do on the show. Look out for notable landmarks like Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (Hannah’s music school), Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (where Garrett twirls Hannah around after getting a B+ on his oral presentation), and the Department of Theatre and Film (where Allie runs into Beau and his sister Joanna). And, of course, you must stop by the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre to see where the hockey team plays their games. I even found out they were filming a season two scene the day I was there.
However, “Off Campus” isn’t the only movie or TV show to use UBC as a backdrop. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” transformed Buchanan Tower into an African guerrilla military base, Thunderbird Stadium became the Illyria soccer field in “She’s the Man,” and Disney’s “Descendants” franchise used the Museum of Anthropology and Beaty Biodiversity Museum, just to name a few.
Deep Cove
I’ve read “Remarkably Bright Creatures” multiple times and sobbed through the movie, so I was excited to visit Deep Cove, a.k.a. the fictional town of Sowell Bay. Stroll the same streets as Sally Field and Lewis Pullman, and you’ll recognize many filming locations from the Netflix film.
While the Vancouver Aquarium was used for some interior scenes (more on that later), many moments really took place at Deep Cove Yacht Club. The crew transformed the exterior, placing the oversized seal sculpture in the walkway and weathering the facade with fake bird droppings (neither change lasted past filming).
The upstairs was used for costume fittings and crew meetings, while the downstairs hallway and entryway were popular spots for Marcellus’s nightly antics. The driveway can also be spotted in the scene when Pullman’s and Field’s characters fight and he drives off in the van. I also learned that the crew retiled and repainted the entire downstairs of the club, and it remained that way after filming.
Other recognizable locations from the movie include Caf/EH (Avery’s surf shop, which is now filled with adorable octopus plushies), and the Deep Cove Government Dock, where Field sits on a bench during the emotional climax. However, the bench was put in just for the movie and is no longer there.
While in Deep Cove, don’t miss Honey Doughnuts and Goodies, lauded by everyone from Kate Winslet and Harry Styles to John Cena and Shay Mitchell. I tried a honey doughnut and it was sinfully delicious.
The Douglas, Autograph Collection
I’m headed back to “Off Campus” for a moment, because The Douglas, Autograph Collection stood in during multiple scenes throughout season one.
This five-star, 188-room boutique hotel in Vancouver’s entertainment district is near BC Place Stadium, Rogers Arena, and Granville Island, and its lavish, music-themed Den Suite is Dean’s New York City apartment.
The two-floor suite was kept mostly intact for filming, though some throw pillows and artwork were swapped out. The “Rock On” neon artwork on the staircase, for example, was removed during the show for a plain white wall in its place, with Dean proclaiming that there’s usually a Basquiat there, but it’s on loan to the Whitney. Certain apartment scenes, like Dean and Allie playing chess, were filmed in the hotel’s Loft Suite.
The Douglas’s D/6 Lounge also appears as the bar where Allie kisses Hunter. The moody cocktail bar has multiple seating options and a large pool table where Allie and Beau shoot pool. A hidden lounge behind a bookcase isn’t in the show, but it's definitely worth a visit.
The Heatley
The Heatley is also worth a stop for “Off Campus” fans, since the show transformed it into Malone’s, where Hannah works.
The bar’s exterior was completely reworked for filming, with new glass and decals, and one famed kitchen scene was filmed here, though the rest of Malone’s scenes were shot on a soundstage.
It’s absolutely worth a stop on your “Off Campus” tour, especially to drink a mouthwatering Bloody Caesar with clamato juice and spot the Malone’s tee hanging on the wall.
Gastown
Gastown is one of Vancouver's more vibrant neighborhoods and is packed with popular filming locations.
I was especially excited to find the Gastown Steam Clock, which emits actual steam and a whistle every 15 minutes and is briefly featured in “The Neverending Story” when Bastian runs from the bullies. Be sure to check out Blood Alley around the corner, too, to see where they threw him into the dumpster.
Take a short stroll down Water Street to Powell Street, where you’ll find the flatiron-style building Hotel Europe—a.k.a. The Alfred Ludlow Cattle & Grain Broker building from “Legends of the Fall.” Nearby, crew members also transformed Alexander Street into an early 20th-century street in Helena, Montana, for the film.
While in the area, don’t miss Di Beppe, seen in “Fifty Shades of Grey,” or Powell and Cordova Streets, which stood in for New York City in “Once Upon a Time.”
Orpheum
Nestled in downtown Vancouver, the Orpheum is more than just a venue for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra or a concert or comedy show (recent performers include Brett Goldstein, Suki Waterhouse, and Jacob Collier).
It’s also been a featured character in multiple TV shows.
If you watched “Julie and the Phantoms” on Netflix, you’ll recognize it as the Orpheum—but with a different sign out front—where Luke, Alex, and Reggie believe they’re destined to play a major gig.
It also appeared on HBO’s “The Last of Us” during season two as Seattle’s Pinnacle Theater. It’s almost unrecognizable from the front with a different marquee, and the interior was made to look much dingier than it is in real life. This is where Ellie and Dina holed up while figuring out their next move, and later reunited with their friends from Jackson, Wyoming, leaving some fairly major cliffhangers in place (no spoilers here).
Vancouver Aquarium
If you love visiting aquariums, Vancouver Aquarium should definitely make your list, and not just because it regularly appears on screen. I enjoyed checking out the multiple jellyfish tanks and spotting adorable sea lions and otters during feeding time.
I’ll admit I was there for its star status. It isn’t the aquarium you see for most of “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” but a few interior shots were filmed here. Marcellus himself was also based on one of its residents: Agnetha, a giant Pacific octopus.
The aquarium also was seen in “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You,” when Peter unclasps the locket he gave Lara Jean from around her neck while standing in front of a glowing jellyfish tank.
You may have also spotted the aquarium in movies like “Good Luck Chuck” and “The Suite Life Movie,” or in episodes of “Smallville,” “The Flash,” and “The X-Files.”
Whytecliff Park
Taking a drive along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway, you’ll see mountains, sea, and forest all at once. It’s an absolute must while you’re in Vancouver.
During your drive, stop at Whytecliff Park by Horseshoe Bay, located along the shores of Howe Sound where it opens up into the Strait of Georgia. While there, do some light climbing along the rocks to find various filming locations. Depending on the area, it can be a bit more treacherous, so wear good sneakers or hiking shoes.
Scenes from “Shogun” were filmed at the top of the rocks, where I learned they needed to place sandbags along the paths so actors and the crew could walk more easily to their marks.
You can also use Cineventure’s ReelView feature to immerse yourself in a filming location and instantly create the perfect photo opp. I did this inside a rocky inlet here to recreate a scene from “Peter Pan and Wendy” with Captain Hook and Smee.
As a longtime “Twilight” fan, I was also excited to discover that Whytecliff Park’s cliffs were used multiple times throughout the “Twilight Saga” (in both “New Moon” and “Eclipse”). You’ll spot them in the cliff-diving sequences with Bella and Jacob’s friends, and in the scene where Victoria’s being chased by the werewolves.
The Shortcut
Rewatch before you go: Many of these spots look exactly like they do on screen, so a quick refresher makes them instantly recognizable.
Start with the college campus: You can tour it on your own, and it’s stood in for more than one franchise.
Pack real shoes for the coast: The best filming spots at Whytecliff Park involve some scrambling over rocks.
Don’t skip dessert in Deep Cove: The “Remarkably Bright Creatures” sets are the reason to go, but the honey doughnuts are what you’ll remember.
