When you think of Northern California, do you think of the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean with the backdrop of an explosive sunrise? Or do you think of golden poppies along the freeway? There’s not just one picture that comes to mind for those of us who call this area home. As a matter of fact, there are probably more breathtaking views around here than anywhere you’ve ever lived before. Some are so memorable that they could be straight out of a movie.
- Starry Skies
flickr/bureau of land management The Bureau of Land Management boasts some of the prettiest places to get away from it all. Pristine and unspoiled nature. Some of the darkest skies in the golden state are found in Bodie Hills near Bridgeport.
- Bunker Hill
flickr/rich johnstone Feels like the Shire in The Hobbit, right? What a gorgeous display of California poppies dotting the fence line. This movie-like road is in Bunker Hill. It’s an unincorporated part of Amador County just a few miles outside of Plymouth.
- Mount Shasta
flickr/wes dickenson
- Prairie Creek Redwoods
flickr/joyce cory Return of the Jedi scenes took place in redwood forests like this one. I’m sure you’ll share all the others you know. Norcal folks are not the type to be humble about what they know.
- Kyburz Flat
flickr/buffdawgus This spot could be from a Little House on the Prairie segment, right? Not to be confused with Kyburz in El Dorado County. This spot is in the Sierra County. And, it boasts a rich history of ranching and sheepherders.
- Sonoma County
flickr/harminder dhesi Go ahead…you want to sing it. I know you do. The hills are alive with the Sound of Music! Lovely Sonoma County might as well be part of the rolling hills Julie Andrew scampers along in the Rogers & Hammerstein classic. Wonder how many have actually done that here?
- Oakville
flickr/mark leary A tiny spot on the map in Napa County where 70 people claimed as home, according to the 2010 census. It looks like they live in a magical wonderland worthy of any Hollywood movie. How’d they get so lucky?
- Santa Rosa
flickr/harminder dhesi How about a view like this? Could be from a scene in just about any supernatural flick. This shot of the foggy trail was taken at Santa Rosa Regional Park. Not sure I’d enjoy this spooky wood side hike all that much.
- Somewhere Near Roseville
flickr/john mueller Highway 65 northbound from Roseville will take you to this spot. An old barn that could be in any Clint Eastwood western. Or, maybe this is more of a scene from Young Guns. What say you?
- Mendocino
flickr/vera endera Sweet and always charming Mendocino. We’re pretty sure that just about any Hallmark or Lifetime movie could be filmed here. Better yet, make that a made for TV movie from a Danielle Steele novel.
- Bodega Bay
flickr/peter salanki The view here does’t just remind us of a movie–it WAS in a movie. Alfred Hitchcock had a good eye when he saw how well this location would work for his film “The Birds”. The birds here are just doing their thing, but it still can creep me out.
- Squaw Valley Area
flickr/max devenevish Fly over El Dorado County near Lake Tahoe and you’ll look down to see dozens of pristine ponds and tiny lakes dotting the hard to get to wilderness. This is one of them. Looks like a good spot for a movie if you ask me.
- Point Lobos
flickr/angela sevin Cue the scary music. Like something spooky is clearly living on that island, am I right? Anyone else think this could be a great shot for a Creature Features or a Chiller Diller episode. I’m dating myself, aren’t I?
- Del Norte
flickrkirt edblom Like a scene from the hit TV show “Once Upon A Time”…magic is on its way. The fog in the distance creates just the right fairy tale ambiance. Good job Del Norte.
- Battery Point Lighthouse
flickr/linda tanner The perfect backdrop for a novel brought to life on the big screen. I’m thinking Mary Higgins Clark, what do you think?
Northern California has hosted LOTS of movie crews. Hollywood has done its fair share of producing film classics in our neck of the woods. But, there’s still a lot of places left to be uncovered. We like the anonymity though. Hollywood can stay right where it is, thank you very much. We’ll just enjoy our part of the state the way we do–untouched and gorgeous.
flickr/bureau of land management
The Bureau of Land Management boasts some of the prettiest places to get away from it all. Pristine and unspoiled nature. Some of the darkest skies in the golden state are found in Bodie Hills near Bridgeport.
flickr/rich johnstone
Feels like the Shire in The Hobbit, right? What a gorgeous display of California poppies dotting the fence line. This movie-like road is in Bunker Hill. It’s an unincorporated part of Amador County just a few miles outside of Plymouth.
flickr/wes dickenson
flickr/joyce cory
Return of the Jedi scenes took place in redwood forests like this one. I’m sure you’ll share all the others you know. Norcal folks are not the type to be humble about what they know.
flickr/buffdawgus
This spot could be from a Little House on the Prairie segment, right? Not to be confused with Kyburz in El Dorado County. This spot is in the Sierra County. And, it boasts a rich history of ranching and sheepherders.
flickr/harminder dhesi
Go ahead…you want to sing it. I know you do. The hills are alive with the Sound of Music! Lovely Sonoma County might as well be part of the rolling hills Julie Andrew scampers along in the Rogers & Hammerstein classic. Wonder how many have actually done that here?
flickr/mark leary
A tiny spot on the map in Napa County where 70 people claimed as home, according to the 2010 census. It looks like they live in a magical wonderland worthy of any Hollywood movie. How’d they get so lucky?
How about a view like this? Could be from a scene in just about any supernatural flick. This shot of the foggy trail was taken at Santa Rosa Regional Park. Not sure I’d enjoy this spooky wood side hike all that much.
flickr/john mueller
Highway 65 northbound from Roseville will take you to this spot. An old barn that could be in any Clint Eastwood western. Or, maybe this is more of a scene from Young Guns. What say you?
flickr/vera endera
Sweet and always charming Mendocino. We’re pretty sure that just about any Hallmark or Lifetime movie could be filmed here. Better yet, make that a made for TV movie from a Danielle Steele novel.
flickr/peter salanki
The view here does’t just remind us of a movie–it WAS in a movie. Alfred Hitchcock had a good eye when he saw how well this location would work for his film “The Birds”. The birds here are just doing their thing, but it still can creep me out.
flickr/max devenevish
Fly over El Dorado County near Lake Tahoe and you’ll look down to see dozens of pristine ponds and tiny lakes dotting the hard to get to wilderness. This is one of them. Looks like a good spot for a movie if you ask me.
flickr/angela sevin
Cue the scary music. Like something spooky is clearly living on that island, am I right? Anyone else think this could be a great shot for a Creature Features or a Chiller Diller episode. I’m dating myself, aren’t I?
flickrkirt edblom
Like a scene from the hit TV show “Once Upon A Time”…magic is on its way. The fog in the distance creates just the right fairy tale ambiance. Good job Del Norte.
flickr/linda tanner
The perfect backdrop for a novel brought to life on the big screen. I’m thinking Mary Higgins Clark, what do you think?
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