Unique Things to Do in Vancouver – Film & TV Fan Edition

Storyboard Experiences offers one of the most unique things to do in Vancouver for film and TV fans, guiding guests through real filming locations while sharing behind-the-scenes stories from major productions. Vancouver hosts over 65 television shows and films annually, transforming city streets into iconic fictional worlds.

Film enthusiasts can explore the same spots where their favorite characters stood, walked, and saved the day.

Why Vancouver Is Hollywood North

Vancouver hosts more film and television productions than any other North American city outside Los Angeles. The city doubled as Seattle in over 100 episodes of Supernatural, served as Starling City in Arrow, and became the backdrop for countless Hallmark Christmas movies. The British Columbia film industry generates $3.4 billion annually and employs over 35,000 people.

Production companies choose Vancouver for its diverse architecture, mild climate, and film-friendly infrastructure. Visitors walking through downtown will frequently encounter film crews, trailers, and closed streets marked with production signs.

Guided Film Location Tours

Storyboard Experiences provides Vancouver film tours led by industry professionals who worked on major productions. Guides share insider stories about filming techniques, actor anecdotes, and location choices that transformed Vancouver neighborhoods into fictional cities. Tours visit 10-15 filming locations within a 2-3 hour walking route.

Participants see the exact spots where pivotal scenes were filmed. Guides explain how visual effects, camera angles, and set design created the final product viewers saw on screen. Each tour includes photo opportunities at iconic locations and detailed explanations of production logistics.

Supernatural and Arrowverse Tours

Supernatural filmed in Vancouver for 15 years, using over 200 different locations across its 327 episodes. Fans can visit countless locations used in the show throughout the Vancouver area. Planning a visit around the Supernatural convention enhances the experience for dedicated fans.

Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and other DC shows transformed Vancouver into multiple superhero cities simultaneously. The same Vancouver streets appeared as Starling City, Central City, and National City across different series. Dedicated Superhero tours visit several key locations from the shows, explaining how the same spots appeared differently through lighting and post-production effects.

Self-Guided Film Locations

Downtown Core Filming Hotspots

The Vancouver Art Gallery's north plaza appears in dozens of productions as a gathering place for protests, public speeches, and dramatic confrontations. Visitors can sit on the same steps where characters delivered emotional monologues.

Robson Square's terraced architecture and sunken plaza appeared in The X-Files, Smallville, and numerous disaster movies. The geometric concrete design photographs distinctively and provides natural crowd control for filming.

Gastown's Victorian Architecture

Gastown's cobblestone streets and gas lamps transport film viewers to different eras. Water Street doubled as 1940s New York in The Man in the High Castle and served as Victorian London in Once Upon a Time. The Steam Clock appears in establishing shots for countless productions.

Hidden film locations throughout Vancouver include many Gastown spots that even locals don't recognize. Maple Tree Square hosts outdoor cafe scenes and provides period-appropriate backgrounds for historical dramas with minimal set dressing required.

Stanley Park's Natural Settings

Stanley Park's 1,000 acres provided filming locations for supernatural encounters, romantic walks, and chase scenes. The seawall appeared in Deadpool during the opening bridge sequence. The park's trails served as alien planets in Stargate SG-1 and mysterious forests in Once Upon a Time.

Prospect Point offers sweeping views that appeared in establishing shots for dozens of films. The Lions Gate Bridge, visible from this viewpoint, starred in Godzilla (2014). Third Beach provided the setting for intimate conversations in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and training scenes with the Rock himself in his latest hit, The Smashing Machine.

Hallmark Christmas Movie Locations

Vancouver serves as the primary filming location for over 50 Hallmark Christmas movies annually. Productions film during the summer months, requiring artificial snow and strategic camera angles to hide greenery. The same downtown streets appear in different movies as various fictional small towns.

The Waterfront Station building's clock tower appears in establishing shots for countless Christmas movies. Its Beaux-Arts architecture photographs beautifully with holiday decorations. VanDusen Botanical Garden hosted outdoor festival scenes in numerous holiday movies.

Heritage homes in Shaughnessy and Kerrisdale neighborhoods served as family homes in Christmas romance movies. The Central City Brewing production facility's exterior appeared as a toy factory, a chocolate shop, and various small businesses across multiple films.

Visiting Active Film Sets and Film-Inspired Dining

Vancouver typically has 30-40 active productions filming simultaneously during peak season. Websites and social media accounts track current filming locations daily. Respectful observation from public sidewalks allows fans to watch professional crews work without interfering with production.

Production tracking apps notify users when filming occurs in specific neighborhoods, aggregating information from city filming permits and fan reports. Online databases catalog thousands of Vancouver filming locations with specific addresses and scene descriptions. Best Vancouver film tours and locations provide organized itineraries for self-guided exploration.

Film-Inspired Restaurants

The Templeton diner in Gastown served as a Winchester brothers' meeting spot in Supernatural. The restaurant embraces its filming history with themed menu items and framed production photos. Guilt & Company, a Gastown speakeasy, appeared in multiple detective shows and thrillers, maintaining its vintage aesthetic that attracts location scouts.

Fan Conventions and Events

Fan Expo Vancouver brings together 30,000+ attendees annually to celebrate film, television, and pop culture. The convention regularly features actors from Vancouver-filmed productions who share filming experiences and location stories. Panel discussions often include location scouts and production designers explaining their work.

Creation Entertainment hosts Supernatural conventions in Vancouver specifically because of the show's filming history. Attendees participate in organized location tours, visit the studio lot, and hear actors discuss filming in Vancouver.

Planning Your Film Fan Visit

Peak filming season runs from April through October when weather conditions favor outdoor shooting. The summer months offer the highest chance of encountering active productions. Winter visits focus on indoor experiences and completed filming location tours.

Film location tours integrate naturally with standard Vancouver tourism. Many filming locations sit adjacent to popular attractions like Granville Island, Stanley Park, and Gastown's shopping district. Walking tours cover 3-5 kilometers typically, providing exercise while exploring diverse neighborhoods.

FAQ

1. What are the unique things to do in Vancouver for film lovers?

Storyboard Experiences offers guided film location tours visiting real filming spots from major TV shows and movies. Fans can also explore self-guided locations throughout downtown, Gastown, and Stanley Park, where hundreds of productions are filmed.

2. Which TV shows were filmed in Vancouver?

Supernatural, Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, The X-Files, Smallville, Riverdale, Once Upon a Time, and Stargate SG-1, The Last of Us (season 2), and countless others all filmed extensively in Vancouver. Over 65 active films in the city annually.

3. Can you visit Vancouver film sets?

Active film sets allow respectful observation from public areas. Production tracking apps and websites identify current filming locations daily. Organized tours visit completed filming locations with behind-the-scenes information.

4. Where did Supernatural film in Vancouver?

Supernatural used over 200 Vancouver locations across 15 seasons. Key locations include the Marine Building, various bridges, downtown alleys, and neighborhood streets throughout the city.

5. Are there Hallmark movie locations in Vancouver?

Vancouver serves as the primary filming location for 50+ Hallmark Christmas movies annually. Waterfront Station, downtown streets, heritage homes, and VanDusen Botanical Garden and surrounding cities appear regularly in productions.

6. How do I find current filming locations in Vancouver?

Production tracking apps, social media accounts, and city filming permit databases provide daily updates on active filming locations. Websites aggregate this information for public access.

7. Do film location tours run year-round in Vancouver?

Professional film location tours operate throughout the year. Summer offers peak filming activity for spotting active productions, while winter focuses on completed location visits.

Conclusion

Vancouver's position as Hollywood North creates exceptional opportunities for film and television fans. The city's filming locations span every genre from superhero action to romantic Christmas movies, offering diverse experiences for all interests. Whether joining guided tours or exploring independently, visitors can walk through the same spots where favorite characters lived their fictional lives.

Storyboard Experiences is a Vancouver-based company offering immersive, film-inspired experiences and walking tours that bring these locations to life with insider knowledge and behind-the-scenes stories.