The Million Dollar Rip-Off Filming Locations

Chicago, on Lake Michigan in Illinois, is among the largest cities in the U.S. Famed for its bold architecture, it has a skyline punctuated by skyscrapers such as the iconic John Hancock Center, 1,451-ft. Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower. The city is also renowned for its museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago with its noted Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works.

Downtown, comprising diverse smaller areas such as Chinatown, Little Tokyo and the Arts District, offers renowned art museums, cutting-edge restaurants & hip bars. Modern high-rises mix with architectural landmarks, such as El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the city’s 1781 birthplace. Anchoring the Music Center performing arts complex is Walt Disney Concert Hall, with striking steel architecture designed by Frank Gehry.

Los Angeles is a sprawling Southern California city and the center of the nation’s film and television industry. Near its iconic Hollywood sign, studios such as Paramount Pictures, Universal and Warner Brothers offer behind-the-scenes tours. On Hollywood Boulevard, TCL Chinese Theatre displays celebrities’ hand- and footprints, the Walk of Fame honors thousands of luminaries and vendors sell maps to stars’ homes.

Studio City, just over the hill from the Hollywood bustle, is a quaint neighborhood with tree-lined residential streets and trendy dining. Lively Ventura Boulevard offers several classic sushi houses, plus small-plates spots and stylish gastropubs. Locals hit Wilacre Park for woodsy hiking trails with panoramic Valley views. The CBS Studio Center dates back to silent film era and gives the neighborhood its name.