Greek Island-Hopping and Mythology

Want an Upgrade? Enter here. Using our powers for the good of the people Beginning vintners Tom and Gena McGlone, of Granger, Ind., had been buying cabernet grapes from California for two years to produce their first vintage, but they'd never seen the source. So Robert Mondavi Winery, one of Napa's most established vineyards, decided to give Tom and Gena, and their traveling companions Paul and Carolyn Kelly, of Ocean City, Md., a customized tour walking them through the wine-making process. Before taking the couples to the fermentation room, their guide, Inger Shiffler, led the McGlones and the Kellys to a typically off-limits section of the vineyard, where Mondavi's oldest vines, used to make a reserve fumé blanc, grow. The group sampled some of the grapes—"They were so much smaller and sweeter than I expected," says Gena—and then sipped the wine created from them. The four-hour tour included a tasting of two reserve cabernets and a three-course lunch with pairings in the private dining room. Even with a seat directly overlooking the vineyard, Gena was far more impressed with the view to her right: "Mrs. Mondavi was at the next table!" Many thanks to... Robert Mondavi Winery, a U.S. leader in wine making and education since 1966. The company runs tours, tastings, and seminars (888/766-6328, robertmondaviwinery.com, guided tastings from $15, tours from $25).

Next prize: Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa The best response we receive between Jan. 1 and Jan. 30, 2009, wins two nights at the Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa, A Wyndham Grand Resort in Río Grande, Puerto Rico. Prize includes round-trip airfare for two, a coffee-scrub treatment for two, and dinner for two at Palio restaurant. Prize has an estimated retail value of $1,500, and trip must be taken within one year. For more info on Rio Mar: 800/474-6627, wyndhamriomar.com. How to enter E-mail us at TrueStories@BudgetTravel.com or mail us at True Stories, Budget Travel, 530 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10018. For a complete rundown of the contest guidelines, please see BudgetTravel.com/truestories. Winner #1: Six-night trip for two in Oman, courtesy of Adventure Center. My wife and I were driving from Jackson Hole, Wyo., to a microbrewery in Idaho. We were halfway there when we came upon a man who waved a flag and told us to slow down. We assumed there was road construction ahead, but when we turned the corner, we saw hundreds of sheep crossing the road. Our timing for the stampede was perfect! Eric Gongora, Woodstock, Ga. Winner #2: Airfare and a seven-night Italian villa rental, courtesy of Endless Vacation Rentals. At a hotel in Florida, a housekeeper kept studying us intently. We finally asked her about it. Since we had put up "Happy 50th" banners in our room, she was trying to figure out which of us was 50. My husband and I are nowhere near that age; we were celebrating bringing our children to all 50 states. We still tease each other about who looks older. Penny Zhitomi, Shelton, Conn. Next stop: Grand Teton I was in Cuzco, Peru, with my friends Marion and Kelly, and we were trying to find the Sacsayhuamán ruins. Marion, who's pretty busty, was wearing a tank top, so she got a lot of whistles from the guys. While we were looking in our guidebook, a young boy came up to us and said "sexy woman" to Marion and pointed to the top of the hill. Marion got hit on by an 11-year-old! When we came to the ruins, we kept hearing everyone say "sexy woman, sexy woman." Turns out that's just how Sacsayhuamán is pronounced. Marianne Kroutchkevitch, Santa Monica, Calif. We often feel that way too On a family trip to Interlaken, Switzerland, my dad evidently looked like a local. While he was hanging out one day, someone asked him a question in German. He replied, "Sorry, I don't speak German." A few minutes later, someone else came by and asked him something in French. He answered, "Sorry, I don't speak French." Just as my mother and I walked up, we saw a man ask my father, "Where is the nearest bank?" My mom and I were shocked to hear my dad say, "Sorry, I don't speak English." Tricia Abegglen, Vernal, Utah It kind of works both ways Before going to Paris with my friend, I taught her some French, such as ne me touche pas (don't touch me), which made her giggle because touche sounds like douche. One day we became separated on the Métro. I heard a woman across the car wail, "No me douche pas!" I wondered why someone would announce that she didn't shower, and then I saw that it was my friend! She was fending off a homeless man who was petting her hair. Elizabeth Montez, Costa Mesa, Calif. It usually takes several years to get to that point My husband and I spent the first night of our honeymoon in Venice. I had read that some Italian cities have a high petty crime rate, which made me anxious. Since it was warm, we left the shutters open—it seemed safe because we were on the fourth floor. During the night, I heard a noise and bolted upright. To my horror, I saw a man at the foot of the bed! I shrieked, "Get the [bleep] out!" Seconds later, the man said in a hushed voice, "It's me...." It was, of course, my brand-new husband, who had gotten up to close the shutters. The event was so disturbing that we were both shaking for days. Now, only 12 years later, we laugh about it. Kerry Ascione, Tinton Falls, N.J. Taking a page from Rick Steves While studying abroad in Italy, my best friend and I often took trains. One night we pulled into a station very late, and since the next train wasn't till morning, we had to spend the night there. We went to the bathroom to freshen up. There was no toilet paper and no paper towels, but I had my Rick Steves travel guide. Ripping pages out of the book saved the day. Jessica Presto, Raleigh, N.C. So did it taste like chicken? After two weeks of traveling in Thailand, our group was tiring of Thai food. One morning our guide promised a treat: a stop at a barbecue stand. Imagine our dismay (and disgust) when we found that the only item on the menu was fresh grilled rat! Betsey House, Denver, Colo. Isn't that what bras are for? One night I was going out in Barcelona with friends, and I didn't want to take my purse. At the time, it seemed like a good idea to put my money in my underwear. It would've been fine if it weren't for the sangria! I forgot my ingenious plan, and that's how I flushed €50 down the toilet. Natalie Decker, Ignacio, Colo. One of these guys is bound to learn someday On a recent trip to Barcelona, I warned my companion that as a 60-something out-of-shape American, he would be a prime target of pickpockets. We decided that if he was going to be robbed, we might as well have fun with it. I bought six wallets and put play money in them. In the 53 hours we were there, five of those wallets were stolen! Carol North, Sandwich, Mass. Monkeys know what's up! I was resting by the pool in Kenya when a monkey grabbed my envelope with a pair of earrings and my money and leapt up a tree. I chased him, but he was too fast. He slowly started dropping my things. When a bill would fall, 20 people would try to catch it—the monkey just sat in the tree and watched. I did finally get everything back. Donna McShane, Centennial, Colo. It was all part of his plan My boyfriend and I went to Grand Cayman recently. As we floated in the ocean together, I accidentally hit his hand. He told me not to move—I had knocked an engagement ring into the ocean! He dove to retrieve it but came up empty-handed. After 45 minutes of searching, he finally surfaced with the ring and proposed. I said yes! Kim Ceppi, Conroe, Tex.

What's your best travel tip? Send us your tips, and if we publish one, you'll get a one-year subscription (or a renewal) to Budget Travel. You can e-mail them to us at Tips@BudgetTravel.com. Best Tips Ever The cleverest tips we've ever run are in The Smart Traveler's Passport, a handy book available at Amazon.com and select bookstores. Send us a tip: If yours is one that we illustrate, we'll send you a free book (and a year's subscription to the magazine). 1. Rest assured I always pack an inflatable beach ball in my carry-on for long flights. When I'm ready to sleep, I just blow it up, put it on my tray table, and curl over it to sleep. I don't have to worry about my head bobbing from side to side as I sleep, and I never have a sore neck when I wake up. Added bonus: The beach ball also makes a great footrest. Connie Race, Tooele, Utah 2. On the hunt When my husband and I visit museums with our children, we always ask the ticket agent if there are any organized treasure hunts. Some museums, like the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, have a list of specific works of art or facts that are interesting to kids. If we know in advance that the museum doesn't have this feature, we put together our own treasure hunt. Susan Weaver, Ghlin, Belgium 3. Trick up your sleeve I came up with a great way to keep from losing my scarf when I travel. As you take off your jacket or sweater, grab one end of the scarf and hold on to it. Once the garment is off, you'll find that the scarf has been threaded through the sleeve. Since the scarf isn't loose, it's less likely to fall off and get left behind. Chuck Collazzi, Las Vegas, Nev. 4. Beyond the books Before we travel, my husband and I download podcasts about our destination, and then we listen to them on the way there. I even bought an adapter for my iPod that allows both of us to listen at the same time. Janice Telstar, Ardmore, Pa. 5. Magnet memories I purchase magnets when I travel. When I get home, I write the month and year of the trip on the back of each one before I put it on our refrigerator. The magnets are great reminders of when I've traveled where, and they're handy when I go to give blood. I just look at them to see if I've traveled anywhere recently that would make me ineligible to donate. Julie McCauley, Eugene, Ore. 6. It's a wrap On a recent trip to Italy, my husband and I picked up an Italian newspaper to use as fun and inexpensive wrapping paper. We even matched the section of the paper with the recipient, using colorful photos of soccer players to wrap a gift for a soccer-playing relative. We found that family members took as much interest in the wrapping paper as they did in the gift! Ruth Schnur, Princeton, N.J. 7. Hike up your coverage If you're going to do any serious trekking, consider buying rescue insurance. While hiking in Aruba, I fell off a cliff and ended up in the emergency room; in Boulder, I saw someone get airlifted off a mountain. Regular health insurance doesn't always cover things like a helicopter rescue, but rescue insurance does. The American Alpine Club offers a rescue benefit to its members for as little as $40 per year. Amanda Chay, Tampa, Fla. 8. Journal on the fly When my husband and I travel, I buy a postcard and fill it with info about where we stay, eat, shop, and sightsee, and then I mail it home. I use the card as a record for our future trips—or advice for friends who are planning to go to the same place. Leslie Parker, San Clemente, Calif. 9. Lots to remember It's easy to get a little distracted while parking your car at the airport before a flight. So when my husband and I park, one of us always sends the other a text message with info about our car's location. We never have to wander the lot looking for our car after the trip. Caroline Mosey, Indianapolis, Ind. 10. Room for improvement It can be tough to figure out hotel-room arrangements if you're traveling with several people. Instead of choosing your room, ask the reservations clerk what he or she would recommend as the best deal for your situation. I always explain that we have six in our family, what the kids' ages are, and who can share a bed. We've been given great solutions: two double rooms with roll-aways, and a family room for five with a roll-away. Catherine Douglass, Tacoma, Wash. 11. The fine print I found a way to keep track of all my airline, car, hotel, and club memberships without having to carry the ID cards with me. On a wallet-size card, I listed the membership numbers and toll-free numbers for all the programs in tiny (but readable) print and then had the card laminated. Elizabeth A. Flanagan, Blacksburg, Va. 12. Plugged in When you travel with infants or toddlers, bring a Ziploc full of childproof outlet plugs. You're bound to need them, whether you're staying in a hotel or with friends or family. Melanie Freeman, Encinitas, Calif. 13. Sand-free solution Take a container of baby powder along the next time you go to the beach. Before you get back into your car, sprinkle the powder on your feet—the sand falls right off! Christine DeFrehn, Mercerville, N.J. 14. Picture this Before a recent trip to Puerto Rico, I went to flickr.com, a photo-sharing website, and searched for images of the island. Just going through people's pictures helped me decide what I wanted to do during my trip. When I arrived, it was fun to walk around and see the statues, parks, and places I'd seen in other people's shots. Debbie Morantes, San Antonio, Tex. 15. Grand savings Formula One fans should buy their Grand Prix tickets directly from the track's official website instead of from formula1.com, online ticket brokers, or scalpers. I've saved up to $80 per ticket by doing this. For the name of the track (and its website) where the race will be held, just do a Google search. Shelby Spiva, Clifton, N.J. 16. Double-duty dishes I often bring along sandwiches or snacks in disposable plastic containers on trips. Instead of throwing the containers away when I reach my destination, I save them. Rinsed out, they're perfect for protecting small breakable items in my carry-on. Judy Zdeb, Newington, Conn. 17. Easy seat I used to check my toddler's car seat on flights, but now that airlines charge for extra luggage, I keep it with me. Since the seat is so heavy and bulky, I bought a Tote a Tot (toteatot.com, $30). It's a strap that attaches the car seat to any small roller suitcase, so I don't have to lug the thing around by hand. Best of all, when I board, I can check the seat at the door for free. Cinzia Cervato, Ames, Iowa 18. Wipe out Once at a wedding I realized that my makeup had smeared onto my collar. In desperation, I used one of my baby granddaughter's wipes, and it took the stain right off. Now I never travel anywhere without baby wipes, whether I'm with a baby or not! Janey Mitchell, Scanlon, Minn. 19. Checkmate! A lot of travelers think there's only one security checkpoint to go through when departing from the South Terminal at London's Gatwick Airport. But when the airport gets crowded, a second—and, when it's really packed, a third—opens. I've always found the upstairs checkpoint to be much less crowded than the main one. Tom Reese, Memphis, Tenn. 20. Sounds of slumber I listen to music when I go to sleep, but it gets tricky when I travel and share a room with others. On a recent trip, I put my iPod next to my pillow, cranked the volume all the way up, and put the earbuds under the pillow. The music was just loud enough to help me fall asleep, but not too loud for my roommates. Denise Hendershot, Grand Rapids, Mich.

10. GET SMART Washington, D.C., Russia, and Los Angeles The comedic spy saga—and homage to the 1960s TV show—follows Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) and Agent 86 (Steve Carell) on their first mission as partners. It's no small task: The duo must track down Kaos, a gang of international terrorists, before it assassinates the U.S. president. Undercover D.C. The agents work for a clandestine agency headquartered in a secret office at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. (202/633-1000, mnh.si.edu, free). The museum wasn't identified in the movie, but staffers did allow the crew to film Agent 86 in the rotunda. In the scene, he walks past a tour group looking at spy artifacts, which were actually just props for the film. A few blocks away, the International Spy Museum has a large collection of espionage memorabilia on display, including a lipstick-shaped pistol (866/779-6873, spymuseum.org, $18). Romantic Red Square The partners swap stories about their pasts on a stroll through Moscow's Red Square. For the best people-watching, the Bosco Bar caféwith psychedelic plastic chairs straight out of the '70s—has views of Lenin's mausoleum (011-7/495-627-3703). Big bang The final showdown with Kaos unfolds at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. As the orchestra tunes up, the clock ticks: Kaos has planted a bomb in the piano that will explode when the orchestra hits a certain chord of a symphony. If you'd like to catch a performance of the Los Angeles Philharmonic this winter, the group will be playing one of conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen's favorite Stravinsky pieces, The Rite of Spring (laphil.com, from $42). 9. SEX AND THE CITY New York City Four years after the HBO series wrapped, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and friends roam Manhattan again—on the big screen. Making history One look at the majestic beaux arts staircase in the main branch of The New York Public Library and Carrie was hooked: This was where she would finally marry Mr. Big (Chris Noth). The 97-year-old library, a few blocks west of Grand Central Terminal, also owns some of the country's oldest historical documents, including a copy of the Declaration of Independence that was handwritten by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 (212/340-0849, nypl.org). Central casting Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) confesses her marital problems to Carrie over a picnic lunch in the Ladies' Pavilion at Central Park. The cast-iron Victorian structure, named after the women who once used its benches to change into their ice skates, borders Central Park's lake between 75th and 76th streets (centralparknyc.org). "There aren't too many places in Manhattan where you can sit and really take in the city's skyline," says location manager Michael Kriaris. "Central Park is one of those spots, but since we were shooting in autumn, and the scene was supposed to take place in the spring, we had to truck in our own plants and flowers!" A cheesy reception When Carrie and Mr. Big tie the knot, their brunch reception is held at Junior's, a Brooklyn diner that's been serving New York–style cheesecakes since 1950. The legendary dessert, a Rosen family recipe for three generations, is served plain, embellished with plump cherries, and even topped with red-and-green chocolate chips for Christmas (718/852-5257, slices from $6). 8. KUNG FU PANDA China In the animated flick from DreamWorks, a rather klutzy and portly Chinese panda named Po (Jack Black) is unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy and become the fearless Dragon Warrior. Hero's home cooking Po's father is the owner of a traditional noodle house, and he expects his reluctant son to take over the family business someday. To watch real-life chefs sling 10 varieties of noodles by hand, try the Noodle Loft in Beijing, whose house specialty is qiao mian mao erduo, a cat's ear-shaped buckwheat noodle served with chicken or beef broth (011-86/10-6774-9950, from $12). Palace on a hill Even though Po completes intense training to become the Dragon Warrior, the pudgy panda gets winded trekking up to the sprawling Jade Palace, where the mousy Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) instructs his students in the fine art of kung fu. The setting was modeled after the Summer Palace, a massive imperial complex of more than 3,000 ornate bridges, temples, and pavilions built on Longevity Hill in Beijing (011-86/10-6288-1144, summerpalace-china.com, from $3). Bear boot camp Animator Rodolphe Guenoden, who has practiced martial arts for 20 years, held workshops in the DreamWorks studios so his coworkers could experience what it was like to become a kung fu warrior. To see some masters at work, martial artists give two-hour kung fu demonstrations in Hong Kong's Kowloon Park every Sunday at 2:30 p.m. (discoverhongkong.com, free). 7. FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL Hawaii Dumped by his longtime girlfriend, Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) heads to Oahu to mend his broken heart—only to find his ex (Kristen Bell) shacked up with another guy at the hotel. Paradise lost Peter's idyllic vacation at the Turtle Bay Resort, on Oahu's North Shore, is ruined when he bumps into his former flame and her new beau at the resort's romantic, open-air restaurant, Ola, and at Turtle Bay's oceanfront luau, held on Friday nights (808/293-6000, turtlebayresort.com, from $230). Hawaii on high On a morning hike to a 30-foot-high precipice overlooking the island's northeastern coast, Peter is persuaded by an island girl, Rachel (Mila Kunis), to take more risks in his life, starting with jumping off the cliff into the ocean. The scene was filmed at Laie Point State Wayside, where locals take the big leap at their own risk (hawaiistateparks.org, free). "Shooting that was wild," says location manager Art Rivers. "It was the last week of the school year, when teenagers have a tradition of jumping off the cliff, so we had to keep dozens of them back while we did the scene!" Wave runner The North Shore is known for its big surf in the winter months, but the rest of the year it's calm enough for hapless beginners like Peter. His attempts to catch a wave were shot at Haleiwa Alii Beach, but you can also learn to get the hang of things in the waters off Turtle Bay through the Hans Hedemann Surf School (808/924-7779, hhsurf.com, two-hour lesson from $75). 6. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA Spain When Woody Allen started writing the script for his latest comedy, one thing was nonnegotiable: It had to be set in sultry Barcelona. The resulting madcap movie chronicles the escapades of American tourists Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) with ladies' man Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem). Spanish side trip When the girls first meet Juan Antonio, the sweet-talking artist convinces Cristina and a hesitant Vicky to accompany him on a weekend getaway to the Asturian town of Oviedo, in northern Spain. Juan Antonio flies his friend's tiny aircraft through a turbulent storm, but Iberia offers daily nonstop service from Barcelona (800/772-4642, iberia.com, from $153). While in Oviedo, the trio takes a tour of San Julián de los Prados, one of many well-preserved pre-Romanesque churches in the region (011-34/607-353-999, $1.75). Outsider art Vicky and Juan Antonio share a steamy night together in Oviedo, but once they're back in Barcelona, he starts dating Cristina. A hurt Vicky runs into the lothario at Parc Güell, a park on the outskirts of town landscaped with Antoni Gaudí's whimsical sculptures, including a dragon fountain in front of which Vicky and Juan Antonio exchange words (011-34/93-413-2400, free). Antique amusement When Vicky's fiancé shows up in Barcelona, Cristina arranges an outing for both couples to the 107-year-old Tibidabo Amusement Park, which has a roller coaster that resembles an old locomotive, a vintage Ferris wheel, and panoramic views of the city and the surrounding coastline (011-34/93-211-7942, tibidabo.es, $35). 5. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN New Zealand, Poland, and Slovenia The Pevensie clan—Lucy (Georgie Henley), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Peter (William Moseley), and Susan (Anna Popplewell)—returns to Narnia only to find its creatures have been forced into hiding by the Telmarines. So the children set out to help Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) reclaim his throne—a spectacular journey that was filmed in four countries. Tunnel vision One minute the kids are in a London Tube station, and the next they're emerging from a rock arch onto a white-sand beach in Narnia. The arch is part of Cathedral Cove, a marine reserve on New Zealand's Coromandel Peninsula. Local outfitter Mercury Bay Seafaris offers boat tours to the reserve, along with the other North Island film location (011-64/7-866-3910, glassbottomboatwhitianga.co.nz, from $44). Rock on As the foursome sets off in search of the Narnians, Peter leads the group through a lush forest dotted with jagged rock formations, refusing to admit that he's lost. Fittingly, the scene was shot at Lost Rocks, in Poland's Góry Stolowe National Park (011-48/74-86-61-436, pngs.pulsar.net.pl, $2). "It looks like the Grand Canyon, but full of greenery," says executive producer Perry Moore of the park's sandstone passageways. "The truth is that some of the best magic in the Narnia movies is grounded in reality." Watershed moment The movie's epic battle between the Narnians and the Telmarines culminates in a showdown along the banks of Slovenia's Soca River. "It was a complicated location to scout," says producer Phil Steuer. "We needed access to a river and permission to build a bridge." Wedged amid the Julian Alps, the Soca River valley is an adventure-sports haven for hikers, rafters, bikers, kayakers, and paragliders. If you want to hit the rapids, the Bovec Rafting Team arranges white-water trips (011-386/5-388-61-28, half-day tours from $50). 4. THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL England Sibling rivalry really heats up when sisters Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson) catch a glimpse of a young Henry VIII (Eric Bana)—and his spectacular palace. The movie is based on Philippa Gregory's best seller, which took its inspiration from English history. Grassy knole Henry VIII's home, Whitehall Palace, burned down in 1698, so production designer John-Paul Kelly turned to Knole, the king's country manor in Sevenoaks. Kelly was struck by the house's massive scale: "It looks more like a small town than a building!" The estate has 365 rooms, 52 staircases, 12 entrances, and 7 courtyards. From mid-March to early November, you can tour the rooms—complete with opulent Jacobean-era furnishings—as well as the Japanese sika deer park that surrounds the 1,000-acre property (011-44/1732-462-100, nationaltrust.org.uk, $18). Get thee to the nunnery Queen Catherine of Aragon (Ana Torrent) gives the Boleyn girls a rough welcome to court, forcing a timid Mary to sing for the queen's ladies-in-waiting in Lacock Abbey. Today, visitors to Wiltshire can explore Lacock's main hall, octagonal tower, botanic gardens, and medieval cloisters—which also had a cameo in two Harry Potter films (011-44/1249-730-884, nationaltrust.org.uk, $18). Redemption song London's St. Bartholomew the Great church serves as the backdrop for Anne's bleak wedding to Henry—and her fateful trial. Every Sunday at 6:30 p.m., the choir performs a moving evensong service. The tradition was established after Henry VIII broke from the Catholic church and formed the Anglican church in order to marry Anne (011-44/20-7606-5171, greatstbarts.com). 3. QUANTUM OF SOLACE Italy, Austria, England The highly anticipated sequel to Casino Royale marks the return of 007 (Daniel Craig). Bent on avenging the death of his lost love, James Bond outwits the British government and the CIA on a covert mission that takes him around the globe. Horsing around In the fast-paced opening scene, Bond chases a spy through a warren of medieval aqueducts in Siena, Italy. In the summer, you can take a tour of the subterranean cisterns through La Diana Association (011-39/366-358-8181, $13). Bond eventually pops up through a manhole in Piazza del Campo—directly into the path of the Palio horse race. During the competition, which has been held in Siena since 1310, riders must complete three laps around the piazza, avoiding spectators along the way (July 2 and Aug. 16, free). Opera on the water Bond tracks down villain Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric) at the Bregenz Festival House, a 7,000-seat concert hall with a floating stage on the banks of Lake Constance in Austria. The 2009 festival season runs from July 22 to August 23 and features Verdi's tragic opera Aida (011-43/5574-4076, bregenzerfestspiele.com, from $40). Sky's the limit Bond uncovers Greene's plot to overthrow the Bolivian government and take control of its water supply. While en route to Bolivia, 007's plane is shot down, and he has to share a parachute with his latest paramour, Camille (Olga Kurylenko). The scene was actually filmed in Bedford, England, at Bodyflight, a skydiving center with a wind tunnel that simulates free-falling at 120 mph (bodyflight.co.uk, from $70). "There aren't any cables holding you down in the wind tunnel," says director Marc Forster. "You're literally floating." 2. MAMMA MIA! Greece Based on the hit Broadway musical, Mamma Mia! tells the story of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), who's on a quest to find out who her real dad is before she gets married. After narrowing the pool down to three men, she invites them all to her mom's hotel on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi. The result? Chaos, and a whole lot of Abba tunes. Shipping out Sophie's prospective fathers meet for the first time when Sam (Pierce Brosnan) and Harry (Colin Firth) miss the last ferry to Kalokairi and Bill (Stellan Skarsgård) offers to take them on his boat. The scene was filmed on Skiathos, an island in the Aegean Sea about 85 miles north of Athens. You can buy ferry tickets to Skiathos through Alkyon Travel (011-30/210-383-2545, alkyontravel.gr, $95). The ferry anchors near Kabourelia Ouzeri, a restaurant known for its platters of fresh octopus with ouzo (011-30/242-702-1112, $4). Boatloads of fun When the men learn that Sophie's mother, Donna (Meryl Streep), doesn't want them at her daughter's wedding, they make a hasty retreat back to the mainland on Bill's boat. Determined to stop them, Sophie swims out to her could-be dads, and the group sings a playful rendition of "Our Last Summer." A peninsula off Glysteri beach, on the island of Skopelos, served as the scene's backdrop. You can charter a boat from Thalpos Holidays to explore the peninsula, along with the isle's many beaches and coves (011-30/242-402-9036, holidayislands.com, from $87 per day for a four-person vessel, no license needed). Going to the chapel The wedding takes place in a tiny church built on a steep rock formation overlooking the Aegean Sea. Before Donna climbs up to the chapel, she pours her heart out to Sam, singing "The Winner Takes It All." The scene was filmed at the rustic Agios Ioannis sto Kastri on Skopelos Island, where you can scale the 100-plus stairs to the top of the dramatic cliff. 1. AUSTRALIA Northern Territory and Western Australia In director Baz Luhrmann's tribute to his native Australia, aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) takes an arduous journey across the country with a rough-and-tumble stockman named the Drover (Hugh Jackman) as World War II is about to break out. Arriving in Oz Sarah disembarks from a ship in Darwin, Australia, with so much baggage that she has to enlist four porters to help her off the vessel. The scene was shot in Bowen, a beach town in northeastern Queensland with excellent snorkeling and diving; local outfitter Aussie Reef Dive offers half- and full-day trips to several nearby dive sites (aussiereefdive.com.au, from $37). Beau of the ball Sarah is surprised to see a rather dapper-looking Drover, whom she hired to help her drive cattle across Australia, at a high-society party one evening. The scene was filmed at Strickland House, an 1850s Italianate villa in Sydney, built for the city's first elected mayor, John Hosking. You can only tour the home once a year (the 2009 date is April 13), but visitors can stroll through the villa's manicured grounds year-round and eat a picnic lunch on a hill that overlooks Sydney Harbour (011-61/2-9337-5999, house tour $3). In love in the Outback Sparks fly between Sarah and the Drover as they traverse hundreds of miles across the Outback to a cattle station that Sarah has inherited in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. "The area has the most incredible sunsets and sunrises, and practically everything in the scene is authentic—the sunshine really burns, the dust is real," says James Fisher, one of the film's still photographers. You can explore this rugged countryside with Kununurra Scenic Bus Tours, which leads trips through the red-rock valley that surrounds the Ord River, with stops at an aboriginal art gallery and Ivanhoe Crossing, which has some of the best crocodile spotting in the region (011-61/437-058-673, ksbtours.net, from $70).