Virgin River
Visit the Fairytale Town of Virgin River… Also Known As Vancouver
Reminiscent of a juicy Hallmark flick, Netflix’s romance drama Virgin River is capturing the hearts of critics and consumers around the world. The show follows nurse practitioner Melinda Monroe, a recent widow who moves to Virgin River, California to accept a position as a midwife. While she’s there, she must come to terms with her painful past before she can truly call the town home – and yes, a love interest quickly sizzles to the forefront.
Many people have fallen in love with Virgin River, a utopian town that exists more in our desires than in reality – but just because it’s fictional doesn’t mean you can’t visit the scenic surroundings in real life. In fact, the “town” is actually an amalgamation of filming locations in and around Vancouver. Read on for our Virgin River self-guided itinerary.
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Snug Cove, Bowen Island An easy 20-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver direct to Snug Cove, Bowen Island is a small municipality situated in the middle of Howe Sound. Widely known as an idyllic escape promoting relaxation and wellness, Bowen Island is filled with retreat-inspired experiences, ranging from yoga and massages to sea kayaking, hiking, horseback riding and scuba diving. Snug Cove anchors the show as the fictional town of Virgin River, with establishing shots including the local library, main streets and Artisan Lane.
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Squamish The Watershed Grill served as the film site for exterior shots of Virgin River’s central gathering space, owned by Melinda’s love interest, Jack Sheridan. The restaurant boasts sweeping views of Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park and the mountains looming in the distance. Scenes between Melinda and Jack were also filmed in Squamish, near the river; and the show’s waterfall scenes were filmed at Shannon Falls Provincial Park, a 10-minute drive from Squamish along the Sea to Sky Highway, one of the most stunning highway drives in the world.
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Burnaby A scene featuring a local food truck was filmed in Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park, a half-hour drive from downtown Vancouver. The riverside park is a scenic place to spend an afternoon, boasting a playground pirate ship, leafy trees perfect for picnicking, and sprawling lawns where you can bring your bocci or croquet sets. Filming also took place at Deer Lake Park, with the Mayor of Virgin River’s house situated along Deer Lake Drive; and in the community picnic areas behind Hart House. The latter is an idyllic place to stop for a cup of tea or West Coast-inspired lunch, situated in a charming heritage house with manicured lawns and gardens that often host warm-weather weddings.
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Port CoquitlamAlso a half-hour drive from Vancouver, Port Coquitlam is located on the north banks of the Fraser and Pitt rivers. Here, Virgin River crews filmed inside locally loved businesses like Samz Pub, which appears as a pub visited by Melinda and Jack; and In a Wink Beautique, which plays a hairdressing salon.
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North VancouverThe Virgin River crew also filmed at Murdo Frazer Cabin in North Vancouver, which plays Melinda’s new home in Virgin River; the cabin has formerly appeared in Facebook’s thrilling Sacred Lies, as well as Once Upon a Time, The Flash and Supernatural. After snapping a selfie with the cabin, continue north towards Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, two of Vancouver’s most popular attractions.
Love romance titles? Check out our self-guided itinerary for Netflix’s popular To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, whose second instalment – To All the Boys: PS I Still Love You – was released on February 13.