PHOTO: Downton Abbey Tours. Photo courtesy West Oxfordshire City Council.

It's December, and you know what that means… the tree has been lit at Rockefeller Center, wreaths decorate doors, and holiday music is blasting in houses, offices and department stores. It is a joyous and exciting month for all. If you’re a film buff like me, December is a particularly exciting time as it is when many serious Oscar contenders hit theaters leading into the early 2015 award season.

Now, I’m not going to pretend that I’ve seen every movie or can expertly predict who will take home awards, but while watching numerous trailers and deciding what movies to see this month, it got me thinking about how movies and television shows can spark and inspire fans to travel. Award-winning films and television shows have the ability to capture the true character of a destination, often stimulating travel. For example, film settings such as Highclere Castle in the U.K., home of Downton Abbey’s Crawley family, not only allow visitors a glimpse into fictional life, but also offer a new approach to visiting popular destinations like England.

USTOA member programs offer travelers insider access to discover celebrated settings all over the world and bring home a little Hollywood glamour, too. So, for all of you television and movie buffs out there, here is a sampling of itineraries on which curious travelers can learn more about the lives of the characters they love. (Note: these are not necessarily December releases or Oscar contenders.)

Wild

Hitting theaters this Dec. 5, the highly anticipated movie “Wild” tells the gripping story of Cheryl Strayed, who set out alone on a 1,100 mile trek along the Pacific Crest Trail following a personal catastrophe. Now, for your clients who don’t want to undertake a solo journey of that magnitude but do want to experience the magic and beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Grand American Adventures’ “Western Dream” itinerary offers breathtaking views from Yosemite National Park, home to much of the Pacific Crest Trail. Guests will also visit Grand Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and Death Valley National Park.

Available over select dates between May and September in 2015 and 2016, prices for this 12-day camping journey start at $2,261 per person. Visit www.grandamericanadventures.com for more information.

Downton Abbey

Guests on the 12-day Cities of Light or eight-day Paris & the Heart of Normandy itineraries from Viking River Cruises, available over multiple dates between March and December 2015, have the option of adding the pre-excursion Oxford & Highclere Castle. During the three-day extension, travelers will visit the University of Oxford and enjoy an exclusive tour of Highclere Castle, known to television audiences everywhere as Downton Abbey. After a glass of champagne, visitors will explore the public rooms of the estate, including the magnificent main hall, dining room, library and sitting room, gaining additional insight into the lives of Robert, Cora, Mary, Edith and Sybil Crawley.

The Cities of Light starts at $2,956 and the Paris & the Heart of Normandy journey starts at $1,356. The cruise prices are per person, double occupancy, cruise only. Visit www.vikingrivercruises.com for more information.

The Fault in Our Stars

“The Fault in Our Stars,” based on the best-selling young adult novel by John Green, tells the touching love story of cancer-stricken teenagers Gus and Hazel who come together against all odds. During the story they take an epic trip to Amsterdam. Guests on Go Ahead Tours’ six-day “Amsterdam & The Keukenhof Gardens” itinerary will visit the colorful canals and bridges of De Negen Straatjes, where Gus and Hazel explored, and during their free time can stop by the Anne Frank House, the backdrop for one of the most important moments in the story, as well as a crucial landmark in larger historical terms. Travelers will also enjoy a daylong escape to the peaceful, perfumed Keukenhof Gardens, where more than seven million flowers will be in bloom. Available April 18, 2015, and April 9, 2016, prices start at $1,429 per person based on double occupancy. For more details, visit www.goaheadtours.com.

Game of Thrones

The Minceta Tower and fortification is a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Dalmatian Coast in Dubrovnik, Croatia, but to “Game of Thrones” fans, it is The House of The Undying in the season two finale. The 15-day Highlights of Austria, Slovenia and Croatia 2015 journey from Trafalgar offers travelers two full days to explore the medieval city of Dubrovnik at leisure, allowing plenty of time for a stop at the Minceta Tower and other “Game of Thrones” filming locations in the city. Out of Dubrovnik, trip highlights include the opera house and St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, the glacial Lake Bled in the Julian Alps of Slovenia and Diocletian’s Place in Split.

Available over a variety of departure dates between May and September 2015, prices start at $3,452 per person, land only. Additional details are available at www.trafalgar.com.

For more information about tours and packaged vacations, visit www.ustoa.com. And, remember that when booking with USTOA Active Members, you also get the assurance of knowing that they are held to the highest standards in the industry with our $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program. Visit www.ustoa.com for complete details.