If we're talking about the film that most people identify with our city, there's really only one choice, if television’s Grey’s Anatomy or Frasier don’t count: Sleepless in Seattle.
Roll your eyes if you must, but the romantic comedy starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan introduced the rest of the country to Lake Union's floating homes and, for better or worse, gave East Coasters a reason to visit us more often. It’s also a multi-occasion film, with touchpoints on Christmas, New Years Eve, and, of course, Valentine’s Day.
There are a handful of popular films that were either filmed here or at least put up a good effort pretending to have been filmed here (hi, Vancouver), including Singles, 10 Things I Hate About You, Say Anything..., The Ring, Harry and the Hendersons, Fifty Shades of Grey, and the Fabulous Baker Boys, to name a few. But Sleepless is perhaps the one that’s most embedded in the cultural canon—at least, it’s the one that people know best as taking place here. (The title helps.)
We've mapped the film’s actually-in-Seattle locations out below so you can take your own, personal Sleepless in Seattle walking tour. Though if we're being honest, you're probably going to want to make it more of a driving (or light rail!) tour if you plan on including Sea-Tac Airport.
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