Fans of the new historical drama “Young Washington” can now turn a movie night into a travel itinerary, visiting the Irish and Virginian sites where the film was shot.
Exploring Ireland’s Green Backdrops
Most of its wilderness scenes were captured in the Irish countryside, though the exact spots remain vague. Production crews were seen near Blessington Lake and the microWild nature preserve, a detail confirmed by a local Facebook forum post. A 50‑foot plunge pool built outside Dublin doubled as an icy river where the young George Washington is thrown from a raft.
Travelers should aim for the shoulder months of May or September. Those periods usually bring mild weather, long daylight hours and fewer crowds than the peak summer season, while winter rains can dampen outdoor plans.
Getting around Dublin itself is straightforward with public transit, but reaching the more remote filming locations calls for rideshares, rental cars, or well‑planned bus routes. The city also serves as a convenient base for day trips to the lake and surrounding hills.
While in Ireland, visitors can combine film‑site scouting with classic sights. Options include a sightseeing cruise, a guided walk along the Cliffs of Moher or a drive on the Wild Atlantic Way. Inside the city, the Guinness Storehouse and St Patrick’s Cathedral provide cultural highlights.
Travelers will love the scenery.
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Virginia’s Historic Trail
In the United States, the production returned to George Washington’s home state of Virginia for key scenes.
Virginia’s climate is most comfortable in early spring or late fall; April and October typically deliver pleasant temperatures for outdoor activities. Richmond’s free city‑bus system covers downtown attractions, but a rental car or private driver is advisable for reaching the filming locales outside the city.
Travelers can base themselves in Richmond and make day trips to the main sites. The drive between the locations takes roughly four hours total, assuming light traffic.
Virginia offers a mix of historic tours—walking, Segway or trolley—and cultural venues such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and the Science Museum of Virginia. Historical markers and preserved structures dot the area, giving a sense of the era depicted in the film.
For overnight stays, the Omni Richmond Hotel, The Commonwealth and The Berkeley Richmond provide upscale options, while chains such as Holiday Inn Express, Hilton and Country Inn & Suites cater to more modest budgets.
Visiting these locations lets travelers connect the cinematic portrayal with the real places that shaped America’s first president.