For long-time viewers of the highly dramatic fictional city of Port Charles in the General Hospital soap opera, why not plan a festive holiday season vacation inspired by the popular show? Read on for some tips and ideas on how to do that.
Explore the Real ‘Port Charles’ – Rochester, NY
GH fans know that Port Charles is nowhere to be found. However, no shortage of real-life places and holiday experiences exist that breathe life into the spirit of the daytime drama on ABC.
Not every fan knows that General Hospital once had a shooting location in Rochester, New York. To support Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura’s (Genie Francis) return plot, in 1993, the soap opera moved from the studio to the streets of the city.
Do you recall when Luke and Laura had that thrilling parachute scene? A lot of fans associate it with Rochester, but the exact place was Letchworth State Park. Actually, the show did shoot a few scenes right in Rochester. Those episodes still feature downtown Main Street, Brown’s Race, and the Newark Diner.
Letchworth’s about sixty miles south. So, while Rochester is a great way to experience the history of Port Charles, you’ll need a side trip a little out of town to be able to say that you were there.
Take a walk through Main Street and along the Genesee River to get a feel of the very beginning of Port Charles. Certainly, the place can remind you of the good old days and nature’s wonders at the same time.
Join a Festive Fan Event or Meet-and-Greet
One major GH event this December is the Stone Cold and the Jackal Holiday Tour. It’s a live comedy and music show featuring Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Damian Spinelli).
From December 6–10, 2025, they’ll be performing in different cities like Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. A VIP pass earns you a photo with the artists that can double up as your ultimate December fan gift.
Visit Los Angeles – The Heart of GH Filming
These days, episodes of GH get filmed at Prospect Studios in Los Angeles. Although the studio isn’t available for public visits, why not grab some landmark photos? After all, the exterior of the old Los Angeles County General Hospital where the opening shots were taken, can still be viewed by fans from the sidewalk.
The warm weather of the city makes it easy to picture a Port Charles Christmas without snow. Plan a themed stay at any of LA’s boutique hotels and celebrate love over Carly (Laura Wright) and Sonny (Maurice Benard) with a latte at a local café. For a bit of fun, you could call it “Corinthos Coffee.”
Create Your Own Port Charles Holiday
Of course, if you can’t attend a live show, there is still an option for a Christmas celebration of GH at home or even while traveling.
You can decorate your home or rented accommodation as a trendy hotel and name it Metro Court. Part of the fun could be in putting out General Hospital holiday goods. Alternatively, you could throw a Nurses’ Ball-inspired party at home for your friends.
Needing some merch? Well look no further than the ABC Shop for the likes of “Corinthos Coffee” mugs or Metro Court towels.
Not experiencing an official winter convention for ABC fans doesn’t mean that folks can’t come up with other ways of engagement with the show. Whether you opt to follow filming footsteps in upstate New York, meet your favorite actors live, or bask in LA’s sun, the holiday season acts as a perfect nostalgia-adventure blend: just like the show itself, General Hospital.
Did you ever take a vacation and theme it on your favorite show? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your travel news, guides, and tips.
