What would you do if you were stuck in one place, and every day was exactly the same, and nothing you did mattered? You could raise some hell, mabe rob a bank or two and drink as much as you want without worrying about a hangover, or you could visit some of the filming locations from the movie Groundhog Day. The dramedy about a selfish weatherman who is forced to repeat February 2 over and over and over again is the defining movie for one of the country's quirkiest holidays.
Despite the fact that the movie takes place in Punxsutawney, PA (where the world's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, officially decides if we're getting 6 more weeks of winter or not), it was mostly filmed in the quaint little town of Woodstock, IL, which is just outside Chicago. At the time, the town was super receptive to the film crew taking over to film Groundhog Day, even bringing heaters outside to keep the cast and crew warm as they shot the movie. They're still super proud of their role in the film; there are plaques all over Woodstock commemorating moments from the movie, such as the Bill Murray Stepped Here plaque, which is in the spot where Phil Connors stepped in the puddle, or the Ned's Corner marker, where Phil ran into Ned, his high school classmate, every morning.
There are other memorable spots that you mercifully don't have to visit day in and day out for basically eternity (Harold Ramis claimed in interviews that Phil was stuck in the timeloop for anywhere from 10 to 40 to 10,000 years) across town. The Royal Victorian Manor Inn served as the filming location for the bed and breakfast where Phil and his crew stayed, and Wayne’s Lanes where Phil has a drink and chats with the locals (unfortunately we can't find the location of where he stayed in the Virgin Islands and drank Pina Coladas) before leading the police on a wild chase down the railroad tracks. There originally was no real Tip Top Cafe, but local demand led to a restaurant of the same name being opened in the downtown area. Sadly, even though it's still standing, it's no longer a coffee shop. It's been a few different things since the movie was filmed, and currently it's Taqueria la Placita. And, of course, we can't forget Woodstock Square, where the Groundhog Day ceremony (ceremonies?) were held.
If the thought of being trapped reliving one day over and over again feeling really down in the dumps, you're not alone. You can also check out the building where Phil jumped to his "death" (which is actually the Woodstock Opera House) or the pit (which is Nimtz Quarry in the ironically-named nearby town of Loves Park) that Phil drove his car into after kidnapping Punxsutawney Phil on a particularly bad Groundhog Day. But don't worry, wood-chuckers-- it won't be cold and grey for the rest of eternity; just 6 more weeks, tops.