Every year, my girlfriends and I pick a long weekend and take a trip. The destination doesn’t matter as much as this precious time together, so we usually book a hotel room in the first city one of us suggests. We have chosen places like Austin, Boston, New York City, and Nashville — which all By Lindsay Chamberlin on May 31, 2024

Every year, my girlfriends and I pick a long weekend and take a trip. The destination doesn’t matter as much as this precious time together, so we usually book a hotel room in the first city one of us suggests. We have chosen places like Austin, Boston, New York City, and Nashville — which all offer sights to see, things to do and incredible nightlife. On every trip, however, we find ourselves closing the curtains to make our room as dark as possible and watching reruns of “The Office.”

Set-jetting is a travel trend where the destination is a filming location for a movie or TV show. For example, a “Lord of the Rings” fan might head to New Zealand to see the village of Hobbiton in Matamata. I had to Google this information for you because I don’t know anything about “Lord of the Rings,” and I am absolutely fine with that. (You’re welcome.)

If you also Google “set-jetting destinations,” you’ll find a list of popularly searched places, headed up by the top five: “Virgin River,” “Stranger Things,” “Happy Valley,” “Game of Thrones” and “Gilmore Girls.” Twelfth on this list (but first in our hearts) is “The Office,” so when my friends Rose and Jenny called to see if I’d be interested in a trip to Scranton, Pennsylvania, to run The Office 5K, I registered that night. Our team’s name was Serenity by Jan.

I got to work making our team outfits — logoed sweatshirts and hats with flames so we’d look like candles. It took a lot of felt and hot glue, but mostly just dedication and a deep love of winning costume contests. If you’re not familiar with “The Office,” here’s a quick explanation of our costumes: The main character’s girlfriend lost her job at the New York corporate office, moved into his condo with him in Scranton, and started a candle company, Serenity by Jan.

We didn’t win the costume contest, but we did spend two glorious days exploring Scranton. “The Office” is set in Pennsylvania, but it was actually filmed in California. This didn’t matter. There was still a lot to see, and we saw all the sites on our list, including the Penn Paper building, the Scranton Welcomes You sign, Poor Richard’s Pub, the Steamtown mall and Cooper’s Seafood.

But most importantly, that Saturday, we were surrounded by 1,500 other race registrants who were all there for the same reasons. They knew the answers to the trivia questions, made their own costumes and spoke in quotes. One of the series regulars even co-hosted the event.

Afterward, we went back to the hotel and watched all of season 3 with brand-new context. Thanks so much to The Office 5K for an unforgettable weekend!

For kids who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, the painted ladies in San Francisco aren’t just cool houses; they’re where the Tanners lived. The West Village isn’t just a neighborhood in New York; it’s where you find Carrie Bradshaw’s brownstone and your Friends’ apartment.

If you were around during the ’90s and now the 2000s golden age of television, you have unlimited options for meaningful set-jetting adventures from Stars Hollow to Seattle Grace Hospital. TV isn’t just entertainment; it’s community.

Choosing a destination can be overwhelming but extremely satisfying. That’s what she said.

We got a picture with Andy Buckley, who played Dunder Mifflin CFO David Wallace. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF LINDSAY CHAMBERLIN)

Iconic.

Here’s a cute little guy who was on the race route.

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