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Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco  movie cover Movie Locations Guide

Where was Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco filmed?

1995

City Locations

San Francisco, Vancouver

Location Types

Airports, Hotels/Motels, Restaurants

Location Styles

Bed & Breakfast, Contemporary, Modern Building

About Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

Davis R. Ellis took the director’s seat for Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco. It’s a sequel to the 1993 adventure comedy Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey which is a screen adaptation of Sheila Burnford’s same-titled novel. It was also a remake of Disney’s 1963 live-action film The Incredible Journey.

The first film focused on three pets, a cat and two dogs, who go on a treacherous journey back home. Sassy the cat, voiced by Sally Field, Chance the Bulldog, voiced by Michael J. Fox, and Shadow the Retriever (Ralph Waite) return for the second installment. Waite replaced Don Ameche to voice the part of Shadow after Ameche passed away after filming the first film.

Their Bunford and Seaver family goes on vacation to Canada tagging the three pets for the trip. Much like the first time around, when they ditch their humans during a trip to San Francisco, the trio makes their escape at the San Francisco International Airport.

After eluding airport security and making it out into the city, the three embark on yet another adventure-filled journey to get back home. They live with their humans just beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, and along the way, they end up on the wrong side of the tracks.

From encounters with streetwise strays to evading two catchers riding a van around the city while collecting animals for lab experiments; navigating their way back home is riddled with plenty of challenges. Making their way through the big city proves as dangerous as when they traversed through nature in the first movie.

Amid it all, the trio rescues a kitten and its human from a burning house. Chance also finds romance on the streets after being taken by a mutt called Delilah (Carla Gugino). They reunite with their humans after crossing the Golden Bridge, and even more heart-melting, the Seaver family adopts Delilah.

Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco Locations

The “Homeward Bound II filming process started in April 1995 and production wrapped in July of the same year. While the story is set in San Francisco, the cast and crew filmed a bulk of the scenes around British Columbia, Canada.

However, the production team filmed plenty of the Homeward Bound II scenes on-location in several places around San Francisco and Tiburon, California. In British Columbia, the majority of the filming took place in Strathcona, Vancouver.

The production team also set up shop at the Administration Building within the Molson Brewery at 1550 Burrard Street in Vancouver. Union Market, at 810 Union Street, is yet another noteworthy location that the team used in Vancouver.

There’s plenty more to explore, in terms of the best scenes in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco, and details about where they were filmed.

Fun facts:

They say that next to children, working with animals is quite challenging. The Homeward Bound II production backed up this fact given that multiple animals shared the role of the three lead pets. During filming, the team switched between four Bulldogs, six Himalayan cats, and four Golden Retrievers.

Airport scene in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco Locations

Abbotsford Airport, British Columbia

Airport scene in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco Locations

When the Burnford-Seaver family arrives at the San Francisco International Airport, Chance panics seeing the airport workers and mistaking them for the pound staffers.

He had angered Jamie with some of his earlier antics and he fears that his human might decide to send him back to the rescue shelter. It brings to mind his words during a later scene, “I never knew it could hurt this much. It's like getting a bath and missing dinner and going to the vet all rolled up into one.”

Flooded with emotions, he acts swiftly and breaks out of his carrier. Shadow and Sassy follow his lead and the trio begins their escape.

The shot of the plane taking off, as the pets scamper below, was filmed at the Abbotsford Airport in British Columbia. However, the filmmakers recorded the establishing shots at the San Francisco International Airport.

By bus, get to the Homeward Bound II film location via the 21 or 66 transit lines.

The viewpoint of the city scene in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

Wisconsin and 20th Street, San Francisco

The viewpoint of the city scene in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

Once they make it out of the airport, the trio sets out to the Golden Gate Bridge. The exchange Chance has with Sassy foreshadows their experiences when he says, “I welcome danger with open paws.”

Sassy retorts that he also has a constantly open mouth. The feline has a rocky relationship with Chance, who is the youngest out of the trio. Shadow is older and the voice of reason in most instances.

As they venture into the city, we see several views of San Francisco. In particular, the team filmed the viewpoint of the city at Wisconsin and 20th Street. As for the scene where they were walking up a hill and catching a glimpse of Alcatraz Island, Green and Taylor Street served as this Homeward Bound location.

In British Columbia, Union Street and Vernon Drive provided the setting for the scene where Delilah chases Chance. She then catches with the pup at 524 Glen Drive,

Park scene in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

Stanley Park, Vancouver

Park scene in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

A group of strays going by the street name Riley’s Gang, rescue the trio when they unintentionally trespass a Boxer, Ashcan (Jon Polito), and Bullmastiff, Pete (Adam Goldberg), territory. As they scuffle for safety, Chance separates from the other two pets.

The gang sends Delilah after him, and when she catches up, convinces the pooch that they mean no harm. The three animals then band with the gang of street pets on their path to the ultimate destination.

At one point, they pass through a park and that’s when Chance realizes that he’s taken a liking to Delilah. Bringing to mind one of his other rib crackers, “There's only one thing I know that could make this moment happier. In fact, I think I smell it coming up the driveway right now. Can it be? Yes, yes I think it is. It's pizza!”

The Stanley Park in Vancouver provided the setting for the Homeward Bound II scene. A magnificent green oasis, the urban park covers 400 hectares with scenic views of the surrounding mountains and water.

Some of the highlights include the Stanley Park Seawall and the Vancouver Aquarium, which is touted as one of the largest in Canada. Hop onto the TransLink #19 bus to get to the park.

The animals collaborate on rescuing Chance scene in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisc

Pier 39, San Francisco

The animals collaborate on rescuing Chance scene in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisc

In an instance of absent-mindedness, the two animal catchers driving the “Blood Red Van” capture Chance. Riley (Sinbad), the gang’s leader, warned them to steer clear of the van because they capture strays and sell them “the Lab” for experiments.

Even Sassy misses Chance’s presence saying, “I miss his stupid jokes, and his stupid face, and his stupid... stupidness.” All the animals work together to rescue Chance and other dogs captured by the ill-intentioned humans.

After catching up with the vehicle, Bando (Stephen Tobolowsky), a member of Riley’s gang, heroically enters the van and engages the reverse gear. The car backs up into the river, and the reunited animals celebrate the victory.

Pier 39 in San Francisco provided the backdrop for the waterfront scene. The location offers varieties of attractions to see and explore including the Aquarium of the Bay, Bay Plunge, and the Musical Stairs.

Other exciting activities include wine tasting on the bay, sea lion-watching, and going on one of the San Francisco whale tours. Start your journey to the Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco filming location aboard bus BBX, 132, or 172. The Yellow and Red Bart as well as the “F” light rail can also get you to Pier 39.

The family stays at a hotel scene in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

Grouse Inn, North Vancouver

The family stays at a hotel scene in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

The pets’ owners don’t feature in too many scenes, except for the start and end of the film. It carries the recurring theme of animals fearing humans, best brought out by Riley. Abandoned as a pup, he formed a street gang to protect other strays from cruel humans.

The experience leaves him with a distaste for Homo sapiens, and he warns all other animals to be wary of humans. Riley further tells them to steer clear of cars because of their connection to humans, especially the Blood Red Van saying, “They send you to a place called the Lab. And that sounds bad.”

The scene where the family stayed at a hotel was filmed at the Grouse Inn hotel. To be precise, they stayed in room 106. Located at 1633 Capilano Road in North Vancouver. Sadly, the inn closed its doors permanently but you can still drop by the Homeward Bound II location for a photo op.

The trio reunites with their human family scene in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

Paradise Drive, Tiburon

The trio reunites with their human family scene in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

The final heart-melting scene sees the trio cross the Golden Gate Bridge and reunite with their humans. Chance is saddened to have left Delilah behind but the pooch turns up at their family picnic.

Having a chit-chat with Delilah, Chance bats for his humans saying, “They treat us pretty good here. Three meals a day, a warm place to sleep at night, and all the smelly sneakers you can eat.” Bob Seaver (Robert Hays) gives in to his family’s plea to adopt the dog, and that simultaneously reunites Chance and Delilah for the long haul.

The team filmed the heartwarming Homeward Bound scene at Paradise Drive in Tiburon. For the final showdown between the trio and Ashcan and Pete, who had been trailing them all along, the team recorded the scene at GVRD North Vancouver on Lillooet Road. The location now operates as the Rice Lake Parking Lot.

Conclusion

Anyone keen on embarking on a Homeward Bound II filming locations tour has enough references to create a solid itinerary. There are several more places around San Francisco and British Columbia that are worth checking out.

The Coit Tower in San Francisco is where they filmed the scene where an artist paints a portrait of Delilah and Chance kissing. Money Foods Enterprises, at 595 Gore Avenue, stood for the New Chong restaurant.

Tucker's house is located at 1177 Keefer Street in Vancouver while the Candlestick Neighborhood Grocery scene was filmed at the Wilder Snail Neighborhood Grocery located at 799 Keefer Street.

The stunning cityscape shot was filmed between Pandora Street and Boundary Road in Burnaby, British Columbia. After Delilah catches up with Chance, they walk in a neighborhood, which in real life is found at 10th Avenue, Vancouver, between Manitoba Street and Columbia Street.