Netflix Movie 'Happiness For Beginners' Filmed Scenes In Mianus River Park

STAMFORD, CT — Those who watch the 2023 Netflix movie "Happiness For Beginners" might notice some familiar scenery.

The outdoorsy romantic comedy, which was released on July 21, is set on Connecticut's section of the Appalachian Trail in the northwest corner of the state, but most of the hiking scenes in the movie were filmed in Stamford and Mianus River Park which also goes into Greenwich, according to the Stamford Advocate.

Filming also took place at Kent Falls State Park and Macedonia Brook State Park in Kent, and in Torrington, the Advocate said.

Starring Ellie Kemper ("Bridesmaids"), Luke Grimes ("Fifty Shades" series), Nico Santos ("Crazy Rich Asians"), and more, the film follows Helen (played by Kemper), a schoolteacher who is at a crossroads in her life following a divorce.

Looking for a fresh start in life and in love, Helen signs up for a group hiking trip. The movie is based on the 2015 book written by Katherine Center.

"Written and directed by Vicky Wight, this adaptation of Katherine Center’s novel of the same name follows Helen as she and her quirky group of fellow hikers test themselves against nature," a description of the movie on Netflix says. "As it turns out, though, bear traps and blisters might be easier to deal with than the arrival of handsome newcomer Jake (Luke Grimes). Will Helen find more than mosquitoes in the wilderness?"

Mianus River Park is a 391-acre nature reserve on the Greenwich/Stamford border.

Stamford owns 187 acres, Greenwich owns 110 acres and the state of Connecticut owns 94 acres, according to Friends of Mianus River Park, a nonprofit group whose mission is to preserve the park for future generations.

There are two trails along the Mianus River, the pond trail, the oak trail as well as bedrock outcroppings and ridges, the town of Greenwich notes on its website.

"The Mianus River Park is ideal for passive recreation activities like walking, hiking, fishing, and dog walking, but there are no facilities for camping or picnicking," the town said.

Friends of Mianus River Park noted the reserve's vegetation provides resting and nesting habitats for a variety of wildlife, including ruffed grouses, pheasants, mallards, cranes, herons, songbirds, woodpeckers, squirrels, deer, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, weasels, mink and river otters, and other small mammals.

The Advocate noted that Wight's experience in filming "The Volunteer" (2013) in Stamford lead her to come back to the state for another movie.

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