As I sit here writing this for you, I am watching Twilight. It’s the baseball scene. As I watch, it occurs to me that if a writer pens their story well, you seamlessly walk from this world into theirs. When the movie and TV show makers do their jobs well, they bring the writer’s world to life, taking you with them. In my humble opinion, the only thing better than that is having a way here in the real world to touch that fictional world. Lucky for us, we can do this in some cases—even the fantastical ones. Many places offer tours to see where the magic took place. I found nine places you can go. Let’s check them out.
For fans of The Walking Dead, do you remember when the CDC in Atlanta is blown up in season one? You can visit the Atlanta CDC office. If you want to see one of the campsites near Atlanta, walk around Belwood Quarry. The CDC office is located at 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia. Of course, the absolute devastation from the show won’t be littered around, but you can still see where it took place, which is cool in and of itself.
Calling all Potterheads! You can visit the big school hall from the movies. It is a place called the Christ Church Cathedral, and it is located in Oxford, England. Both the hall staircase and the cloister were used in the films. To be able to walk even part of the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would make me tingle with awe and happiness.
I can’t say that I have watched the Game of Thrones. I know, I know, bad Andie (good pizza). However, I know some of you have. There is a place you can go see for those of you who fell in love with that story. In the Old Town of Dubrovnik, in Croatia, you can see the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, King’s Landing. You can even book a Game of Thrones tour that lasts three hours.
Have you ever wanted to visit Hobbiton? The Hobbit town from The Lord of the Rings? Alexander Farm in Waikato, New Zealand, is where Peter Jackson built the town for Frodo and Sam. It is a 1,250 farm, and the filming set still exists and is a tourist attraction. Of course, it has a tour! At the end of said tour, you receive complimentary Hobbit Southfarthing drinks.
Yes, I realize that The Sound Of Music is a very old movie. It is still probably one of Julie Andrews’s most famous roles though she has had plenty of them. At the Residenzplatz (residence) Square in Salzburg, Austria, you see where you see Maria singing “I Have Confidence” in The Sound of Music. If you are there, you might as go visit the Nonnbery Abbey where the nuns sang “Maria” and the kids came to ask Maria to come back. You can see where they sang “The Hills Are Alive” by the village of Markt Schellenberg, which is around six miles away from Salzburg.
Ghostbusters fans, you have a place to go see too. Hook and Ladder 8 is on the corner of Varick Street in NYC. It is currently a fully functioning firehouse even though in 1984, it was HQ for the Ghostbusters. Well, it was used for the outside shots. For the inside shots, Fire Station 23 in LA was used.
The American Horror Story Murder House used to be an Airbnb! The house is called the Alfred Rosenheim Mansion and is found in LA. It has also been in Dexter, X-Files, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If you want to see Miss Robichaux Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies on Jackson Ave. in New Orleans, Louisiana. While in New Orleans, check out Mary Laveau’s Cornrow City Salon on Dumaine St.
If you’re a fan of the Vampire Diaries show, you can actually find the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. It is in Covington, Georgia. Yeah, I know. It sounds goofy. It was the primary filming location for the series. While in Covington, keep an eye out for spots from The Originals. It was filmed here and in Conyers (mostly Conyers), which are only about eleven and a half miles apart.
If you are a boxer, you probably like Rocky. I know my husband does, and he hasn’t boxed in a while. Again it is an older movie, but it is legendary, and the montage that ends with him running up the stairs is iconic. It is still a meme. You, too, can go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and make your own iconic video.
Where would you like to visit? I want to see Hogwarts myself. It would be wonderfully overwhelming. If you get to go visit these places, take lots of pictures! Also, please, in all your excitement, remember to be respectful whenever you go to these sites. These are usually places of business or homes. Being excited but careful ensures more people can come and share in the experience as well. Let me know what places you want to see in the comments. Until next time, have fun storming the castle!
