Destinations associated with favourite fantasy books and movies offer holidays that can be truly unforgettable. Writers have been inspired by all sorts of locations, and there are many from which to choose.
The problem with being spoiled for choice is knowing where to start looking, and then deciding where to go. A good place to begin is to take a look at a few of the best fantasy book and movie holiday destinations for inspiration, and then take it from there.
Game of Thrones, Croatia
Although Game of Thrones was not filmed entirely in Croatia, the city of Dubrovnik conveys a sense of the hit series in a way that none of the other locations do. While there, which fans will recognize as Kings Landing, you can do walking tours that take you to Blackwater Bay and to the Old Town. Altogether, there are about 19 different locations in the city, so you should be kept busy for a few days.
Lord of the Rings, New Zealand
Peter Jackson filmed much of his stunning interpretations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpieces, the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, in New Zealand. If you head to the beautiful island country, you can go on studio and set tours that are as exciting as what betting sites in New Zealand have to offer. You can explore Bilbo’s house and other places in Hobbiton, as well as the Mill, and the Green Dragon Inn. It also is possible to visit places in which Isengard and Rivendell’s scenes were shot.
Roswell UFO Museum, USA
In 1947, something crashed into the New Mexico desert. The wreckage, reported to include rubber, sticks, and tinfoil, was collected by the US military, and it was taken to the Roswell Army Airfield. Conspiracy theorists generally do not believe the official explanation of the wreck as being that of a nuclear testing balloon. A visit to the UFO Museum and Research Centre in downtown Roswell is the best place to make up your own mind about a defining moment in history, sci-fi, fantasy, and wider popular culture. Try to time your visit to coincide with the UFO festival.
X-Files, Canada
A staple of 90s TV, the X-Files inspired many hours of the office water cooler and neighborhood pub discussions. Decades later, the show still inspires devotion among fans. If you are one of them, a vacation in Canada may be for you. Even though the X-Files was set in the US, the first five seasons were filmed in Vancouver and around British Columbia. Make no mistake, it is possible to find a few locations that were used in the filming of the series if you do some digging.
Harry Potter Studio, UK
If you attended midnight book launches and movie screenings dressed as your favorite Harry Potter character, you may want to head to Warner Bros’ Leavesden Studios in the UK. The European facility offers Harry Potter studio tours on which you can see costumes and props, and you will get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the movie’s special effects. Professor Snape’s potion laboratory is one of the sets that you can see.
