Interesting Movie Sets To Visit

Right now, movies are filming on location somewhere in the United States and around the world. Many cities and countries have become must-see destinations simply because of the part they played in a popular film.

New Zealand

The visionary director Peter Jackson used his native New Zealand as the backdrop for his epic adaptation of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. New Zealand’s unique landscapes easily lent themselves to the fantasy locations described in the books and artwork for the story. Snow-capped mountain peaks, rich green forests and valleys, barren plains and rolling rivers are just a sampling of the geologic and bio- diversity that this island nation has to offer. With The Hobbit, part 1 of the 2-part prequel to LOTR, scheduled to premiere in 2012, the attraction of a trip to New Zealand has never been greater.

New York

Gotham, the Big Apple… New York is known by many names and has played a starring role in many movies and television series. Romantic comedies, action movies, crime dramas and horror films have all used this infinitely diverse and timeless city as a setting. Whether you are strolling through Riverside Park on the Upper West Side, window-shopping at Tiffany’s on Fifth Avenue, watching for Hubble outside the Plaza, or waiting at the top of the Empire State Building, there is a memorable movie location within easy reach.

Las Vegas

Arguably, the most talked about and entertaining glimpse at Sin City’s locations and shenanigans is The Hangover, the story of a bachelor party gone terribly, and hilariously, wrong. A primary location for the movie was the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, located on Las Vegas Boulevard South and home to the
beautiful dancing fountain.

Memorable Las Vegas movie locations include Caesars Palace, where Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman rode the elevator down to the casino floor in Rain Man, and the many sets used for the original 1960s version of Ocean’s 11, of which only the Riviera Hotel & Casino remains. The 2001 reboot starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt used the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, too, and the sequel Ocean’s 13 added THEhotel at Mandalay Bay to its locations. All these movies made use of the casino floors, shooting scenes involving the table games and slots action.

Forks, Washington

As The Twilight Saga comes to a close on screen in 2012, mention must be made of the epic series location. Though the movies have been filmed in numerous locations primarily in Oregon, with a few shoots in California and Washington, the story’s actual setting, the town of Forks, Washington, is a real place, as are Port Angeles and LaPush Indian reservation. After the release of Stephanie Meyer’s popular novels, the attention on this small town and its fictional residents, Bella Swann and the Cullens, skyrocketed and the movies only served to increase tourism. Forks offers location guides and information for visiting fans, encouraging so-called “Twi-hards” to immerse themselves in their favorite story by visiting Twilight-themed stores and restaurants and to enjoy locations such as First Beach, located in LaPush, Bella Italia restaurant in Port Angeles, where Bella and Edward had their first date, and Forks High School on Spartans Ave. in Forks, where Bella and the Cullens attended school.