Pop Culture Travel Destinations for the Nerds

For some reason the Star Wars movies tend to revisit the planet of Tatooine regularly.  Actually, the reason is because filming back in the 1970s was cheaper to use a desert rather than other potential alien planets; Naboo took a bit more computer graphics than George Lucas had access to back then.  See where Luke and Anakin spent their childhoods, and where Obiwan aged like 50 years in the 18 he was there (it’s a symptom of two suns, I guess).  Travel to the Tunisian desert to see remnants of the Star Wars desert planet but go quick as the pesky sand is quickly burying Mos Eisley to oblivion.

Game of Thrones, though based in another world, has been filmed nearly all around this world.  From Morocco to Northern Ireland and many other places you’ll find CGI-less sets all around.  But if you want to steal a peek at the White Walkers and where the wildlings dwell north of the wall then you’ll have a make a trip to Iceland.  Your flight will bring you into Reykjavik however you’ll need to venture to the east coast to catch a glimpse of Castle Black and the wall it protects.

Speaking of the undead but a little closer to home…are you dying for a road trip?  Fix that zombie-eyed gaze on the highways pointing to Georgia where most of The Walking Dead is filmed.  To do a full “Dead Tour” around Atlanta plan on driving about 130 miles in a loop to catch such sites as the hospital where Rick woke up in episode 1 (spoiler?), Hershel’s farm, the spot where the Governor makes his first appearance, and even the prison where many bloody nights were spent (and one very hot night for a few individuals).  This is an affordable geek trip and totally worth it to the big fans.

If Gandalf was smart he’d get you to New Zealand on his magic eagles; then again, if he would think to do that then he would have done it with Frodo and the 9hr epic would be reduced to about 15 minutes.  Nope, you’ll have to work like an elf and horde your gold like a dwarf until you have enough money to afford the flight down to the southern hemisphere.  But once you make it there you’ll be treated with phenomenal views of the Misty Mountains, and even a visit to the Shire.  Kick your shoes off and let those giant, hairy, hobbit feet breathe as you take in the beautiful pastures of Hobbiton.

Sure, you could go to where the Hogwarts set was and see a killer castle, but that’s not as nerdy as you can get; and we know you want to get nerdy.  Next time you’re in London hop on the Tube and cruise over to Kings Cross Station.  Visit somewhere between platform 9 and platform 10 and you’ll find Platform 9 ¾.  That’s right, the London municipality decided to tickle your geekdom with a platform that will take you to the magical world of wizards and witches.  There’s even a luggage carriage halfway into the wall.  Remember what they say, just close your eyes and run at the wall.  Actually, tell your nephew to do that and record it for us…should be a funny video.

Who ever thought you’d have a reason to visit Albuquerque?  Vince Gilligan, that’s who.  Search for Walter White at his home and look for a pizza still stuck on the roof, then visit Gus’s favorite pollo location, and wrap it up by finding Skylar laundering away at the car wash.  You can even have a taste of the famous Blue Sky Meth!  Alright, it’s actually blue rock candy but gives you about the same high.  No, no it doesn’t.  That’s probably a good thing considering what it did to Tuco.  *sniff “tight tight tight!”