Sci-Fi Summer Travel Guide
If you’re like millions of sci-fi loving Americans these days, you’re probably searching for inexpensive, yet still extremely entertaining ways to spend the remaining days of your summer months. With this in mind we have scoured the internet in search of everything from roadside attractions to legendary movie set locations in all parts of the country. Whether it’s scouting for UFO’s in Roswell or a trip to the original movie theater used in The Blob, there’s something for everyone and many of these may be a stone’s throw from your back door. So, rally the troops, jump in the car and hit the road for a few science fiction adventures you’ll not soon forget!
EAST COAST:
Mothman Museum
Point Pleasant, West Virginia
The Mothman Museum focuses on the paranormal urban legend of the Mothman, a demonic, winged creature thought to be associated with horrible tragedies in the small rural town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The museum is the perfect place for those fascinated with urban paranormal legends to research this phenomenon, from eyewitness accounts to historic documentation.
The Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum
Atlantic City, NJ
http://www.ripleysatlanticcity.com/
Based on the popular television show from the 1980’s by the same name, the Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum hosts a variety of bizarre and amusing installation pieces from Bakur the Gypsy to a Fiji Island mermaid.
Kennedy Space Center
Florida
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/home/index.html
The ultimate in exploration in space, the home of NASA, offers a variety of tours and viewings of space shuttle launches and landings. What better place than the Kennedy Space Center to get an up close and personal experience with Space Shuttle Launch Pad viewings, trips to Cape Canaveral, America's first satellite at the Air Force Space & Missile Museum, the Apollo/Saturn V Center, and educational visits to the International Space Station Center and LC 39 Observation Gantry.
Movie Theater From “The Blob”
The Colonial Theater
225 Bridge St.
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
http://www.thecolonialtheatre.com/
Experience the original 1988 B-movie classic The Blob first-hand with a trip to the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. The Colonial Theater will also be hosting the BlobFest Friday Night Running Out Re-Enactment Revelry on July 10th at 8pm, which will feature a live stage show hosted by Dr. Frank N. Stone & Ghoul-A-Go-Go and music by The Neanderthals.
***
If you’re a movie fan, then New York City is your playground. Over the decades it has been the production home of thousands of films of all genres, from action-adventure to science fiction. Here are few distinct locations you can visit that have been highlighted in some of this century’s most memorable films.
Ghostbusters:
The headquarters of the Ghostbusters
Hook and Ladder 8, 14 N. Moore St., Manhattan, New York City, New York
Dana Barrett's Apartment (aka Spook Central)
55 Central Park West, Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York
New York Public Library Ghostbusters Tour
5th Ave. between 40th and 42nd Streets, Manhattan, New York City, New York
I Am Legend:
At the beginning of the movie we see a desolate (CGI created) Times Square with The Fresh Prince himself hunting deers…
Times Square, Broadway between 43rd and 46th Street
Manhattan, New York City
DVD rental scene
Tower Records, 692 Broadway (West 4th Avenue)
Manhattan, New York City, New York
Driving Range Scene
Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
Pier 86 at West 46th Street
Manhattan, New York City
Museum Pond
Metropolitan Museum of Art
5th Ave at 82nd St, Upper East Side
Manhattan, New York
Men In Black:
MIB Headquarters
Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority
2 Broadway, Manhattan
New York City, New York
The Alien Space Craft
After taking off in the space craft, Edgar flys over Shea Stadium causing a baseball player to miss his catch. While over the stadium Jay and Kay shoot at the craft to bring it down.
Observatory Towers, Flushing Meadow
Unisphere
After Jay and Kay shoot down the spacecraft it comes back down to earth crashing through the Flushing Meadow Unisphere.
Flushing Meadow, Queens
New York City, New York
Night at the Museum:
American Museum of Natural History
79th Street and Central Park West
Upper West Side, Manhattan
New York City, New York
Spider-Man:
The Daily Bugle Offices
“Flat Iron Building”
5th Ave between 22nd and 23rd St.
Manhattan, New York City, New York
Diner where Mary Jane Works
Moondance Diner
6th Avenue and Canal Street
Manhattan, New York City, New York
Battle where Spider-man first meets Green Goblin
Times Square
Broadway between 43rd and 46th Street
Manhattan, New York City, New York
Dropping off MJ at the Rooftop Garden
Rockerfeller Roof Gardens
5th Avenue between 49th & 50th Streets
Manhattan, New York City, New York
The abandoned building where Spider-Man fights the Green Goblin
Roosevelt Island
Smallpox Hospital (Renwick Ruin)
Located near the southern end of Manhattan Island
East 52nd Street
http://www.rihs.us/landmarks/renwick.html
Spider-Man 2:
Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History
The direct entrance on the north side of the Museum on West 81st Street, just west of Central Park West. Access is also available through the Museum from Central Park West at 79th Street.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (original):
Klaatu arrives on Earth
When Klaatu lands his spaceship here on earth, he parks it at The Elipse which is situated between the White House and the Washington Monument…
The Eclipse
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC
The Dark Knight:
Joker’s crew robs ‘Gotham National Bank’
Chicago Post Office, 404 West Harrison – though the exterior seen is the northern corner at West Van Buren Street and Canal Street, where a fake extension was built on the adjoining vacant lot.
Taking down the Scarecrow
The parking garage at 200 West Randolph Street
**also the same garage which was the start of the Tumbler’s rooftop chase in Batman Begins
the HQ of ‘Wayne Enterprises’
Richard J Daley Center
On Washington Street between Clark and Dearborn Streets.
MIDWEST:
The birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk
Riverside, Iowa
Official city slogan: “Where the Trek begins.”
Riverside is the self-proclaimed future birthplace of fictional character Captain James T. Kirk of USS Enterprise and Star Trek fame. In 2005, Riverside was the site of Invasion Iowa, a reality television series produced by Spike TV. The series starred, among other actors and Riverside residents, William Shatner. The Riverside Area Community Club (RACC) hosts an annual “TrekFest” Star Trek celebration.
WEST COAST:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame
Located in the landmark Frank Gehry building at the base of the Space Needle, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame pays tribute to the lives, works and ongoing legacies of the genres’ greatest minds. The 2009 inductees include editor and publisher Edward L. Ferman, artist Michael Whelan, artist Frank R. Paul and author Connie Willis.
325 5th Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109.
http://www.empsfm.org/exhibitions/index.asp?categoryID=203
Vancouver, British Columbia
Not only is this part of the country absolutely breathtaking in its natural beauty, but Vancouver, British Columbia has been the filming location of countless science fiction series and movies from Battlestar Galactica, Smallville, Supernatural, Dark Angel, New Moon, Andromeda, Alien vs. Predator, Stephen King’s It, The Fog, Stargate Atlantis and The X-Files.
***
The west coast has also been the filming location of countless iconic science fiction and dark fantasy films over the years BLADERUNNER to TWILIGHT! Here are a few spots you may want to check out for yourselves!
Star Trek (2009):
Surface of planet Vulcan
Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park
10700 West Escondido Canyon Road
Near Agua Dulce Springs, about an hour north of Los Angeles
Starfleet Academy in ‘San Francisco’
Oviatt Library at Cal-State University
Northridge, alongside San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge
Kirk and Spock face off over the Kobayashi Maru exercise - but Kirk becomes Captain of the Enterprise
Long Beach City Hall
333 West Ocean Boulevard, alongside Lincoln Park
Star Trek IV:
Park where Kirk and company initially land.
Will Rogers State Park
14253 Sunset Blvd.
Pacific Palisades
Los Angeles, CA
Cetacean Institute
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey, CA
Star Trek V:
Kirk meets ‘God’ on the planet ‘Shakari’.
Trona Pinnacles
Trona, CA
Nimbus III in the Neutral Zone, the Planet of Galactic Peace
Owens Dry Lake in the Mojave Desert
South of Lone Pine, central California
**Also the location of ‘Calima’, the birthplace of ape civilization, in Tim Burton’s 2001 ‘re-imagining’ of the classic Planet of the Apes.
Twilight:
The View Point Inn
The location where the prom scenes from the Twilight movie were shot.
Forks, WA
Bella Italia
Have dinner at the same restaurant Edward & Bella dine at.
Forks, WA
Back to the Future:
Doc Brown's 1955 House
Gamble House, 4 West Moreland Place, Pasadena, California
Twin Pines Mall
Puente Hills Mall, Colima Road, City Of Industry, California
Donnie Darko:
Donnie Darko's House
4225 Country Club Drive, Long Beach, California
2 for Evil Dead Please
Aero Theater
1328 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, California
Donnie's School
Loyola High School
1901 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, California
Jim Cunningham's House
4252 Country Club Drive
Long Beach, California
The Terminator:
Nice night for walk
The Terminator arrives to our time as only the Terminator could, butt naked. He heads stright to Griffith Park Observatory and challenges 3 punks for their clothes.
Griffith Park Observatory
4730 Crystal Springs Drive
Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California
Sarah Conner's Restaurant
Carrows Restaurant
815 Fremont Ave
South Pasadena, Los Angeles, California
Terminator 2: Judgment Day:
The post-apocalyptic battle scenes were filmed at the former mining facility at Kaiser Eagle Mountain.
Desert Center, Riverside County
Parts of the mall scenes (the arcade, back hallways, and crashing through the window) were filmed at Santa Monica Place at 4th Street & Colorado Avenue.
Santa Monica, Los Angeles County
The finale was filmed at California Steel Industries' Bop Shop which has since been demolished.
Fontana, San Bernardino County
The Lakeview Terrace Medical Center was used in the Pescadero State Hospital, parking lot, and biker bar scenes.
Sylmar, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
Terminal Island Freeway, State Route 47 / 103 was the site of the helicopter and tanker truck crashes.
Wilmington, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
E.T.:
Elliot’s House
7121 Lonzo St
Tujunga, CA 91042
**This location was also seen in the movie Charlie’s Angels.
The redwoods scene at the beginning of the film
Fort Dick, CA
**Land owned by Miller-Rellim Redwood Co.
A face down and dying E.T.
Little Mill Creek
Cresent City, CA
Elliot’s school
Culver City High School
Elenda Street at Franklin Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
Tree-lined street from which Elliot and E.T. take off
White Oak Ave. (a few blocks north of Chatsworth St. and south of San Fernando Mission Blvd.)
Porter Ranch
Granada Hills, CA
Bladerunner:
Deckard’s final showdown with Batty in Sebastian’s waterlogged home
Bradbury Building
304 South Broadway
Los Angeles, CA
Deckard is taken to the cop station
Union Station
South Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA
The interior of the ‘Yukon Hotel’
Pan Am Building
South Broadway at Third Street
Los Angeles, CA
The exterior of Deckard’s apartment building
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis-Brown House
607 Glendower Avenue
Silverlake, below Griffith Park
Los Angeles, CA
SOUTH/SOUTWEST:
International UFO Museum and Research Center
114 N. Main
Roswell, NM
http://www.roswellufomuseum.com/
Founded by public information officer Lt. Walter Haut in early 1990, the International UFO Museum and Research Center is a home for information on the Roswell Incident and other UFO phenomena. Museum exhibits include information on Roswell, crop circles, sightings, Area 51, ancient astronauts and alien abductions. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions. Also within the area resides the New Mexico Museum of Space History, the Billy the Kid Museum and the Carlsbad Caverns National Parks.
Space Center of Houston
1601 NASA Parkway
Houston, Texas
The Space Center of Houston offers a variety of NASA related exhibitions and tours including the Space Center Theater, Blast Off Theater, NASA Tour, Astronaut Gallery, Feel of Space, Starship Gallery and Kids Space Place. They are also launching the APOLLO 11 40th Anniversary Splashdown Celebration this summer, beginning July 24th, a family-centric event that will feature Apollo-era guest speakers, the music of The Rockit Scientists and a movie artifact exhibit entitled “The Cinema of George Lucas”.
Extraterrestrial Highway
Rachel, NV
In April 1996 Nevada State Highway 375 was officially named the Extraterrestrial Highway for the many UFO sightings along this lonely stretch of road. The highway is close to the mysterious Area 51, a super-secret Air Force test facility, and in the 1980's and 1990's there have been many sightings of unidentified objects near the base. Even today visitors and locals alike often see strange lights in the night-sky while driving down the highway.
Dinosaur Monument:
Canyon Area Visitor Center
4545 Highway 40
Dinosaur, CO
Are you a dinosaur fan? Then you might want to check out Dinosaur Monument, Colorado. Here you can camp out and explore terrain riddled with dinosaur fossils. While the main fossil quarry is closed due to structural hazards, many of the prominent fossils are still visible. You can also go whitewater rafting!
***
The southern region of the United States has also been a destination for countless movies over the years…
Cheyenne Mountain:
3225 Broadmoor Valley Road
Colorado Springs, CO
Cheyenne Mountain has been the location for shows such as STARGATE SG-1. The mountain is also home to several civilian facilities, including the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun.
http://www.cheyennemountain.com/
Texas Chainsaw Massacre:
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Film Locations
Austin, TX
http://www.texaschainsawtours.com
Robocop:
OCP Headquarters
City Hall
1500 Marilla Street
Dallas, Texas
Quentin Tarantino’s “Grindhouse”:
Death Proof: Texas Chili Parlor
Texas Chili Parlor
1409 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas
Death Proof: Guero’s
Guero's
1412 S Congress Ave, Austin, Texas
