Wednesday, April 27, 2016

21 Walking Dead Filming Locations: Self-Guided Tour

It's a pretty big thrill to stand, look down at your feet, and know your favorite film or tv star has stood in that spot. Or died on that spot...or killed a walker from that spot...or bled on that spot...Obviously we're specifically talking about AMC's The Walking Dead here. And if you want to stand in their grimy, bloody, sweaty footsteps...you can!


What I'm giving you are the ropes for your own, self-guided tour. If you want to pay to take a tour, you can. The tour guides are usually people who worked on the show and can provide fun inside information, and I'm sure the tours are a lot of fun. But, if the funds for a tour escape you, scouting locations on your own is also pretty thrilling.

Before I start giving specific locations and addresses and tips, I have to put out there that some of these locations are on private property. If there are signs, please obey them. You can see perfectly from the road, or your car. Some of these locations are houses where people live; don't go on their lawn, knock on their door, or sit on their stoops. Be respectful and polite.

Also, I've tried to put these in a logical driving order. But Senoia, Grantville, Newnan, and Haralson are all within 20 minutes or so of each other. So if you end up going in circles, it's a beautiful area and not the worst thing you could do.

Spoilers ahead...

Atlanta:

The Walking Dead - CDC
CDC Building -
2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway
The building portrayed as the Walking Dead's CDC is actually Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. Clean up the dead bodies and add some flowers and it's a pretty beautiful building.










The Walking Dead - Terminus
Terminus - 
793 Windsor St
This is all private property, but if you drive to the very end of the street, before it takes a hard left, you have a perfect view of where the group first enters Terminus and sees the large letters spelling out the compound's name.









The Walking Dead - Rick's House
Rick's House - 
817 Cherokee Ave SE
Episode 1.1 "Days Gone By"
Someone lives here, and it's not Rick...stay off their lawn!













The Walking Dead - Morgan's House
Morgan's House - 
386 Ormond St
Episode 1.1 "Days Gone By"
This house is just a couple of blocks from Rick's. Someone also lives here, be respectful.













Newnan:

The Walking Dead - Woodbury Fighting Arena
Woodbury Fighting Arena - 
57 E Broad St
Use the above address to get to Caldwell Tanks, but then find the corner of Perry St. and Salbide Ave. There's a small parking lot there and you can look over the fence and see the exact area where the fighting arena was staged.










The Walking Dead - Shane and Otis
Shane and Otis Look for Medical Supplies - 
190 Lagrange St.
Episode 2.3 "Save the Last One"
This is actually Newnan High School, so be careful where you go. You really only need to go down Waterworks Rd beside the school, and you can look up the hill where Otis and Shane made their initial run.






Merle and Michonne (Oaks Inn) - 
1057 Highway 29
Episode 3.15 "The Sorrowful Life"
Merle captures Michonne and on their very long walk he stops and ties her up at a motel, almost getting her killed by walkers. People live at the old Oaks Inn, so be nice.










Senoia:

Woodbury -
Main St
The Walking Dead - Woodbury Coffee House
Main Street Senoia is The Walking Dead Headquarters. First make a stop at Senoia Coffee and Cafe for a delicious meal or some Zombie Dark Roast coffee. In the show, this shop sat just outside the walls of Woodbury and was called the Woodbury Coffee House. The business sign that adorned the building during filming is now inside the cafe, along with some other cool memorabilia.

As you head up Main Street don't look for the Governor's House, he burned it down. It is currently an empty construction lot a couple doors up from Senoia Coffee. Cross the street and pop into The Queen's Jewels for a fun zombie bracelet or necklace charm.


The Walking Dead - Woodbury
Continue another block or so and you'll come upon The Walking Dead Store. Either leave your wallet in the car, or be prepared to spend. They have everything! Even if you aren't in the mood to shop, head downstairs toward the back of the store to see some genuine props from the show, as well as the messages cast and crew have left all over the walls. Fun reading! If you're lucky, you might run into a walker inside the store. Michael Jaegers, who has played several zombies throughout the seasons, and Kathryn Telford, another of the undead, were there signing autographs and taking pictures. Both incredibly nice! Then for a quick pick me up, head next door to The Waking Dead Cafe (I didn't forget an L...it's waking...like with caffeine...coffee...okay...).


Alexandria -
The Walking Dead - Alexandria
If you go back to the bottom of Main Street (the bottom of the hill) and turn around, you should see the walls of Alexandria. You can cross the railroad tracks and look from there, but don't bother crossing the street. There's a guard and they don't like that. So all you'll see is the wall, and some of the burnt out buildings that sit outside the wall. Be respectful; breaking the rules means you're disrespecting the show itself.



The Walking Dead - Rick and Carl
Rick and Carl's Safe House - 
291 Plyant St.
Episode 4.9 "After"
With Rick barely able to walk, he and Carl hole up in this house. Rick collapses on the couch, Carl has a screaming fit...then leaves to find pudding.









The Walking Dead - Pudding HousePudding House - 
239 Plyant St.
Episode 4.9 "After
Carl finds pudding and loses his shoe to a walker. Not a bad day, overall.












The Walking Dead - Looking for SophiaChurch with No Steeple - 
Luther Bailey Rd.
Episode 2.1 "What Lies Ahead"
I don't have an exact address, but the church is on Luther Bailey Rd, not far after turning off Old Hwy 85. It's closed now, but still be very respectful. The gang runs through the cemetery out back (which you should not do), and enters through the front doors. Shane then proceeds to argue it's not the right church because it has no steeple...






Haralson:
At 10 Line Creek Road you'll find Cherokee Rose Retail, which runs the Walkin Dead Tours - and this one looks fun! Before they take you out to the Esco Feed Mill filming location, they'll equip you with a replica weapon of your favorite character (Merle, Daryl, the Governor, and even Neegan) and take you out for some really fun photo ops.You'll also get to go into the Mill to the Governor and Rick's negotiation table. You'll see a lot more filming locations with this tour, and I'm sure have a blast!

If you can't tour with them, check out the shop. It's packed full of fun merch and even some genuine props, such as the chairs the Governor and Rick sit in during their negotiations. It's a must stop before heading down the road to the Mill.

The Walking Dead - Esco Feed MillEsco Feed Mill - 
23 Line Creek Rd.
Episode 3.13 "Arrow on the Doorpost" & 3.15 "The Sorrowful Life"
After turning onto Line Creek Rd, turn onto the second little street on the left. In front of the second building on your left is where Daryl kills Merle, right there in the grass between the building and the road you're on. This is all private property; you can drive all around it, but don't go on it.




The Walking Dead - Sportsmans Deer CoolerSportman's Deer Cooler - 
44 Addy St
Episode 3.1 "Seed"
This building is only seen briefly as Michonne enters the front door. She and Andrea are resting here while Andrea is sick. I didn't go inside...because there are deer antlers nailed all over the front wall and I was scared.









Grantville:

This town was used to film three episodes, "Alone", "Clear", and "Prey". As soon as you get to Main Street you'll easily recognize it as the town-size-booby-trap Morgan creates in "Clear." While you can see locations on your own, I recommend that you do take a tour here with Z is for Zombie. Find the building on Main Street with the Zombie sign outside - that's the place to go.

30 minute tours are offered daily for just $10, and on this tour you'll learn lots of behind-the-scenes information on what filming was like for the small town and you'll get to tour inside Morgan's apartment. The apartment has been recreated to mimic how it looked in "Clear" - animal cages, weapons, crazed chalk ramblings all over the walls. In short, it's awesome. The tour guide, Rebecca, is lots of fun and very knowledgeable. If you have some extra time, on Saturdays at 4:00 join Rebecca for a viewing of "Clear" before taking an hour long walking tour. Rebecca also has some one-of-a-kind, original merch for sale that is awesome; I recommend her "Watch out for Lizzie" products!

The Walking Dead - Morgan's ApartmentMorgan's Apartment
Episode 3.12 "Clear"
I'm not sure of the exact address, but it's on Main Street and you can't miss it. The blue front door is where Rick and Michonne enter and of course the roof is where Morgan perches to shoot.
The Walking Dead - Inside Morgan's Apartment


The other picture is from inside Morgan's apartment, which you can only visit by taking a tour.














The Walking Dead - King County CafeKing County Cafe
Grant St.
Episode 3.12 "Clear"
If you're facing Morgan's apartment and turn around, then slightly to the right, you'll see the Grantville Freight Depot, a long white building. If you stroll down Grant Street you'll see a Cafe sign; this was made into the entrance of King County Cafe, where Carl retrieved a family photo for Judith and Michonne found a paper miche cat that was just "too damn gorgeous" to leave behind.






The Walking Dead - Clear

McKee Building
Griffin Street
Episode 3.12 "Clear"
On the next street over from the Freight Depot (you can see it from the Depot) is McKee Air. When first entering town, Rick peers around this building to see if the coast is clear. Coast is...clear...get it? Ok, I'm done.







The Walking Dead - Away with YouAway With You Wall
Main Street
Episode 3.12 "Clear"
At one end of Main Street you'll find the wall where Morgan painted his cheery message 'Away With You.' While the message is no longer there, the wall is awesome. Honestly, it's an awesome wall without The Walking Dead associations. If you walk inside the wall though, the nice townspeople have re-painted Away With You for some fun photo ops. Disrespectful people (not like any of you reading this) have torn away at the wall to have keepsakes. Bad. If you want a keepsake, you can buy a brick at Z is for Zombie. This will also help preserve the wall, which, thanks to naughty tourists, has already cost the town $1,000.


The Walking Dead - Baby Store
The Baby Store
Corner of Colley and Legrange
Episode 3.12 "Clear" 
The building with the copper-colored awning served as the Baby Store where Carl and Michonne fetch a crib for Judith.











The Walking Dead - Funeral HomeFuneral Home
26 Magnolia Ln
Episode 4.13 "Alone"
Although not really a funeral home, this huge house served as one when Daryl and Beth needed a place to stay. Daryl eat pig's feet, Beth eats peanut butter, and they find a one-eyed dog.















The Walking Dead - Daryl and Beth
Cemetery
Griffin St.
Episode 4.13 "Alone"
In the episode it looks like the Funeral Home sits on a hill behind the cemetery that Daryl and Beth walk through. They're actually a couple miles apart. The gravestone they stop and put flowers on does not exist, it was added for filming. Turn into the cemetery at the first entrance (if you're coming down Griffin from Main) and drive to the end, then turn right. At the end of that section of road is where Daryl and Beth come out of the woods.






Well, that's it...almost. Just two more things.

1. If you find on other sites the locations for the Elder's Mill Campsite (where the group camps after fleeing the farm) or for the Bellwood Quary (from season one), you cannot actually get to either.

2. If you want to find the pharmacy where Glenn and Maggie...look for "stuff", or the bar where Hershel drowns his sorrows, here are the addresses. I just ran out of time.
Bar - 132 Terrentine Rd, Sharpsburg
Pharmacy - 105 Main St, Sharpsburg

Saturday, April 9, 2016

London - Top Sights

Filling up an itinerary for London is not a difficult thing. It's a city rich with history, entertainment, and nature. Following are some of the most popular sights you may wish to visit...of course I encourage you to find some of the unexpected in London as well!

Hours and Admission Costs are always subject to change. Costs are listed in British Pounds because the conversion rates change so often. To convert prices to USD, click here.

Also, introducing my very own rating system - for this blog, Crowns.
♚ - Don't Bother
♚ - Ok, but not my cup of tea
♚ - You should go if you have the time
♚ - Do your best to try this out
♚ - If you have to stay an extra day for this, do it

Tower Bridge:
Crowns: ♚ I mostly recommend for the amazing views of London from the walkways
Hours: Apr-Sep 10 am - 5:30 pm; Oct-Mar 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Cost: Adult - £9; Child - £3.50 


Tower Bridge, London
View from Tower BridgeThis bridge, commonly mistaken for the London Bridge, spans the Thames just beside the Tower of London. It's also home of the Tower Bridge Exhibition. The Exhibition brings you through historic Victorian engine rooms used to raise and lower the bridge, exhibits explaining why the bridge was needed and how it came to be built, and finally brings you to the high-level walkways. The newest addition to the walkways are glass floor panels. See the Thames flowing 137 feet below and maybe even witness the bridge being raised from this unique perspective.
 Tower of London:
Crowns: Family fun with some of England's bloodier history, beautiful architecture, and the Crown Jewels
Hours: Mar-Oct Tues-Sat 9 am - 5:30 pm, Sun-Mon 10 am - 5:30 pm; Nov-Feb Tues-Sat 9 am - 4:30 pm, Sun-Mon 10 am- 4:30 pm
Cost: Adult - £24.50; Child - £11


White Tower, Tower of London
A visit to the Tower of London could easily take most of the day. With a history dating back to 1066, the castle has served as a royal residence, a prison, an armory, and even a zoo. In a state of expansion for over 200 years the castle saw a succession of rulers including Henry III who kept lions, an elephant, and a polar bear in residence and Henry VIII, who had his own wife, Anne Boleyn beheaded on Tower grounds.

A good way to see the castle and not miss anything is to start with the Wall Walk. Starting at the South Wall as soon as you enter you'll walk along the outer wall and through several of the outer wall towers including Medieval Tower, Wakefield Tower, and the Salt Tower, each one containing original artifacts and beautiful recreations. Learn more about the prisoners kept at the Tower and the mysterious circumstances behind the disappearance of the Little Princes from the Bloody Tower. Continue along the East Wall and onto the North Wall, which includes an exhibit on the royal animals kept by Henry III.
Henry III's Polar Bear, Tower of London
After taking in the Walls check out the White Tower in the center of the grounds to learn about torture at the Tower and the royal armories. Take a peek around the grounds for one of the seven ravens who call the Tower home whose residence, according to legend, keep the Kingdom from falling. And of course, you can't miss the Crown Jewels, long kept at the Tower for safe keeping.

Also, if you'd prefer to take a tour of the Tower instead of wandering around yourself, check out the Yeoman Warder tours, they start every 30 minutes near the main entrance and are included in admission price.

Buckingham Palace/Changing of the Guard:
Crowns: This rating is purely based on the Changing of the Guard as I didn't tour any part of Buckingham Palace
Hours: Changing of the Guard is around 11:15 am every day, weather permitting; The Palace Tours are Aug-Sep 11 am or 3 pm
Cost: Adult - £21.5; Child £12.30

Buckingham PalaceSo going to see Buckingham Palace is a no brainer. Although I found the gates around the Palace to be more impressive than the Palace, it's still a beautiful place and the heart of England. Tours of the State Rooms, 19 rooms used for business and affairs of the state, only occur during the two months that the Queen is away in Scotland.

Changing of the Guard is a big production, and around 45 minutes long. It starts with a marching band and eventually ends with the switching of the two Queen's Guards posted outside the Palace. Get there early, at least 30 minutes, if you want a good place to stand. Earlier if you want to stand against the fence for the best view. Another good view is from the fountain in the middle of the roundabout. The Changing is fun to watch, but little kids will probably get bored before the entire thing is finished.


Westminster Abbey:
Crowns: ♚ Although I enjoyed the Abbey, the low rating is because it's lower on my list of favorites, and carries a bit of a high admission price
Hours: Check the website here, as times seem to vary
Cost: Adult - £20; Child - £9

Westminster AbbeyHome to Royal coronations and the highly watched, televised wedding of Prince William and Kate, Westminster is certainly rich in history...and monuments to the deceased. There are many tombs inside the Abbey, beautiful architecture, amazing bronze and marble work...my only problem was how very long it takes to go through, especially if you listen to the audio guide; it's worth mentioning that without the audio guide you'll have no idea what you're looking at. The Abbey can also get very crowded and with the need for quiet it might not be a great place for the children.

Elizabeth Tower, Big BenIf you want to attend a service at the Abbey you do not have to pay, I believe there is a separate entrance. But if you're going to forgo paying admission, you should honestly be there to enjoy the service and worship. And you won't be able to just wander around anyway. So don't use the service to skip the admission cost, use it for what it's meant to be.

While you're at the Abbey, turn around and take a gander at Elizabeth Tower, home of Big Ben. That's right, the tower is not Big Ben, the bell is Big Ben. All housed next to the beautiful architecture of the Houses of Parliament.

Kensington Palace:
Crowns: ♚  Great exhibits about the history of the Royal family, and beautiful gardens.
Hours: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (Closes an hour earlier Nov-Feb)
Cost: Adult - £16.50 Child - Under 16 Free


Kensington Palace

Kensington is home to Prince Harry and William and Kate. At least sometimes. They're busy, you know? The other part of the beautiful palace is home to exhibits of the monarch's history. Current exhibits include the fashion of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, and Princess Diana, showcasing several outfits from each. Also visit the Queen and King's State Apartments, used when William III and Mary II were crowned, as well as the King's painting gallery. Learn more about Queen Victoria with her personal items and passages from her own journals, giving great insight into the ruler's interesting life.

Kensington PalaceOnce through the exhibits make sure to save time to visit the beautiful Palace Gardens and stroll through nearby Hyde Park.



Crowns: This isn't technically what I'd call a "top sight." I'm throwing in an extra for y'all!
Hours: Hours will vary, but most of the market will be closed by six or seven

Camden Town, LondonAn eclectic, and funky shopping town where you can find anything you can think of...plus food! In the Camden Market you'll find fashion for everyone at the most ridiculously good price. Tons of stalls! The Stables Market is housed in large, old horse stables is full of small, unique shops that have something for everyone. You're not going to find much in the way of chain shops in Camden, and once you can stop gawking at the crazy store fronts, you'll have a blast eating and shopping.

Be sure to check out my other blogs about my time in England!