What is Fantasy Travel

What is Fantasy Travel?

For everybody that question is going to be different. When I set out to create my travel agency, I did so with the intention of sharing my experiences during travel with others. My love of all things fantasy has given me a path for my travels. Everybody has something different that they love to experience when it comes to books, movies and hobbies. For some, it's Dungeons and Dragons, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, or even just the weird and mysterious. That's me, I'm just like you and I love those things, just like I love to travel. So while traveling, I was always looking for a way to experience the worlds found in those books and movies and in doing so I created a list of must go places in order to experience those feelings again.  Along the way I came across many other amazing experiences.

Lord of the Rings

So what were some of my favorites? Well that is hard to say since I have so many. When I first watched "The Fellowship of the Ring," I immediately left the movie theater and was like "Whoa! Where did they film that movie?" Now granted, this was before the age of smartphones, so you had to go home and do some research. When I found out that it was filmed in New Zealand, I knew instantly that at some point in my life, I was going to make a trip there. And that I did! And let me tell you, it did not disappoint in the least bit. I was like a kid all over again roaming through Hobbiton, and felt such a connection to the book and movie when walking through the scenery of the South Island of New Zealand. I know the books weren't written in New Zealand and have no connection to it, but the way Peter Jackson created Middle-Earth in that country helped you with the feeling that you were there.

Harry Potter

While researching what to do in London, I came across the Harry Potter Studio in London. I immediately jumped at the chance to take my family (all avid fans of the movies and books) to go see this. It was truly unbelievable. We had been to Universal Studios in Florida, but that wasn't the same as this. From props and the actual sets, to the train cars from each movie, Diagon alley, and all the creatures from the movies, it was truly every Harry Potters fan's dream come true. But that's just the start, you can visit so many more places that were used in the movie or served as inspiration. While visiting Edinburgh we visited the Elephant House Cafe, where J.K. Rowling wrote much of the novels. Or going to King's Crossing and seeing where 9 3/4 platform would be and taking a picture like you're in the movie. There is just so much to see and do in the area, that you can really satisfy much of your desire.

Vampire's and Vikings

We found ourselves one year with the opportunity to visit Romania and we took that time to see many of the places that inspired Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Dracula. Romania has so much to offer and many of the local sites are geared towards those looking to learn more about this strange figure steeped in legend and lore. For others they are fan's of the twilight books and movies and that type of Vampire. If that is you, then Forks, Washington and the Pacific Northwest are must see's. You can stay in the house that inspired the Cullen's house in the books, visit La Push or even see the High School used in the movie.

Scandinavia is definitely known for their rich history of Vikings.  Living in Finland for parts of my life, visiting Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, I had the opportunity to learn about vikings and their amazing culture. From museums that showcase the lifestyle during their times to replicas of ships, there are so many opportunities to see these artifacts and learn more about a culture from days gone bye. But when you look past just learning about the vikings and get to experience the terrain and scenery that made them who they are, you gain a greater appreciation for their lifestyle.

Fairytales, Folklore and other mysteries

There is so much to see in this world that is rooted in stories or is just still unexplained. I grew up reading "Mysteries of the Unexplained," a book series you always got to see on the infomercials during the day or even late at night. I would go to my local library and check these books out and spend hours reading them. It was within these books that I knew that I wanted to see many of the sites for myself. For example, Stonehenge has been on my bucket list for years, and when I visited in England and got to see it up close, it was like a dream come true.

The same can be said for many of the castles throughout Europe with each holding a story of their own. Or visiting the many places in Germany that were the inspiration for the Brothers Grimm and their fairy tales, which is now called the Fairy Tale road. Neuschweinstgen Castle, which was used as the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's castle by Disney. Going to the villages of Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé, two neighboring towns in France's Alsace region that was used for Beauty and the Beast.

The point of all of this, is that Fantasy Travel is whatever you want it to be. Use your imagination, your inspiration, your favorite books and movies to create the travel that makes you relieve those amazing feelings while creating memories of your own.