Relive "Nights in Rodanthe" on NC's Outer Banks

Plan your own romantic getaway in Rodanthe with the newly published guide: "North Carolina's Outer Banks and Crystal Coast: Great Destinations" where you'll find details on lodging, dining and nightlife enjoyed by the stars; where to see the free-roaming Banker horses; and how to check in live on road conditions on Hatteras Island.

Visit NC, the website of North Carolina's state division of tourism, has developed a trail of sites on NC's Outer Banks associated with "Nights in Rodanthe" starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane.

Some highlights:

In Manteo on Roanoke Island:

Scenes at the boat slips were shot at the Manteo town docks.

Both Richard Gere and Diane Lane stayed at the Tranquil House Inn on Manteo’s waterfront, dining frequently at the Inn’s restaurant, 1587, noted for its wine list and menu featuring local ingredients. Vegetarian fare, tremendously popular with the health-conscious stars, is available here.

From Manteo, cross the U.S. 64 Bridge and head south on N.C. Highway 12 to Hatteras Island, enjoying the wind and sand swept scenery.

Just before you get to Rodanthe, you will encounter a set of twists in the road, called the "S" curves by locals and a favorite destination for surfers. The scene with Diane Lane and a herd of ‘wild’ Outer Banks horses was filmed here.

The horses in the movie were imported, but you can find free-roaming ponies on the Banks. Go north on NC 12 to the 4 wheel drive area beyond Corolla, or take a boat to Shackleford Banks off Beaufort. There are also pony pens holding semi-wild horses on Ocracoke operated by the National Park Service.

The first structure on the left (ocean side) as you enter Rodanthe is a former vacation rental cottage called Serendipity, which became the “Inn at Rodanthe” where Lane and Gere’s characters meet in the film. The cottage is set on the most rapidly eroding section of the Banks and the ocean frequently washes over here, dumping drifts of sand on NC 12 and clogging driveways. You can no longer rent Serendipity for your beach vacation, but very similar beach houses throughout Rodanthe and the Outer Banks are available.

Visit NC relates an interesting story about the filming here:

"Although a big storm (a nor’easter in the book, a hurricane in the movie) plays a major role in "Nights In Rodanthe," the filmmakers were not happy when a real-life nor’easter (which eventually became Subtropical Storm Andrea) blew in while filming was about to get underway, and did minor damage to the Serendipity. The crew almost gave up and went somewhere else, but decided to wait it out. Ironically, the fierce rain you see pounding the Inn in the movie came not from Mother Nature but from a fire hose."

Just past the tall cottages that make up the Mirlo Beach community where Serendipity is located, the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station sits on the ocean side of NC 12. Linda Molloy, who operates the museum store and reenacts many living history roles at this beautifully restored historic site, played Jill Torrelson in the film, a small but pivotal role. Ask Linda about her experiences during the making of the film, and she might even show you the picture of her with Richard Gere in hospital scrubs!

Two more film stops are a bit farther south on NC 12 in Rodanthe:

• JoBob’s General Store, where exteriors of residents buying storm supplies were filmed,



• Hatteras Island Fishing Pier, the scene of the ‘We Survived The Hurricane’ party. The legendary party scene involved about 400 extras and most of the principal cast. The wind speed on the night of filming was between 25-30 miles per hour, and filming lasted until four in the morning.

Farther down Highway 12, near the base of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton Village has several enjoyable family restaurants discovered by the crew making "Nights in Rodanthe."

Try the Captain’s Table or Diamond Shoals restaurants or drop into Pop's Raw Bar to check with locals to see if Katy Mitchell, Jules Garrish or the band Coyote are playing music nearby. All appear in the "Nights In Rodanthe" movie, and all regularly perform on Hatteras or Ocracoke Islands.

The next day, board the free Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry, which departs every half-hour from May through October. Scenes with Richard Gere were filmed on the ferry, as Gere’s character Paul Flanner arrives on the island after driving from Raleigh.

On Ocracoke enjoy a 16-mile drive down the island looking for scenes from the movie. Best bets: Ocracoke Village, Ocracoke Lighthouse, the Banker Pony Pens and Teach’s Hole Blackbeard Exhibit and Pyrate Specialty Shop.

Find out about each stop on the tour in our new guide: North Carolina's Outer Banks & Crystal Coast: Great Destinations

For more background visit:

Rodanthe’s Romantic ‘Nights’: The Outer Banks Sets The Stage

The Outer Banks Visitor Bureau also has an interesting site dedicated to the film:

http://www.outerbanks.org/Nights_In_Rodanthe_Tour.asp

Hollywood in Boston this Summer

Boston USA reports that visitors can anticipate stars & Hollywood in Boston this summer: there are nine (9) movies in production -or anticipated to begin filming soon in Boston:

· The next Martin Scorsese Boston-set-and-filmed movie "Ashecliffe" (based on "Shutter Island" by local author Dennis Lehane, Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone) will star Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo and Ben Kinsley (filming began in March)
· "The Surrogates," the upcoming Disney movie starring Bruce Willis is now in pre-production. Shooting will begin in April all over Boston and the surrounding towns. Hyde Park and Easton, MA were among many scouted locations.
· "The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," which stars Jennifer Garner & Matthew McConaughey and a cast that includes Anne Archer, Michael Douglas, Emma Stone and Lacey Chabert (filming April onward).
· In May, Kevin James's comedy "Mall Cop" is expected to start filming in Boston.
· In May, Ricky Gervais's "This Side of the Truth," a comedy about a world where no one has ever lied will begin, starring Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Jeffrey Tambor, Jonah Hill & John Hodgman .
· In May, Kate Hudson is returning to Boston to film another movie, "Bride Wars," costarring Anne Hathaway.
· In May-June, "Sexual Healing," which chronicles the last years of singer Marvin Gaye's life, will star James Gandolfini and Jesse L. Martin; the film will also include Los Angeles & Belgium.
· "The Proposal," starring Sandra Bullock & Ryan Reynolds, is anticipated to film north of Boston in May.
· Late this summer/fall "The Fighter," the big-budget movie about "Irish" Micky Ward starring Mark Wahlberg & Brad Pitt will film northwest of Boston in Lowell.

Lights. Camera. Action. |in Wilmington, NC

This article in the StarNewsOnline, tells about Wilmington's Hollywood Location Walk.

Lights. Camera. Action. | StarNewsOnline.com | Star-News | Wilmington, NC

Chimney Rock Park Film Locations

Chimney Rock Park, soon to become part of the NC state park system, has provided the stunning scenery for a number of films including The Last of the Mohicans, Firestarter and A Breed Apart.

The park's website gives exact locations:

The Last of the Mohicans, the 1992 epic romantic adventure starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Madeleine Stowe, features some of the Park’s best assets. During your visit to the Park, you will be able to walk along the trails and see sites that became the incredible scenic backdrop for the film. The last 17 minutes of the movie were filmed along the Cliff Trail, including the climactic fight scene at the top of Hickory Nut Falls. Be sure to ask the folks at the Ticket Plaza for a written guide to where scenes were filmed in the Park.

Firestarter, the 1984 thriller starring Drew Barrymore and George C. Scott, was based on the book written by Stephen King about a young girl’s ability to start fires with telekinetic powers. The Park’s front entrance gate and bridge were featured in the film.

A Breed Apart, the 1984 drama starring Kathleen Turner, Rutger Hauer, and Powers Boothe, tells the story of a mysterious recluse who is dedicated to saving a pair of nesting eagles believed to be the last of a dying breed. The Park’s wooded areas and trails were the perfect setting for the outdoor scenes of the movie. Exclamation Point was the site of the eagle’s eyrie.

Just a mile down the road from the Park at Lake Lure, Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny (Patrick Swayze) had the time of their lives while filming the 1987 romantic blockbuster Dirty Dancing.

Visit the Chimney Rock Park webpage for more.

Chimney Rock Park Film Locations

Da Vinci Code shore excursion in Rome

The Da Vinci Code Inspires New Crystal Adventure in Italy

Fans of Dan Brown’s best-selling Angels & Demons – prelude to his blockbuster The Da Vinci Code – will relish the opportunity to follow the “Path of Illumination” on a new Crystal Adventure in Rome.

"From the Sistine Chapel to the Castle St. Angelo, the Angels & Demons tour offers a topical look at some of Rome’s most historic, artistic and architecturally significant monuments and churches – all with a dash of religious and scientific intrigue,” says John Stoll, Crystal Cruises’ director of land programs.

Walking in the steps of protagonist Robert Langdon, the new shore excursion showcases the four symbols along the “Path of Illumination” together with the exceptional works of renowned Baroque artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini:

 Earth – the Chigi Chapel where “Habakkuk and the Angel” points the way down the Path of Illumination;

 Air – the “west wind medallion” in St. Peter’s Square;

 Fire – the “Ecstasy of St. Teresa” at the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria; and,

 Water – the “Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi,” or Fountain of the Four Rivers, in Rome’s famed Piazza Navona.

Showcasing the key symbols and landmarks in Angels & Demons, the tour also visits:

• the Spanish Steps and the Church of St. Ignatius;


• the Pantheon, Rome’s best-preserved ancient temple devoted to the goddess of the earth;


• St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest shrine on earth;


• and, the many Egyptian obelisks so prominently displayed throughout the city and featured throughout the book.

The 10 ½-hour Angels & Demons excursion is $249 per person and includes a three-course lunch at a local restaurant. Fares for cruises that offer this tour in Rome start at $3,395 per person, double occupancy.

For additional information, contact a travel agent or call 888-799-4625. Visit the luxury line's website at www.crystalcruises.com.

Gibson Movie Prompts Interest In Central America - Travel

A story from Internet Broadcasting reports that Mel Gibson's film "Apocalypto" is creating increased interest in Mayan Culture.

Visitors are coming to Belize to explore many Mayan archeological sites, according to a news release from the Kanantik Reef and Jungle Resort on the country's south coast. The Resort offers an all-day guided tour along the Hummingbird Highway to the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich (The Maiden Rock). The pyramid there is the second tallest building in Belize.


Gibson Movie Prompts Interest In Central America - Travel

Kayak.com nominates destinations for Best Supporting Role

sent to us by Steve and Paul, Kayak.com co-founders:

Best Supporting Role by a Destination
As a travel company it seems unfair that sound and makeup receive an award while destinations do not. After all, what’s "Out of Africa" without Africa or "Pirates of the Caribbean" without a Caribbean? That’s why we are lobbying the academy to add another category: "Best Supporting Role by a Destination". Here are the nominees:

Boston
Only Martin Scorsese could direct an Oscar-winning performance from underwear model turned ape fighter Marky Mark Wahlberg or successfully produce a mobster movie without ANY cast member of the Sopranos. Either way, Boston plays a wicked awesome supporting role in "The Departed", a violent look into the city’s Irish Mob. See the movie and then "pak the ka" and tour filming locations in South Boston, Chinatown, Charlestown, the waterfront, Quincy, Chelsea, and Boston Common. Book a bus or walking tour with BostonMovieTours.net. The tours will resume when the weather warms in April and have already been updated to include scenes from "The Departed".

Washington, DC
Sadly, there is no tourism structure in place for the average person to visit Iwo Jima. Thanks to Dirty Harry, you can visit this island in 1945 by seeing Oscar nominated "Letters from Iwo Jima" which examines the infamous battle from the view of the Japanese soldiers and "Flags of our Fathers" which tells the story of the six flag raisers of Iwo Jima. Then, travel to Washington, D.C. to see the flag raisers immortalized in bronze, just over the bridge from Georgetown. There’s no lack of World War II history in DC so make time for the World War II Memorial, Holocaust Museum, Arlington Cemetery and the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum.

London
I wonder how the British royal family celebrated Oscar nominations for "The Queen" which dramatizes the royal family’s response (or lack of) to the death of Princess Diana. Imitation is not always flattery and in this case Queen Elizabeth probably took a page out of Prince Harry’s book and indulged in a hit and a shot or two. You can celebrate alongside the royal family with a trip to London. Sure it’s a little chilly this time of year, but the off season means cheaper rates at hotels and shorter lines at cultural hotspots such as Buckingham Palace. Before your trip, visit FilmLondon.org.uk to download movie maps for your own tour or for information on several guided walking tours.

Tokyo
Our vote for the Feel Bad Movie of the Year goes unanimously to "Babel". Before you send us hate mail, we loved the movie but talk about your downers! This complex tale of interlocking stories takes us to four different countries, although the scenes shot in the vibrant city of Tokyo bring much needed relief from the other seemingly dark and hopeless story lines. In fact, Tokyo’s energy warrants yet another Best Supporting nomination for this movie. "Babel" fans should stop by the J-Pop Cafe in Shibuya, for a drink before setting out to explore one of Tokyo's most colorful and busy districts and birthplace to many of Japan's fashion and entertainment trends. Finish up the day at Tokyo City View, an observation deck in the heart of the city. Unlike young Chieko, we recommend you keep your clothes ON while taking in the view.

Visit Kayak.com for more film tourism trip suggestions, plus one-stop trip planning.