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Everyone has their vacation horror story. But have you ever considered purposely planning a vacation around someone else’s hair-raising tale? It could be interesting if that someone is one of the masters like Kubrick, Carpenter, Spielberg, or King. When it comes to monster movies and horror films, the location is often just as important as the creature or villain scaring the living daylights out of audiences. Believe it or not, many of the scariest films are shot at actual real-life locations that you can visit. We’ve gathered 21 spots that have hosted or inspired some of the greatest horror and monster flicks ever made. Check them out… if you dare.

Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood, OR – The Shining

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I once attended a wedding here and was slightly disappointed to see that the interior lacked the kaleidoscopic carpeting of Kubrik’s classic version of the Overlook Hotel in his adaptation of The Shining. Turns out only the exterior shots were filmed here. The interiors were shot at a studio in London. The actual inspiration for Stephen King’s book (also where the 1997 miniseries was filmed) is The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. Sorry Mr. King, but I still find Mr. Kubrik’s interpretation to be far creepier. Is it the Philip Glass soundtrack, the absolute insanity of Jack Nicholson, the blood curdling screeching of Shelley Duvall? Who’s to say. It’s just freakin’ scary. And the Timberline should have won an Oscar.

Forks, WA – Twilight

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The small town of Forks and the surrounding Olympic Peninsula has seen an explosion of tourism since the Twilight series hit the best seller list and then the big screen. With the second installment, New Moon just about to release, Forks might be a bit crowded for awhile but you won’t hear most of the locals complain. They’ve embraced their bout of vampire tourism by offering themed hotel rooms and Twilight tours galore. Sadly, you won’t spot Bella and Edward perched in the trees, but hey, they’re still beautiful trees.

Valdosta, GA – Zombieland

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The current blockbuster Zombieland was filmed in several towns in Georgia including Atlanta, Hapeville, Newnan, Rutledge, and Valdosta. Over 100 Valdosta residents were cast as zombies for scenes filmed locally, including the gory climax at the zombie-infested Pacific Playland. Stop by Wild Adventures and take a ride on the Bugout, Rattler, or Doubleshot, all featured prominently in the film. Just remember main character Columbus’s rule #3: Seatbelts. (Or in this case, safety bar.)

Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, CA – The Lost Boys

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The Lost Boys is easily one of, if not the, best movies of the 80s. You’ve got the two Coreys, Keifer in his pre-Jack Bauer days, Jami Gertz as a damsel in distress (named Star, no less!), a mulleted muscle man playing sax on the beach, and vampires on motorcycles. Add the backdrop of night time on the boardwalk with its lit up rides, creepy carnival sounds, and oblivious crowds, and you’ve got the makings of a true vampire classic. Santa Carla, Murder Capital of the World, isn’t a real place but Santa Cruz where much of the film was shot is. Stroll the boardwalk at night and see if you hear a fanged whisper of “Michael” in your ear.

Tom’s River, New Jersey – The Amityville Horror

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For fans of The Amityville Horror, it’s this house at 18 Dock Street in Tom’s River (about two hours from Amityville, New York) that you want to see. Almost all of the scenes in the original 1979 film were shot here, as well as some from the sequels. The actual house which inspired the book and movie, where the tragic murders of the DeFoe family took place, has not appeared in any of the films. It’s easy enough to find with a quick search online despite the fact that both the appearance of the house (those famous eye-like windows) and the address has been changed. Understandably, the current owners and neighbors aren’t overly fond of tourists.

Washington D.C. – The Day the Earth Stood Still

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In the original 1951 version of The Day the Earth Stood Still the spaceship lands in the green park just south of the White House, not in Central Park like that travesty of a remake last year. Michael Rennie’s Klaatu seems wooden intentionally, not because he lacks acting skills, and Gort’s shiny robot suit is perfect 50s sci-fi, not unnecessary CGI. All I have left to say on this one is, Klaatu Barada Nikto.

Springwood, OH – Nightmare on Elm Street

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OK, Springwood is not an actual place, but it is portrayed as Anytown, U.S.A. And pretty much every community has an Elm Street running through its neighborhoods. So while you can’t really visit it, you can still relive those nightmare moments by walking up and down the closest road named Elm, and singing that “One… two… Freddy’s coming for you…” song in the darkness of night. Go ahead, I double triple dog dare you. If that’s just not enough of a thrill, visit the high school filming locations–John Marshall High for the exteriors, and Lincoln Heights Jail for those ultra-terrifying basement scenes. If you’re brave enough to do it, sleep tight…and don’t let the bed bugs or anything else bite. Or claw…

Darmstadt, Germany – Frankenstein

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“It’s alive! It’s alive!” No monster movie list is complete without the inclusion of Frankenstein, the granddaddy of all horror films which not only brought numerous sequels to life (The Bride/Son/Ghost of Frankenstein, and of course Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein), but escalated the popularity of the horror film genre altogether as well. To relive the cinematic moments of this monster, your best bet is to tour Universal Studios where the 1931 classic was filmed, or travel to Darmstadt, Germany to see the “real” Castle Frankenstein. While it has never been substantiated, folklore states that Mary Shelley’s inspiration occurred while passing by the castle in a horse-drawn carriage on (wait for it…) a dark and stormy night.

Bodega Bay, CA – The Birds

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Everyone remembers the major bird attack scenes, but what about that scene where Tipi Hedren steers herself across the bay in a motorboat while wearing a fur coat? You gotta love Hitchcock’s sense of humor. Did he know that Bodega Bay really is an important bird migration location popular with bird watchers? Probably. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars.

Amazon River Basin, Brazil – Creature from the Black Lagoon

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If you like the exotic, adventures in the jungle are your thing, or maybe you’re looking to get your groove back with a little vacation romance, then set out on a river cruise in South America, where you just might run into the Creature from the Black Lagoon. While none of the movie was actually filmed in the Amazon, you never know what you might run into deep in the heart of its jungles. Have your spear-gun handy, and enjoy your stay in a nice subterranean cave.

Pt. Reyes, CA – The Fog

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The Fog is a classic John Carpenter screamfest. It makes almost no sense but who cares. Standing in the fog at Pt. Reyes National Seashore, you’ll believe that anything could be lurking out there, even ghosts with pirate hooks… OK, maybe not that, but something. It’s thick! Or you could get lucky if you visit on a clear day and see some real live whales. It’s a great whale-watching spot.

Martha’s Vineyard, MA – Jaws

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Talk to any of the old-timers on the Vineyard and they have a Jaws story. I once had a cab driver there who swore he was the guitar player in the opening beach party scene. Who am I to say he wasn’t? Spielberg filmed all over the island and 34 years later, many locations are still recognizable. For example, the intersection of Water and Main in Edgartown still looks like the quaint main street of fictitious Amity Island. Sengekontacket Pond, the “safe” inlet where Chief Brody’s son was almost chomped is a great place to rent kayaks.

San Francisco, CA – Invasion of the Body Snatchers

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With at least four versions to choose from, it’s hard to pick your favorite Body Snatcher film. I love the original, but the 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers has a special place in my heart. San Francisco in the ‘70s, Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum, Leonard Nimoy—as far as I’m concerned, you can’t beat that. Visiting the filming locations makes a great tour of the city. Start at 720 Steiner, one of the famous Victorians on Alamo Square (where Brooke Adams’ character lived and the first flowering pod is spotted) and end at City Hall where Donald Sutherland’s character lets out that final pod person shriek.

London, U.K. – An American Werewolf in London

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Self-explanatory titles of tales chronicling U.S. citizens in the U.K. are limited to two (as far as I know, anyway): A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, which has a little bit of horror in it, and the more recent American Werewolf in London, which has a lot. Despite being thirty years old, the scene of man transforming into beast under the light of the full moon still issues a bit of the heebie-jeebies (some may prefer their lycan tales to involve Kate Beckinsale). Though much has changed over the years, you can still hike along the same Yorkshire moors where David was first bitten, and the Clink Street alley where he met his ultimate, silver-bulleted demise.

The Dakota, New York, NY – Rosemary’s Baby

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The Dakota is perhaps most famous for being the home and murder site of John Lennon, but this apartment building has been a prestigious address since the 1880s and as a result has been featured in countless books and movies. In Rosemary’s Baby its home to a satanic cult, of course. While today’s tenants would never allow such riff raff in the door, it’s easy to understand why this creepy looking building would be so desirous to those involved with the dark arts.

Downingtown, PA – The Blob

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Founded in the early 1700’s, Downingtown has a plethora of historic buildings and homes still in existence, many on the National Registry. Renowned for being a mill town, it’s even more famous for a certain, um, thing that terrorized its streets on the big screen: The Blob. This classic 1950’s horror flick spawned more than its share of copycats (and sequels, such as Beware! The Blob set in Los Angeles), and was one of Steve McQueen’s first starring roles. You can actually eat a meal in the real Downingtown Diner that the Blob consumed in the film. Best Blob-free time to visit is during winter, as the alien entity hates the cold.

New Orleans, LA – Interview with the Vampire

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Former Goth/now religious fiction author Anne Rice set many of her vampire-based novels in the Cajun City. While there is plenty to do down on the Bayou—everything from the French Quarter, tasty cuisine, and Mardi Gras—if you’re in for a little scare (aside from the freaks you see during festival time), stroll by the Garden District where you can catch a glimpse of a couple of Rice’s homes where two of her novels were set. Or if you’re really brave, run through the above-ground tombs known as the Cities of the Dead, where a few Interview with the Vampire scenes were set. Guided tours of Lafayette Cemetery #1 are available, though holy water, garlic, and crucifixes are not provided. Bring your own.

Burkittsville, MD – The Blair Witch Project

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There’s not much to this little town, located in the Mid-Atlantic’s Black Hills, outside of its Civil War ties. But it was the setting for faux-documentary The Blair Witch Project, despite the filming not taking place in town, or there not being any truth surrounding the local legend mentioned in the film with Burkittsville’s actual history. If you want to recreate some of the film’s suspense, pack your video camera and flashlight, then hike south thirty miles to the rolling woods of Seneca Creek State Park where most of the shooting took place. And for Pete’s sake, pack a GPS. And don’t throw away your map.

Blairstown, NJ – Friday the 13th

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Summer camp is supposed to be a fun getaway, but one camp in particular was always unlucky for those spending the night in its cabins (and later in Manhattan, then Hades, and even later in–really???–outer space). Especially when the 13th rolled around on a Friday. In umpteen installments of the film, the main stomping grounds of Jason Vorhees was Camp Crystal Lake where, most tragically, hockey equipment and sharp gardening tools were left lying around. The location is actually a Boy Scout camp called Camp No-Be-So-Sco, and the lake is known as Sand Pond. Pre-arranged visits are available during the off-season. Just plan ahead by seeking advanced permission, and avoid the camp on a certain calendar date, even if you don’t suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia.

Evans City, PA – Night of the Living Dead

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Zombies are all the rage these days, being the monster-of-choice for many post-apocalyptic and horror flicks released the last few years. But all the recent undead undertakings owe their inspiration to the original Night of the Living Dead, filmed predominately in Evans City, a rural community 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. You can slowly stumble around Evans City Cemetery, which remains virtually unchanged (though obviously with a few more additions to the grounds) to re-enact the film’s opening scene, and while the home housing the basement has since been razed, the one featuring the bulk of the movie’s interior/exterior shots is still around these days. Bring plenty of chocolate syrup to keep it real.

Universal Studios, Hollywood, CA

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If you’re looking for a one-stop option where you can see where several horrors movies were filmed, Universal Studios is the place to go. On the Studio Tour you’ll be treated to behind-the-scenes views of several movie sets including Jaws, and another of my Hitchock favorites, Psycho. Sometimes it’s good to know that places like The Bates Motel only exist on a Hollywood lot.

Co-authored with Matt Wilson.

Tags: An American Werewolf in London, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein, Friday the 13th, horror film locations, Interview with the Vampire, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Jaws, Nightmare on Elm Street, Psycho, rosemary's baby, Scary movie film locations, The Amityville Horror, The Birds, The Blair Witch Project, the Blob, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Fog, The Lost Boys, the shining, Twilight, Universal Studios, Zombieland