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Tag: Vampire Travel View All Tags

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Get Your 'Cirque du Freak' On In New Orleans

October 30, 2009 at 2:11 PM | by cmb | 0 Comments

Vampires were wondering the streets of New Orleans long before Robert Pattinson was even a glimmer in his parents' eye. Today, vampire folklore is so deeply rooted in the city's history, from Anne Rice to stories of the undead walking the French Quarter, that is no surprise the movie Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant was filmed here too. The movie, in theaters now, is about Darren, a teenage boy who meets a mysterious man at a freak show and ends up leaving his normal life to become a vampire. Just in time for All Hallow's Eve, here's how to get in touch with your own inner-vampire in New Orleans.

Where to Stay:
The Dauphine Orleans Hotel in the French Quarter is exactly what most people think of when they think of New Orleans. The hotel features courtyards and balconies that overlook the quarter, luxurious accommodations and a history filled with ghosts and vampires. Best of all, even though the hotel is located in the French Quarter, they offer on-site parking and quiet rooms. There's no rowdy, bead-throwing here, just good 'ol southern hospitality. Rooms start at $106 a night.

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Check Out The Real Hometown of 'The Vampire Diaries'

October 20, 2009 at 12:23 PM | by cmb | 0 Comments

The CW recently jumped on the vampire bandwagon with The Vampire Diaries. The series was destined to be hit as it is executive produced by Dawson's Creek head honcho Kevin Williamson and is based on a series of popular teen novels. It also has all the ingredients of a great teen drama: a girl who is grieving the recent death of her parents and who deals with two brothers who are both into her and have been waging a war against each other for most of their lives, which equals about 150 years since they also happen to be vampires.

The show is set in the small town of Mystic Falls, VA but is filmed in Convington, GA. The pilot was filmed in Vancouver but Georgia's film tax incentives lured the production back to the U.S., which is just as well; there are already enough vampires in Vancouver.

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The Vampire Travel Seasons Begins In Philadelphia

Where: 2008 Delancey Place [map], Philadelphia, PA, United States
September 30, 2009 at 2:43 PM | by egw | 0 Comments

Before Edward Cullen swept the field with his skinny sparkliness, Count Dracula was the nonpareil of dangerously irresistible vampires. But Philadelphia wants to introduce you to Dracula this Halloween, if you dare.

The Rosenbach Museum and Library's annual Dracula Festival allows the rare-books vault to bring forth Bram Stoker's original notes on his vampire creation, and in addition, they'll be hosting a free screening of the silent horror classic "Nosferatu" and a visit from Stoker's great-grandnephew to read from his vampire book. (Everyone's written one these days.) Outside Philly, the Tri-County Performing Arts Center will put on a stage version of "Dracula" (October 8-25, 245 E. High Street in Pottstown). If you prefer your vampires dancing, the Brandywine Ballet has you covered there on October 23-25.

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True Blood Travel Guide: Another Day, Another Plantation

Where: State Road 5 [map], DeSoto Parish, LA, United States
June 12, 2009 at 2:32 PM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

You've heard of Christmas in July, but we're about to get all Halloween in June this week as we prepare for the debut of the second season of HBO's TrueBlood. Any juicy suggestions or questions? Let us know.

With the premiere of the second season of True Blood around the corner on Sunday night, we're taking a break from the tourist spots to hit up an actual filming location for the show: the vampire Bill Compton's mansion.

Located in the middle of nowhere, Louisiana, the 1846 plantation home is on the Register of Historic Places and even retains most of the furniture from its golden days; even the books on the bookshelves have grown old with the home.

Although it's not open to public, the interior isn't what features in the True Blood script; it's the stately appearance of its exterior which was shot for the show. But just like most other classic, rural homes in Louisiana, this one is believed to be haunted so maybe it's best we stay out.

Related Stories:
· Yes, Virginia, there really is a Bill Compton House [Loving True Blood in Dallas]
· Historic Register Application for Roseneath [Scribd]
· Louisiana Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Chere Coen]

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True Blood Travel Guide: Digging Deep For Voodoo Culture

June 11, 2009 at 3:37 PM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

You've heard of Christmas in July, but we're about to get all Halloween in June this week as we prepare for the debut of the second season of HBO's TrueBlood. Any juicy suggestions or questions? Let us know.

There is more to Louisiana than just New Orleans' French Quarter and southern cooking, and if you look to the Louisiana of True Blood, that means visits to spooky cemeteries in the middle of the night.

If vampire Bill Compton isn't sleeping beneath your feet in the local graveyard, then Tara is undergoing some voodoo rituals in the back corner. A perfect setting for all this is Oakland Cemetery in Shreveport, founded in 1847, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and boasts of a fine creepy history all its own.

Just outside of downtown Shreveport, in Oakland's earth rests the town's old notorious madam, Masons, nephews of Confederate president Jefferson Davis, and a whole patch of victims of the yellow fever epidemics. Almost no new graves have been added in the last seventy years and it is believed that "there are nearly as many unmarked graves here as marked ones." On the ones that do still stand, voodoo rituals are not uncommon and visitors will often gifts, like little necklaces, strewn about the area. A question to any potential grave robbers: do you really want stuff associated with voodoo?

Related Stories:
· Oakland Cemetery [Official Site]
· Oakland Cemetery [Haunted LA]
· Louisiana Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: cybertoad]

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True Blood Travel Guide: Eating Alligator Appetizers

Where: 713 Rue Saint Louis [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70130
June 10, 2009 at 1:07 PM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

You've heard of Christmas in July, but we're about to get all Halloween in June this week as we prepare for the debut of the second season of HBO's TrueBlood. Any juicy suggestions or questions? Let us know.

Although the True Blood town of Bon Temps and its local diner Merlotte's are both fictional, that doesn't mean that you can't get some good, greasy and exotic southern cooking elsewhere. We're thinking of New Orleans' French Quarter in particular, known as it is for being riddled with restaurants serving up everything from pan-fried yams to heaping helpings of crawfish étouffée.

In particular, we like Antoine's on Rue Saint Louis for their traditional and dramatic dining rooms paired with their famous "Potage alligator au sherry"—a sherry-laced alligator bisque. They've still got the usual fried oysters and lump crabmeat if alligators aren't exactly tickling your palate, but if you're not drinking blood you might as well dine on something equally creepy.

Related Stories:
· Antoine's French Quarter [Official Site]
· Louisiana Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: vidiot]

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True Blood Travel Guide: Oak Alley Plantation

Where: 3645 Highway 18 [map], Vacherie, LA, United States, 70090
June 9, 2009 at 2:47 PM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

You've heard of Christmas in July, but we're about to get all Halloween in June this week as we prepare for the debut of the second season of HBO's TrueBlood. Any juicy suggestions or questions? Let us know.

Although sometimes it feels as though most characters on True Blood live in smarmy trailer parks, those are really just the mortals. Vampires are always portrayed in a more regal manner, like as masters of historical mansions, and this goes for the protagonist Bill Compton. To get a taste of the more refined southern life, as also seen in Interview With a Vampire, we head to Vacherie, Louisiana and to the Oak Alley Plantation.

Oak Alley is a traditional plantation house of the area, sporting imposing Doric columns and an ominous main drive sheltered by rows of oak trees. It is however, way more haunted. In addition to its being rumored as a favorite vampire hangout, visitors to Oak Alley report supernatural events like lights turning on and off, mysterious hands tugging at their clothing, visions of past owners, sightings of phantom carriages headed up the drive, and irresponsive clocks that, even after being reset, will always stop at 7:30—the time of the last owner's death.

Since the place has been around since 1837, it's bound to have seen a fair share of good and bad history, but it seems that here the dark lingers a little longer underneath the oaks. To see for yourself, the mansion is open everyday from 9am to 5pm, with $10 hourly tours. Or brave a night here, as it also functions as a bed and breakfast, serving famous mint juleps—which you'll sorely need after fretting the night away.

Related Stories:
· Oak Alley Plantation [Official Site]
· Louisiana Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: CanadaGood]

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True Blood Travel Guide: Where to Score Custom Fangs

June 8, 2009 at 3:22 PM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

You've heard of Christmas in July, but we're about to get all Halloween in June this week as we prepare for the debut of the second season of HBO's TrueBlood. Any juicy suggestions or questions? Let us know.

Having finally kicked the ghost of Anne Rice's vampires from Louisiana, the addictive HBO drama True Blood is picking up speed partially due to the vampire-fever brought by Twilight and because of the sweaty summer scenery of hot southern swamps. If the thought of perspiring necks gets you just as hot as the muggy temperatures, then you might want to start outfitting yourself for the show's second season.

Although most people relegate the wearing of fake fangs to Halloween, the serious fans are seeking out spots for custom fang creation, and why not get them done in the heart of creepy country? In New Orleans, at the Boutique du Vampyre, customers can get their own sets of pointed pearlies for between $100 and $800.

Crafted to match your teeth color, a pair of these babies shows that you mean business. Plus, you're in a store in a New Orleans filled with vampire-related crap; that's gotta be something for the photo album.

Related Stories:
· Boutique du Vampyre [Official Site]
· New Orleans Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Love Bites]