Georgia is becoming quite the film hub, and The Walking Dead has been primarily based in Senoia, a town slightly southwest of Atlanta, since the beginning of season one. Alexandria, Woodbury and Terminus probably sound familiar to all who watch the show, and these fictitious areas actually exist in real life—minus the zombies. Fans come from all over the world to soak in all things Walking Dead, and locals have more than enjoyed obliging the interest with fun tours, events and shops.
Eat at Nic & Norman’s
Probably the coolest place to stop is a cozy, southern-modern restaurant owned by Walking Dead director Greg Nicotera, and actor Norman Reedus, also known as “Daryl” on the show. The two joined forces to create this cool, earthy eatery featuring typical Georgia cuisine with a twist. Juicy bison burgers on branded pretzel buns and an outstanding, flavorful meatloaf with real, creamy mashed potatoes are two of the most praised menu items. A fantastic salad selection, along with a generous burger variety, pair flawlessly with brisket nachos, cajun corn or sidewinder fries. Don’t be surprised to see a familiar face or two while stopping in.
Have Coffee at The Waking Dead Cafe
Yes, that’s spelled correctly, and is a fun play on the show’s title—the coffee is just as good as the name. This little coffee nook sits inside The Woodbury Shoppe, and you’ll find a great house blend and other mastered beverages. Giant cans of pudding are a nod to “Carl”, and other unique merchandise is available here, too. As for ordering, it’s hard to go wrong with an iced mocha, milkshake, chai latte, or even a black cup of joe.
Board an Atlanta Movie Tours Bus
There are more than a handful of places offering movie tours, and Atlanta Movie Tours stands out with its Walking Dead routes. Probably a favorite stop is the bridge that overlooks an iconic portion of the interstate, where some early scenes were filmed. Three different bus tours are available for booking, and all offer their own unique sites, like the hospital where it all began, or the infamous goat farm. It’s a comfortable, exciting experience aboard a charter style bus.
Visit The Woodbury Shoppe
Also owned by Walking Dead related people, The Woodbury Shoppe in Senoia, of course, is a shop-museum hybrid featuring signed goodies and official memorabilia. It holds the title of “The Official Walking Dead Store”, and rightfully so, because they possess items you’ve likely never seen before. Many items can also be purchased online, if you can’t make it there in person. In the museum section, located in the basement of the shop, there are props from the show, like Daryl’s motorcycle, zombie replicas, cardboard cutouts and other stuff fans would totally flip out over.
Take a Walking Tour
Georgia Tour Company hosts on foot tours, which are nice because this allows for a more up close experience. Special events like National TWD Day and Survive the Ride are specific to this company, and a favorite amongst enthusiasts. Interactive, immersive experiences take guests into The Walking Dead via various scenarios and role play—it’s the ultimate tour for die hard fans. However, you could opt to take the normal two-mile tour, and just take super cool selfies.
See a Show at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center
If you elect to see a spectacular show at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, you’ll be in the very building the show uses as the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). While the actual CDC does reside in Georgia, this was obviously a better filming alternative. But if you really want to visit the CDC, there’s a pretty sweet museum which details some crazy historical stuff, related to health and diseases of course.
Dress Like a Zombie at Walker Stalker Con
October brings stars from the show to a huge Walking Dead extravaganza in Atlanta, known as Walker Stalker Con. Think Dragon or Comic Con, but zombie-fied. People come decked out in the most intricate cosplay wear, and often get to take a selfie with their favorite characters. It’s a great opportunity to ask the actors questions and get into nerd mode with fellow lovers of the show. Held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, tickets run $30 on Friday and $50 on Saturday and Sunday—VIP packages are offered as well.
Go on a Zombie GeoQuest
In the real town of Woodbury, you can go on a one of a kind geocache, similar to a scavenger hunt, except a little spookier. After locating various zombie related clues, you’ll earn marks on a provided card, or “passport”. Near the area is an iconic, covered oak bridge also used for some pretty major scenes, so this is an awesome way to round out a trip to the land of The Walking Dead.
