Imagine standing at the very spot the Avengers Battle scenes took place. The memory will last a lifetime. If you’ve been thinking of a road trip that takes you to the world of superheroes, you’re not alone. A TripIt report shared by TravelPulse reveals 40% of 1,000 tourists in the US plan to take pop-culture trips. Creating a Marvel-themed car tour is a fun way to enjoy guided imagery and the hero’s journey. When you get into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) you get to visualize movie settings in real life and forge your adventure. Not to mention, bonding with family, friends, and other Marvel fans strengthens while you learn more about the cultures and history of filming destinations. But how do you plan the perfect comic-inspired road tour? This guide provides easy tips for Marvel aficionados to organize memorable road tours.
Know Your Marvel-Linked Destinations
Who doesn’t enjoy the fun in spontaneity. However, it could result in you overlooking important sites. So, before you drive away to anywhere, know the destinations connected to the Marvel Universe. Top places include San Francisco, New York, and Atlanta. But you could explore Florida, LA, and Las Vegas. The time you have for travel determines where you’ll go. If you have limited time, choose one or two locations close to each other, then pick the scenic route. If you choose a San Francisco road trip, for instance, research places where MCU movies have been filmed and map a route to renowned landmarks highlighted in Marvel films, like Lombard Street, the Golden Gate Bridge, Hank Pym’s at Buena Vista Avenue, and Coit Tower. If you take an Atlanta road trip, consider driving to filming locations of the Black Panther, like the Metropolitan Business and Arts District.
You could also check out where the Avengers End Game was filmed. In New York, go to Queens to explore Spiderman’s hometown or head to the Grand Central Terminal, where the recording of Avengers Battle happened. Alternatively, you can do a cross-country road tour from San Francisco to New York, passing through LA, Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and Atlanta. If you’re in the UK, explore London’s cinematic coliseum (Old Royal Naval College) where Thor’s (The Dark World) grand finale was revealed. From here, you can head to Edinburgh, Scotland, see for yourself where fight scenes in Avengers Infinity War were shot.
Identify A Reliable Ride
Can you plan explorations by road without thinking about the car you’ll drive? After all, your ride determines how convenient and safe your journey will be. Pick the wrong vehicle and you’ll likely deal with breakdowns and frequent stops at the gas station. So, how do you know a vehicle is right for your MCU superhero-themed trip? The perfect ride will offer comfort to everyone who is traveling. So, find out how many passengers we’ll tag along. Also, look out for hi-tech safety features, gas mileage, and consider the distance you’ll cover, even if you’re traveling alone. For example, purchasing vans and minivans top rated by consumers is a great option for long haul drives, fuel efficiency, and safety. You’ll also have ample space for passengers and luggage. Understanding your travel needs and finances are key to avoiding common car buying mistakes. You won’t settle for a vehicle based on emotions, but functionality and affordability.
Plan For Interactive Activities
A superhero-inspired tour isn’t complete if you don’t participate in interactive activities. Think of cosplays (costume plays) at Marvel-themed sites along your route. Dressing as iron man, hulk, spiderman, or Captain America and taking photos at Madame Tussauds museum in New York, for example, makes your tour experience unique. So, don’t forget to pack your superheroes costume. Besides cosplay, the Madame Tussauds museum offers a 4D film encounter that involves advanced technology to create special effects seen in superhero movies like wind, smell, fire, and water.
Say you’re intrigued by all things X-Men and you’re in Ontario, Canada. Take a walk into the school of gifted youngsters managed by Professor Xavier. Visiting comic book and memorabilia stores is another fun activity that elevates your journey. Search for top-rated comic shops on your route. For instance, in San Francisco, there’s the Isotope (The Comic Book Lounge). A must-visit store for comic collectibles. When driving around New York, stop by Midtown Comics and shop your most desired comic books by Marvel. While on the road, keep everyone entertained with Marvel Universe trivial questions. Trivia questions are fun- they help you discover unknown facts of your most-liked superheroes and spot Marvel-themed attractions along the route you might have missed before.
Organize A Marvel Playlist
Music elevates your road adventure experiences by setting the tone. It shapes the memories and transforms every drive into an extraordinary journey. To create a playlist that sets the mood for your drive, you need to know the purpose of your journey. In this case, your road trip theme is everything about Marvel movies, comic books, and attractions. So, your playlist should have a lot of songs featured in Marvel entertainment series. Playing Marvin Gaye’s song The Winter Soldier-Trouble Man sets the mood when driving to places where the shooting of the First Avenger scenes took place, for instance. Other examples of songs you should have in your playlist include We Cakin’ Up by Xzibit featured in Thor: The Dark World, Damato’s Great Intentions featured in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Pink Gorilla by HLM in Ant-man.
Make Time For Detours
There’s nothing wrong with being 100% focused on planned routes for your Marvel tour. But for a more memorable, well-rounded tour, plan for detours. Taking side trips allows you to connect with locals and learn about the area’s culture and history. You’ll gain a better perspective of why a specific place inspired the recording of a Marvel’s movie scene. It’s typical to stay en route to Metropolitan Business and Arts District when car tripping in Atlanta. However, a side trip to the Porsche Experience Center, for example, is a great way to get immersed into the location the Avengers team camped in after moving from the Avengers Tower. Featured in Spiderman’s Homecoming, Civil War, and Infinity, this location is ideal for test driving Porsche for those interested in an adrenaline lifting activity.
The fun of Marvel movie-inspired road tours is nothing like the classical car vacation. But it takes careful planning to make the encounter amazing. Before you get busy driving to places you’ve seen your most-treasured superheros acting on TV, research the exact locations. Check sites nearby that spark your interest and map your route. Next, find a car you can drive conveniently, prepare for fun adventures, and make room for side trips.