The Vampire Diaries: I Traveled to Mystic Falls, and This Is What Happened

POPSUGAR Photography | Kelsie Gibson
POPSUGAR Photography | Kelsie Gibson

Have you ever watched The Vampire Diaries and thought to yourself, "Man, I really wish I could visit Mystic Falls"? Well, you can! The show may be set in Virginia, but the real place is actually in Covington, GA. Not only is the town a fanatic's dream come true, but it also has quite the history with movies and TV shows. Now that the show has officially ended, take a trip down memory lane by planning your trip now. See some of the highlights from my visit here!

Mystic Grill

Mystic Grill

When I first arrived to the town, I was famished. So I appeased my hunger (and checked off one of the places on my bucket list) by grabbing a quick bite at the infamous Mystic Grill. Even though the show doesn't actually film at the restaurant, it is replicated to look like the actual set. From the yummy food to the cool vibes, it's no wonder the gang spends most of their time here.

Of course, the most uncanny resemblance to the show had to be the bar. I even sat at Alaric Saltzman's favorite spot.

When Alaric died in season three, the owners of the restaurant commemorated his memory by putting a special plaque on the back of his chair. Of course, that's null and void now that he's been revived from the dead (along with practically everyone else on the show).

Some of the cast members have actually stopped by the grill for some grub. Along the walls of the hallways, there are several signed menus.

Next, I headed to the visitor's center to scope out all the hot spots in the area (aka where filming takes place). Not only did I snap a picture with the iconic Mystic Falls sign, but inside there was a ton of memorabilia from all the different shows and movies that have filmed in the area, including The Dukes of Hazzard and Selma. Here's a picture of the script from The Vampire Diaries' pilot episode, signed by the cast.

I'm still not over the fact that I got to stay in the old Lockwood estate. If your memory is a little fuzzy, the home is shown in season two, episode four, in flashbacks of 1864. The real place is called The Twelve Oaks Bed & Breakfast, and it is even more gorgeous inside. It even has a Salvatore-inspired room!

Not ashamed to admit that I took the Vampire Stalkers tour during my trip. Let's just say, these people know their stuff, and I visited some really neat places around town. Fun fact: their store is actually located under the exterior for Alaric's apartment in the show.

Not only did I stay in the old Lockwood estate, but I also got to visit the real Lockwood mansion. While the gates are normally closed for the general public, with my tour, I was able to scope the whole area, including the backyard where the Miss Mystic Falls Pageant and Caroline and Stefan's wedding took place.

One cool tidbit about the town is that the main cast members of TVD all have their own stepping stone. You can find Nina Dobrev's outside Grayson Gilbert's Clinic and Ian Somerhalder's outside one of his favorite Thai restaurants.

Elena Gilbert may have burnt her house to a crisp, but the real home is still standing.

Of course, I couldn't leave without getting a semi-spooky photo of the clock tower. Thankfully, there was no hellfire during my trip.