The complete weekend guide to visiting “The Notebook” filming locations, tips and quotes from this best-seller Nicholas Sparks’ novel – in Charleston SC
The charming historic downtown Charleston, SC is a popular location for TV shows and movies. My husband and I decided to do a road trip to visit this romantic town and the spots where “The Notebook” was filmed.
The Notebook is one of my favorite Nicholas Sparks‘ novels. It was his first published book and it was inspired by his wife’s grandparents. You can read about Sparks’ wedding day story and how he got inspired by his grandparents-in-law love story by clicking here.
Synopsis: Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) and Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) are two young lovers that are torn apart by class differences in the 1940s. Noah ends up going to the war and when he gets back he restores the house he once told Allie he would buy for them. Allie is now engaged but when she sees Noah’s photo on the newspaper she decides to go back to see him after all these years. That’s when they realize that their love for each other was far stronger than a summer love.
Here is the complete list of all “The Notebook” filming locations:
The American Theater
ADDRESS: 446 King St, Charleston, SC
Noah, Allie and their friends went to the American Theater for a double date to watch a movie. It was their first date after the scene at the fair where Noah saw Allie for the first time and climbed a ferries wheel to ask Allie on a date. After holding himself up with only one hand she finally said yes.
“I didn’t plan on falling in love with you, and I doubt if you planned on falling in love with me. But once we met, it was clear that neither of us could control what was happening to us.” – Nicholas Sparks
The intersection
ADDRESS: Intersection between 494 King St and Mary St, Charleston, SC
After watching the movie, Allie and Noah started walking north on King Street to the intersection of Mary Street. That’s where they danced and then laid on the floor to look at the traffic light.
“We fell in love, despite our differences, and once we did, something rare and beautiful was created. For me, love like that has only happened once, and that’s why every minute we spent together has been seared in my memory. I’ll never forget a single moment of it.” ― Nicholas Sparks
Allie’s summer house – the exterior
ADDRESS: 1235 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC
Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens was used as Allie’s parents’ summer house exterior. The scene above is from when Allie goes to college and then Noah goes to her house and he gets there too late and Allie’s already gone. To see the house you need to take the tour and the gate is located way too far so you’re not even able to see the exterior without entering the property. I visited Boone Hall Plantation and you can click here to read about this visit, what to do there, some of the exhibits and tips. The tour inside the house is included with the admission and it’s worth checking it out.
“Sometimes we need to be apart to understand just how much we truly love each other .” ― Nicholas Sparks
Oak Avenue
ADDRESS: 1235 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC
This beautiful place is called Oak Avenue and it’s located inside the Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens property. Just like the house, you need to take the tour to be able to see Oak Avenue. The scene above is while Allie and Noah were dating, before she goes to college.
“They didn’t agree on much. In fact, they didn’t agree on anything. They fought all the time and challenged each other ever day. But despite their differences, they had one important thing in common. They were crazy about each other.” ― Nicholas Sparks
Allie’s ‘New York‘ college
ADDRESS: 66 George St, Charleston, SC
The College of Charleston was used as Allie’s New York college (“Sarah Lawrence College”). The scene above is when Allie sees Lon Hammond, the guy she helped while she was volunteering as a nurse’s aide in a hospital for wounded soldiers, and the guy who soon become her fiancee.
“You and I were different. We came from different worlds, and yet you were the one how taught me the value of love. You showed me what it was like to care for another, and I am a better man because of it. I don’t want you to ever forget that.” ― Nicholas Sparks
The boat date
ADDRESS: 3030 Cypress Gardens Rd, Moncks Corner, SC
Cypress Gardens was used for the scene where Noah takes Allie on a ‘date’ after years when she comes back to see him at his house. I visited this gorgeous place and you can read more about it here, see some photos, prices and tips. The swans weren’t native to the area so when you visit the Cypress Gardens you won’t see them. They were imported and trained a month before the shootings to follow the boat as the director expected. It was done in January while the alligators were hibernating.
“It was real, wasn’t it? You and me. Such a long time ago, we were just a couple of kids. But we really loved each other, didn’t we?” – Allie
Allie’s summer house – The interior
ADDRESS: 16 Meeting Street Charleston, SC
The scenes in Allie’s house interior was filmed at the Calhoun Mansion. It’s the largest single-family residence in Charleston and the house remains a private residence but it is open to the public daily for touring. Click here to go the mansion’s official website.
So it’s not gonna be easy. It’s going to be really hard; we’re gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. – Noah
The beach
Although they could have used South Carolina beaches for this scene, it was actually filmed in California, at El Matador Beach, in Malibu.
“It was an improbable romance. He was a country boy, she was from the city. She had the world at her feet while he didn’t have two dimes to rub together.” – Nicholas Sparks
The lake where Allie, Noah and their friends swam
The scene above is where Allie, Noah and their friends go swim at a lake. The lake is also located inside the Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens property and you can see it from far if you go on the hay ride that is also included with admission.
“No matter what happens to us, everyday spent with you is the best day of my life.” – Noah
The restaurant Noah saw Allie and her fiancee
ADDRESS: 199 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
The scene above is Allie meeting her fiancee Lon at the High Cotton Charleston Restaurant and Noah sees them together from the outside of the restaurant. If you want to dine at this restaurant you can make your reservation here and see the menu here.
“The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected. Maybe they always have been and will be. Maybe we’ve lived a thousand lives before this one and in each of them we’ve found each other. And maybe each time, we’ve been forced apart for the same reasons. That means that this goodbye is both a goodbye for the past ten thousand years and a prelude to what will come.” ― Nicholas Sparks
The house Noah built for Allie
ADDRESS: 2018 Martins Point Rd, Wadmalaw Island, SC*
This private property was used as the house that Noah fixed up for Allie. It’s located on Wadmalaw Island at Martins Point Plantation (historically knows as Bears Bluff Plantation). Since it’s private property I don’t recommend you go there so you don’t bother the residents or get in trouble for trespassing. The initial idea was to find a dilapidated house and renovate it for the movie but then they decided to go for a nice house and make it look ruined for the earlier scenes.
“I love you. I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I’ve ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, everyday we are together is the greatest day of my life. I will always be yours.” ― Nicholas Sparks
The nursing home
ADDRESS: Northwest of US 701 at Post Foot Landing off Choppee Road
The nursing scenes were filmed at Rice Hope (Black River) Plantation in Oatland – Georgetown County. The scene above is when Noah (James Garner) was reading a book containing their love story to Allie (Gena Rowlands) in the present day.
“An ordinary beginning, something that would have been forgotten had it been anyone but her. But as he shook her hand and met those striking emerald eyes, he knew before he’d taken his next breath that she was the one he could spend the rest of his life looking for but never find again. She seemed that good, that perfect, while a summer wind blew through the trees.” ― Nicholas Sparks
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