12 Epic Travel Destinations for Fans of Fantasy and Science Fiction

22. Redwoods National and State Parks, California: Forest Moon of Endor

Step into California’s Redwoods National and State Parks and you’ll enter a world that feels more ancient than human memory. These towering redwood trees, some over 2,000 years old and reaching heights of more than 350 feet, form a cathedral-like canopy that muffles sound and bathes the forest floor in a green, dappled light. It's no wonder George Lucas chose this location as the Forest Moon of Endor in Return of the Jedi—the setting feels sacred, timeless, and alive with unseen stories. Wandering beneath the colossal trunks, it’s easy to imagine Ewoks swinging from vine to vine or elven sentinels patrolling from hidden platforms above. The atmosphere is hushed, reverent, and just a bit mysterious, as if the trees are watching, keeping secrets older than civilization. These forests also evoke the enchanted woods of Tolkien’s Lothlórien or the home of ancient tree spirits in myth and folklore. There are trails that weave through fallen giants, moss-covered bridges, and fern-lined groves where fog creeps in like breath from another world. The redwoods are not just impressive—they’re humbling. Walking here is a reminder of the scale of time, the fragility of life, and the wonder of a world that continues to surprise and inspire. It’s not just a forest—it’s a living storybook of the earth’s most magical elements, waiting for the next adventure to unfold.