It’s been 25 years since Forrest Gump won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor. To celebrate, why not embark on your own marathon and explore the unforgettable places that shaped Forrest Gump’s life?
Like Forrest, be at the right place at the right time and relive some of the film’s most monumental moments. Run up the dirt road at Bluff Plantation in South Carolina or dip your toes in the reflecting pool at Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. Forrest reminds us that “life is like a box of chocolates… you never know what you’re going to get.” Take a note out of Forrest’s book and know that although life can be delivered at random, you will always end up exactly where you are meant to be. By visiting the places that changed and moulded Forrest’s life, you and your family may gain something new along the way. Put on your running shoes, because you’ll want to be sprinting to these real-life Forrest Gump locations!
Start your adventure by visiting the place where Forrest’s life story was first told. The famous bench scene, where Forrest speaks to strangers about his life while they wait for the bus, was filmed in Chippewa Square, Savannah, Georgia. Stroll along the lush lawns, as you admire the beautiful architecture and immerse yourself in the surrounding trees. The centrepiece for the enchanting square is a statue of General James Oglethorpe, the founder of the colony of Georgia and is seen in the backdrop of the bench scenes. Now, unfortunately, the bench itself is no longer situated in the square but rather sits just a short eight-minute walk away at the Savannah History Museum. Take your kiddies to this eye-opening museum, which walks guests through the city’s history from 1733, spanning the American Revolution and Civil War, all the way to modern-day Savannah.
After you’ve taken an essential photo with the bench, be sure to stop by the beloved Soho South Cafe along Bull Street off the south end of the square. The café is Savannah’s staple weekly brunch spot and features steel windows, iron trusses and wooden garage doors, creating a stylish industrial look. For night entertainment, book a ticket at the Historic Savannah Theatre and watch a musical production or concert. As you wrap up your jam-packed day, retreat back to the Mansion on Forsyth Park hotel, where history and southern hospitality go hand-in-hand.
Step back into Forrest’s childhood by taking a 55 minute drive up the coast and into the state of South Carolina. As you enter the small town of Yemassee, the first place you must visit is Bluff Plantation. When you arrive, you will recognise the long dirt road squeezed in between the grand oak trees. The famous “Run, Forrest, Run” scene was filmed on this road. Re-enact the scene as you play cat and mouse with your kids. Then, imagine you are Forrest on the school bus, as you drive 30 minutes to Forrest’s elementary school in Walterboro. The building that was once Hampton Street Elementary School is now Colleton Civic Center. After visiting the building, jump in the car with your kids and drive 50 minutes to the Woods Memorial Bridge in Beaufort. Forrest famously ran along this bridge, as journalists asked, “Why are you doing this?” to which he replied, “I just felt like running.”
As you hop between these southern towns, you may be wondering what else there is to do. Good news for you, there are plenty of family-fun activities. Visit the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, where you can watch white-tailed deer, American alligators and over 250 species of birds roam free. For an old-fashioned activity, go on a SouthurnRose Carriage Tour, where a tour guide narrates the story of Beaumont’s history. In terms of accommodation, stay at the circa 1820 antebellum home, The Rhett House Inn. Fun fact: Tom Hanks stayed here too while filming the movie!
Forrest’s time fighting in the Vietnam War lends the movie some of its most heartrending scenes. However, these scenes were not filmed on the beaches of Vietnam. During your South Carolina holiday, take a day trip to either Hunting Island State Park or Fripp Island to see the real filming location of these poignant moments. Hunting State Park is one of the most popular parks in South Carolina, welcoming more than a million visitors each year. From horseback riding in the Midlands to building sandcastles along the coast, there is an array of family-friendly activities. Visit the historic Hunting Island lighthouse and climb your way to the top, trail through the Marsh Boardwalk, stopover the nature centre to see the wildlife and finish the day walking along the beach searching for washed-up shark teeth. On Fripp Island, dine at Bonito Boathouse, as you watch the spectacular sunset, and enjoy low country favourites, such as Shrimp & Grits. During your day trip, you can also take a cruise aboard the Fripper II and keep an eye out for dolphins.
Envision Jenny in her long white dress and brown coat, as she runs through the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and embraces Forrest. See the iconic attraction for yourself by boarding a short hour and a half flight from South Carolina to Washington D.C. Now, there is nothing like arriving at the National Mall for the very first time. As you stand beside the Washington Monument, you will see the stately U.S. Capitol Building at one end and the honourable Lincoln Memorial at the other. With inspiring monuments, memorials and museums, Washington D.C. is rich with history. Make sight-seeing fun by booking a Monuments and Memorials three-hour bike tour, where the whole family can learn all about the country’s presidential and war history while having time off the bike to explore on foot. Stop by the National Gallery of Art and introduce your kids to the works of Leonardo Da Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh.
After your tour, stay and revitalise at The Inn at Little Washington. The 5-star hotel is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, only a short drive from the capital. Created by Joyce Evans, a London stage and set designer, the Inn’s twenty-three bedrooms and suites are lavish hideaways. All guest room reservations include afternoon tea, house breakfast in the dining room, valet parking and a dining reservation each evening at their highly-acclaimed restaurant.
End your inspired trip by making the last stop at Monument Valley, Utah. Seek the perfect photo opportunity by visiting Forrest Gump Point, a small end mark on the side of the road where Forrest decided to finish his three-year and two-month marathon. If you’re wondering when is the best time of day to shoot the perfect shot, note that the sunrise will illuminate the rock formations in the distance and the sunset will be behind them. For lifelong memories, embark on a horse tour of monument valley, where you can ride through the picturesque sandstone mesas, buttes and spires. Famous actors rode horseback over these trails during the filming of classic western films. Now you can ride the same trails with Roy Black’s Monument Valley tours, a family-friendly guided journey that will have you in awe of Utah’s vast beauty.
For accommodation, you must stay at The View Hotel, the only hotel inside the Monument Valley Tribal Park. Now, this hotel did not get its name for no reason. No matter which room you stay in, you will have the most unobstructed and unspoiled view possible. Take in the phenomenal view of the Navajo landscape from your balcony in the morning and watch old western films projected on a wall at night. Just like Forrest ended his marathon in Monument Valley with the words, “I’m pretty tired… think I’ll go home now,” this might just be the perfect tail-end of a wonderful adventure.
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Feature image of Forrest Gump Point in Monument Valley courtesy of Brand USA.
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