The Notebook was released in 2004. It’s based on the book of the same name written by Nicholas Sparks in 1996. It takes place in the fictional town of Seabrook, South Carolina. The story is based on the author’s then wife’s grandparents who were married for over 60 years. But where was The Notebook filmed? It’s actually filmed in the same place as the setting. But let’s start with the story.
Where Was The Notebook Filmed?
The Notebook was filmed almost entirely in South Carolina at the Boone Hall Plantation, Cypress Gardens, The Battery, College of Charleston, and Edisto Island. The Notebook war scenes were filmed in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
What Was The Notebook All About?
This is an incredibly sweet love story about Noah and Allie in 1940s South Carolina. He’s a boy who falls in love with the sheltered daughter of a rich family. She is eventually forbidden to spend time with him when the parents realize how much they are in love. He then joins the military and goes off to war putting a final nail in the coffin of their relationship. Allie then becomes involved with a rich boy who’s approved by her family.
After many years, they somehow find their way back to each other. The rich girl/poor boy story is memorialized in a notebook read to an aging woman with memory issues.
Who Was In The Cast of The Notebook?
The Notebook starred Ryan Gosling as Noah Calhoun, Rachel McAdams as Allie Hamilton, James Garner as Duke, Gena Rowlands as Allie’s older self, and Joan Allen and Sam Shepard as Allie’s parents. Other cast members included James Marsden as Lon Hammond Jr., Kevin Connolly as Fin, Heather Wahlquist as Martha Schulyer, and Anthony-Michael Q. Thomas as Ansel Hamilton.
The supporting cast included Ed Grady, Starletta DuPois, and David Thornton in addition to many talented local actors from Charleston, South Carolina.
Who Directed The Notebook?
The Notebook was directed by Nick Cassavetes. He is an American filmmaker and actor who is best known for directing popular films such as She’s So Lovely, Alpha Dog, My Sister’s Keeper, and John Q.
Did The Notebook Receive Any Awards?
The Notebook did pretty well at the box office but had mixed reviews. It was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor (James Garner). The Golden Satellite Awards for Best Supporting Actress went to Gena Rowlands. All in all, The Notebook had six nominations and won 10 awards that also included a number of Teen Choice Awards.
Technical Information
This movie runs for 2 hours and 3 minutes (123 minutes). The camera used was a Moviecam Compact with Cooke Xtal Express Lenses.
Fun Facts About The Notebook
- A number of actresses auditioned for the film including Jessica Biel, Ashley Judd, Britney Spears, and Reese Witherspoon before Rachel McAdams was cast.
- Ryan Gosling moved to Charleston, South Carolina prior to filming to help him get into character. He spent his time making furniture and rowing on the Ashley River.
- The house that Noah is seen fixing up is actually a private residence.
- The Boone Hall Plantation was used as Allie’s summer house.
- The Director, Nick Cassavetes, is the son of the actress Gena Rowlands who also stars in the movie.
Can You Visit the Set of The Notebook?
Many of the filming locations are The Boone Hall Plantation, which has been a working farm for over 300 years and is open to the public for tours.
What is South Carolina Famous For?
South Carolina is famous for beautiful sandy beaches such as Myrtle Beach, golf courses, warm weather, and friendly, southern hospitality. The award winning actress, Viola Davis, was born at her grandmother’s farm in South Carolina.
Unique Places in South Carolina
If you like the weird and the wild, South Carolina holds some pretty unusual places for you to visit. Here are some attractions to consider:
- Giant Crab Seafood Restaurant – check out the giant crab over the awning to the entrance
- Boneyard Beach – hundreds of bleached pine trees, oak, and cedar scattered along the beach
- Eddie – the “Biggest Kid in the World”
- WFO Welcome Center, Bowman, SC
- There’s also the Angel Oak Tree that is 300 to 400 years old and 65 feet tall. It’s located on John’s Island.
Things to Do and Visit in South Carolina
Charleston has a very lively historic district that is definitely worth visiting. Because of its architecture, the entire town is a National Historic Landmark with homes from the 18th and 19th centuries.
There’s plenty of things to do including golfing, kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, biking, and more. Places to visit are:
- Hilton Head Island
- Middleton Place
- Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
- Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
- Fort Sumter National Monument
- DuPont Planetarium
Myrtle Beach has a very large alligator park. Here you can feed and pet the alligators and snakes. There’s a reptile house that holds a variety of snakes, lizards, turtles, and frogs. There’s even a rare albino alligator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit the plantation house from The Notebook?
Yes, the plantation has been a working farm for over 300 years and is open to the public.
Where was The Notebook boat scene filmed?
The boat scene in The Notebook was filmed at Cypress Gardens. Visitors can take a self-guided boat tour.
Final Thoughts on The Notebook Film Locations
South Carolina is loaded with history and there’s tons of things to do and places to visit. For The Notebook fans, you can even get married at Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens. It tends to get pretty hot during the summer months so you may want to visit in cooler months.
Other Film Locations
Here are some additional film location of other shows and films that have been filmed in or near South Carolina.
