The Skywalker Ranch in Marin, California has long been the top destination for fans of the "Star Wars" franchise. However, the only way that someone can gain entrance to the ranch is by invitation only and George Lucas has been known to be very particular on who gains access.
Fortunately for fans of the franchise, there is an alternative to the Skywalker Ranch. The Letterman Digital and New Media Arts Center located in San Francisco is the headquarters of Lucasfilm (the company in charge of making the "Star Wars" films), as well as its associate companies, SFGate reports.
While the main buildings which house Lucasfilm are not available to the public, the center does have a visitor's lobby in which fans of the long-running franchise can visit and purchase hard to find memorabilia, Home and Abroad states. Another good news is that the facility has a guided tour of the 27-acre grounds as well as a famous Yoda statue.
The tour itself will take about 60 to 90 minutes and admission is free of charge, according to the Lucasfilm website . In the public area, there is also several restaurants and coffee shops for visitors to relax, get a cup of coffee or take part of the latest "Star Wars" infused dish.
The complex is very easy to get to and is widely obtainable by car or public transportation. Those who are not familiar with the San Francisco area can readily get directions via GPS or ask the local bus terminal which buses run to and from the complex.
Lucasfilm was founded by filmmaker George Lucas in 1971 and is responsible for multiple mediums that changed the face of the film industry. The company was recently purchased in 2012 by the Walt Disney Company and maintains its high standard for filmmaking not only for the "Star Wars" Franchise but many other movies as well.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
