The Walking Dead returns soon and, if the trailers are any indication, it’s going to be one hell of a ride. Like millions of fans, I cannot wait for the season premiere. AMC’s Walking Dead has a following similar to Breaking Bad; it is host to characters with whom we can sympathize, even when they’re doing horrible things to survive in a post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested world.
There’s Daryl Dixon, the crowd favorite, with his crossbow and piercing eyes; Maggie, with her bravado and loyalty (not to mention dedication to staying fit in a burning world of walkers), willing to risk everything for love; Teenager Carl, who has grown into his sheriff hat with a penchant for destroying anything to protect his family. And Michonne, the warrior who can vanquish threat, with swift moves of her sword, inspiring to all women. These characters, with their flaws and shortcomings, fears and determination, have won our hearts. We just cannot get enough of them.
How amazing would it be if these characters were our traveling companions? In many ways, they are on a journey: one of self-discovery, or to find loved ones. We are all constantly headed to a destination in search of something better. In anticipation of Season 5, I’ve tasked fellow fans to imagine a world where they could roam freely with these characters, to choose with whom they’d go and their reasoning. Here are their responses, which take place in either a pre or post-apocalyptic world.
MICHONNE
“I would choose to travel with Michonne. I find her the most interesting and intelligent—she’s badass and can handle any situation and has a sense of humor. Plus, she knows horses and rides well. So, in a post-apocalyptic world, I’d travel with her in Northern Arizona, like the Sedona, Flagstaff area. Gorgeous scenery, no rough winters to deal with, not too densely populated (so fewer walkers to watch out for). If international travel were possible, we’d go to Portugal, where we’d ride in the mountains of Sintra, a gorgeous medieval town. It’s the site of the best trail ride I’ve taken so far in my life. On horseback, with Michonne’s blade, we’d be mobile and fast enough to stay ahead of the dead!” ~ Katrina Kittle (www.katrinakittle.com)
“I would love to return to London. My ideal travel companion from The Walking Dead would be Michonne. She has a tough exterior and keeps conversation to a minimum, but this is due to the loss that she has experienced as a result of the zombie apocalypse. Michonne is most definitely a faithful friend, and she is fiercely protective of those who are close to her. Finally, Michonne has a whimsical side, as evidenced in the episode where she recovers the abstract art statue of the cat from the zombie infested tavern simply because she liked it.
On our trip to London, Michonne and I would visit all the popular sites. We would have a lot of fun having our picture taken with the guards at Buckingham Palace, and we would visit the Tower of London. We would have to enjoy the majestic cityscape from the London Eye. And of course, we would take a trip to Portobello Road so that Michonne could look for a companion piece for her cat statue!” ~ Maureen Lubitz
CARL
“Carl Grimes deserves a real childhood, so what better place to take him than Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves, for a down home, good old pre-apocalyptic baseball game? If he’s not already a Braves fan from growing up in Georgia, he’d learn the Tomahawk Chop and root for Emilio Bonifacio and Ryan Doumit. Before the game, we’d take the behind-the-scenes tour of the park, to really give Carl an appreciation for the team and the game. We’d grab dinner at Waffle House within the Stadium (even the “Awful Waffle” is appealing as opposed to zombies and rations) and finish off with Mayfield Ice Cream. And, of course, we’d sit right along the First Base Line. It has to be Turner Field, since Suntrust Park is coming in 2017. Or is it?” ~ Scott Josephson
“I would take Carl to Six Flags. Poor kid has been on the run his whole life, fighting death every step of the way. That’s no way for a kid to grow up and he’s totally missed the best years of his childhood. I would want to take him to Six Flags and watch him just be a kid for a day.” ~ Michael Venzor
MAGGIE
“I would stay in Bergen County, NJ and invade Garden State Plaza (The Mall). In that way, I’ll have food, a lot of clothes, nice beds to sleep in, and have a lot of fun space. I would be with Maggie. Why? Because she’s hot… and she’s brave, strong, hot, loyal, kind, and she’s like ridiculously hot.” ~ Hiro Kiyono
SHANE
“Character: Shane (with a shaved head)
Where: Hmmmm, maybe down by a creek on a row boat, peaceful and calm.
Why: He is a Hotie of course, but I feel like he was so misrepresented. After all Laurie did make him all hot and heavy for her and then she just dropped him like it all never happened.
Then again there is always Daryl, and why not and anywhere.” ~ Linda Rothermel
DARYL
“If I could go anywhere in the world with a TWD character I would go with my family on Safari to Maasai Mara national reserve in Kenya with Daryl because when we got deep into the safari searching for the big cats, cheetahs, leopards, wildebeest, rhinos, zebras, and elephants I know I wouldn’t have to worry about a sneak attack from poachers because with Daryl’s bow skills, I know he’d be more than capable of keeping us safe! ~Lori Anest
RICK GRIMES
Well, it’s time for me to reveal my choice, and it’s none other than the country’s most beloved sheriff—Rick Grimes. He won our hearts as the sweet faced lover boy in Love Actually, but he made us root for him as he struggled to lead and fight for his family. If I could go anywhere in the world with Rick, it would be pre-apocalyptic rural Georgia where we could find a nice farm house, grow vegetables, and raise pigs as pets. Now, wouldn’t that be nice?
Where would you go on your dream getaway with a Walking Dead character? Share in a comment below.
Nature Traveler 