In some films, the scenery plays a starring role. If you've ever wished you could visit Tolkien's Middle-Earth, Tatooine from "Star Wars" or other memorable movie sets, you're in luck. Here are four filming locations you can visit.

Ko Phi Phi Ley Island

Filming location for "The Beach"

In 2000's "The Beach," Leonardo diCaprio acquires a map to a secret island inhabited by a tribe of young pleasure-seekers. The good news: the island is real. It's Ko Phi Phi Ley, off the coast of Thailand. The bad news: You can't move in and start your own hedonistic cult. To preserve the beauty of this movie location, camping is no longer permitted on the island. You can visit Ko Phi Phi Ley Island, however, either as a day-tripper or via a sleep-aboard cruise to Maya Bay.

Tunisia

Filming location for parts of the "Star Wars" series

There's only one sun beating down, and no Jedis in sight - but aside from that, you'll feel like you're walking on Tatooine. After George Lucas built the alien town of Mos Espa in the Tunisian desert to film scenes for "The Phantom Menace," he left the set for people to visit. Dunes are creeping up to cover the buildings, but they're still there for intrepid fans to visit. There are other "Star Wars" movie locations you can visit, such as the Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata, Tunisia (used for the interior of Luke Skywalker's home). A photographer recently rediscovered the ruins of the set built for exterior shots of the extraterrestrial homestead.

Astoria, Oregon

Filming location for "The Goonies"

Astoria, a picturesque town perched on Oregon's rocky coast, is the filming location for Steven Spielberg's '80s cult classic "The Goonies." The film, about a gang of kids searching for a lost pirate treasure while evading the malevolent Fratelli gang, has a fervent following. The town has embraced this legacy, designating June 7 "Official Goonies Day" and planning a big celebration for the 30th anniversary of the film in 2015. The iconic white Goonies house is not open for visits, but the owners allow tourists to walk up the drive and take pictures. Find a complete list of "Goonies" movie locations at TheGoonies.org. (Sorry, One-Eyed Willie's pirate ship was scrapped.)

New Zealand

Filming location for the "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies

You don't have to be a Tolkien geek to appreciate the craggy mountains and rolling grasslands that stand in for Middle Earth in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. You can see this stunning scenery yourself by visiting Tongariro National Park. The New Zealand Department of Conservation has compiled a list of "Lord of the Rings" filming locations here, which includes descriptions of each scene. One must-see is the otherworldly Putangirua Pinnacles, where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli venture to meet the Army of the Dead. If the cozy Shire is more your speed, you can also visit the Hobbiton movie set and other locations through the Hobbiton Tours company.

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