8 places to go in Maine if you're a fan of Stephen King

One of the main reasons Stephen King is our modern master of horror is because he understands how important setting is to a good story.

He lures readers into a false sense of security by setting so many of his best stories in idyllic small towns where things are supposed to be perfect, and then lets things happen from there.

The lifelong Maine resident has used his home state and the region as inspiration for some of his most terrifying books, from "It" to "Salem's Lot," and filmmakers adapting his stories understand just how important a part the setting plays to whatever King tale they might be putting to film. That's why even if the movie based off of one of King’s stories is set in but isn’t filmed in New England, you’d probably have a hard time telling the difference.

From "The Loveliest Town in Canada" to "The Fun Center of Ohio," here are some of the best real-life spots you can visit, some of which are in Maine, others were picked because they looked like it.

Whether you've never actually read Stephen King, are a casual fan, or have read every book twenty times and named your first-born "Cujo," there’s something perfect for everyone. 

SEE ALSO: The 25 best horror movies you can stream on Netflix to get ready for Halloween

Orrington, ME

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Relevance: Where King was inspired to write "Pet Sematary." There was indeed a pet cemetery — it was behind the house the Kings were renting. The house used in the film version is a little ways away, in Hancock, Maine (and looks a lot like the one he rented.)

About: Orrington has a population of about 4,000. It is minutes away from the busier town of Ellsworth, where a few parts of the film version were shot.

Lodging: Orrington itself does not have any hotels, but you can stay four miles away in Bangor for as little as $52 a night.

Of note: It was the birthplace of Edward A. Pierce, one of the founders of Merrill Lynch, as well as home to the first American-born Methodist minister and the first female master mariner in North America.

New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada

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Relevance: The town where they filmed "It." See the pretty places where Tim Curry dressed up as Pennywise and cemented himself in your nightmares forever.

About: New Westminster is located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, with a population of about 40,000 people. It’s about 30 minutes away from downtown Vancouver.

Lodging: A night at a B&B starts at $82, a night, depending on the season; hotels start at $70.

Of note: The New Westminster Salmonbellies are one of the oldest professional lacrosse teams in Canada. New Westminster is also the location of the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Portland, ME

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Relevance: The birthplace of Stephen King.

About: Portland is Maine's largest city, with a population of over 66,000 residents.

Lodging: A motel room can cost as little as $80 a night, but if you want to stay in the historic waterfront section of the city, you’re looking at $200 or more for a room.

Of note: With about 230 restaurants, Portland is believed to have more restaurants per capita than any other city in the country. The city of Portland, Oregon, was named for Portland, Maine. The list of notable people from Portland is pretty long.

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