Monday, May. 31, 2004

See Bill Murray's Bed!

By Jeremy Caplan

Giving up sex is proving hard for its fans. Since Carrie & Co. signed off this winter, New York's Sex and the City tour has tripled in popularity. About 1,000 visitors a week trek to the real-life spots where the show's stars had steamy soirees or cooed over cupcakes. The Sex tour has inspired plans for similar tours in Miami and Boston, linked to CSI Miami and Boston Public, and visitors to Tokyo can now follow Bill Murray's footsteps in Lost in Translation. Here's some of what's out there.

--By Jeremy Caplan

DEADWOOD

The new HBO series is drawing tourists to this quiet South Dakota town of 1,350. To attract even more visitors, a Wild West set is being built. Cost: $112 for two motel nights

THE LORD OF THE RINGS

Tolkien fans have been trekking to New Zealand, where the epic trilogy was shot. One hot Rings attraction: Hobbiton, the only surviving on-site set. Cost: $33.50 for a walking tour

LOST IN TRANSLATION

A Japanese tour company offers trips to the Hyatt where Murray spent sleepless nights. On hand are cocktails at the bar featured in the film. Cost: $2,091 for airfare and five hotel nights

THE SOPRANOS

The 48 spots on this Jersey bus tour include Bada Bing, Pizzaland and various gangland murder sites. Bonus: see St. Cecilia's, the Sopranos' church. Cost: $40 for the 4-hr. tour

THE APPRENTICE

Trump Tower is now a stop on the Manhattan TV and movie tour. Fans can't get into the firing room but can gaze at the fountain and you're fired sign outside. Cost: $30 for the city tour