I make no secret of my love of Twilight. I own all the books and saw the movies in theaters. I have a variety of Twilight merch which I display proudly. I quote the Twilight film (the first and best of the series) often in conversation with friends and family. I identify as a "Twi-hard."
So, when my husband suggested we go to Seattle to visit his brother, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to go for gold. I batted my eyelashes and asked sweetly, "Do you think we could also go to Forks?" Luckily, he has difficulty saying no to me, and Forks was added to the itinerary.
If you are Twilight averse, now would be a good time to click away from this blog post. The remainder of what you’ll see is me (an adult woman with a terminal degree) in all my Twilight glory, being an absolute geek throughout the Pacific Northwest. If you’re still here, please enjoy these pictures and commentary from the BEST TRIP OF MY ENTIRE LIFE.
First, we have the obligatory picture of me with the “Welcome to Forks” sign. As we pulled up to the sign, we were quickly followed by three additional vehicles to my great surprise. I was under the impression that Twilight had faded into the distant past, only a memory of the elder millennial. This was my first clue that I was wrong. Twilight is alive in Forks as I would soon learn.
We then traveled a few miles to the other side of Forks and arrived at the Forks Chamber of Commerce (five minutes later) to get our “Twilight Welcome Packet,” as advertised on many Twilight Fan Blogs. The Chamber’s crowning glory is Bella’s red trucks sitting out front. A very kindly woman inside gave us maps to Twilight hotspots and local eateries. There was also Twilight and Forks merch inside for purchase. As I was signing my name to the guest book another ten Twilighters (as we’re known around the area) arrived for orientation.
A must-see while visiting Forks is the “museum” called Forever Twilight. The good folks in Forks won a fantastic collection of Twilight memorabilia in an auction in L.A. several years ago. They’ve displayed their goods in a room and welcome guests ten at a time to come in and view their treasures. The visit is free, but they welcome donations. You get a quick introduction to the collection upon arrival and then are free to peruse the goods (videos and pictures are welcome)! I was obsessed with the replica of Bella’s engagement ring (adding to my Christmas wish list), it was exciting to see the wedding costumes, there was a sweet note from Stephanie Meyer thanking the town for making her birthday a celebrated local holiday, and CHUCKESMEE!
On our way to see La Push Beach (La Push baby, LA PUSH) on the Quileute Indian Reservation we stopped by 3 Rivers Resort for highly recommended burgers and shakes. As you know, vampires are not allowed on the reservation and are kindly reminded via high visibility signage.
When visiting Forks to create her story, Stephanie Meyer based the Cullen’s home on a local house that now serves as a bed and breakfast. We stayed at the Miller Tree Inn during our visit, and I absolutely loved it. The Inn is owned and operated by a sweet married couple in their mid-30s (shocking I know) and the accommodations were lovely! They fully embrace the Twilight spirit throughout the residence, including the infamous “graduation caps” art and signage for Carlise’s Office upstairs!
A few other stops on the “Twilight Tour” include Forks High School and the Swan Home. The Swan residence was the house that Stephanie Meyer conceptualized as Charlie Swan’s home during her visit to Forks. The home is now available as an Airbnb.
No “Twilight Tour” would be complete without taking a drive to Port Angeles! We spent the day walking the streets of this beautiful waterside town before rounding out the day with dinner at Bella Italia. As you recall, this is where Edward awkwardly watches Bella eat mushroom ravioli while she slowly puts his secret together. My husband had the infamous ravioli and reports that it was very good.
As you can imagine, these were just a few of the photographs from this epic trip. While we were in the area, we did many things unrelated to Twilight including a guided hike of the Hoh Rainforest and Rialto Beach. Just breathtaking! I was also able to visit the local lavender fields which were just starting to bloom. We drove to Ruby Beach and beyond for views of the Pacific Ocean. And did a quick swing through Aberdeen to pay our respects to Kurt Cobain. If you get a chance to visit Forks, Washington, and the surrounding areas you will not be disappointed!