Continuing on, we embark on our journey of the mystical and mysterious to try and catch a sighting of a vampire hero or a werewolf best friend. Next up, Forks, Washington and surrounding PNW locales; home to Stephanie Meyer's Twilight. 

Though the books may be a work straight from the Young Adult Fiction section, the town of Forks, WA is very much real, including the yearly average of 212 inches of precipitation. This small and rainy town of around 3,800 people has completely embraced the fandom for which it has become synonymous. Previously relying on the timber industry to run the economy, the area has also utilized the ever growing fandom from the novels and movies to contribute to communal financial growth.

Throughout the area there are many places for the die hard Twilight fan to enjoy. Let's take a moment to explore what Forks and the surrounding areas have to offer fans and adventurers alike. 

Let's review a few of the places in Forks proper that you can immerse yourself in to truly experience the world of Twilight.

First, stop by the Chamber of Commerce to see and pose for a picture with "Bella's truck". One of the town residents painted a 1956 Chevy truck red (just like Bella's) in homage to the town and the movie.

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Bella's Truck at Fork's Chamber of Commerce. Image provided by Duane Burdick Flikr (https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/arts-and-culture/photos/twilight-tour).

While the Cullen house from the movies is not in Forks (hang tight, we are getting there!) you can still see the house that Forks has dubbed "The Cullen House," properly known as the Miller Tree Inn. Originally a farmhouse, it now serves as a bed and breakfast. This house closely resembles the novel description of the home used by the Olympia Vampire clan. Reserve a room at the Miller Tree Inn and rest your head for the night (unless you are a vampire that doesn't need sleep).

Miller Tree Inn - aka "The Cullen House." Image by Ewen Roberts via Flickr (https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/arts-and-culture/photos/twilight-tour).

While there are a few locations for the "Twihard" fan to visit in Forks itself, many of the places a film fan may want to visit are just outside of the immediate area. 

Next stop on our journey is 12 miles outside of Forks to the quite beach of La Push. In Twilight, this is known as the home to everyone favorite werewolf, Jacob Black. La Push is the real life home to the Quileute people, just like it was for Jacob and his wolf pack. No matter if you are Team Edward or Jacob, this beach in a must stop on your Twilight Tour. 

La Push Beach, Washington. Image by Diane Bay (https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/arts-and-culture/photos/twilight-tour).

A stunning view of the beach is not the only thing you can do in La Push. The Quileute have fully embraces the madness and tourism that has come with the series and have since opened Jacob's Java! Stop by on your way to or from the beach and get a cup of joe for which the PNW is famous.

For those fans who really want to immerse themselves into the experience and characters of Twilight, a visit to nearby Port Angels is a must. This town served as a getaway from the 3 stoplight town of Forks for our main cast - such as when they needed prom dresses or a movie night. Port Angels is just over an hour drive away (56 miles). However all vampires may need to take caution as this town gets substantially less rain than most other areas of Washington state. 

When you have tired yourself out from exploring all the area has to offer, you can rest for the night in a few places. We already mentioned the Miller Tree Inn (aka Cullen House), as the the film version of the Cullen home (in Portland) is a private residence and closed to the public. However, if you really want to live a day (or night) in the shoes of the series heroine, Bella Swan, the super patient and lucky fan may be able to snag a night or two in the actual Swan home, located in St. Helen's, OR. For $400/night, Twihards can rent out the entire home used as the Swan residence through AirBnB. Be aware this highly desirable location is booked through the end of 2024. If you see it available, you'll need to book it faster than a vampire can run. 

Front view of the Twilight Swan House. Image by AirBnB (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/28942373?source_impression_id=p3_1644007912_NYhHTQgmGyhnLPPq).

Before we jump a portal stone to the Carolinas and begin our tour of the Randlands, let's take a tour of the famous Cullen House from the films!

Cooking and dining out are narrative catalysts employed frequently throughout the Twilight Saga. After all, Bella is a teenager, so family meals and dinner dates with friends (both human and vampire) are important opportunities to build relationships. First up on the menu is lasagna; recipe courtesy of delish.com

Lasagna

Slice of lasagna. Image provided by https://live.staticflickr.com/1327/4602657102_abf3e8ab99_b.jpg

Description - An aromatic comfort food with filling layers of pasta, stuffed with soft cheese and savory ground beef and tomato. There's nothing fictional about how delicious homemade lasagna is, especially with fresh herbs and produce.

If you prefer a vegetarian option, as does Bella in the film adaptations of the novels, tuck into her signature dish, as recreated by Sadie in her blog, Fictitiously Delicious:

Mushroom Ravioli

A plate of mushroom ravioli. Image provided by http://ficticiouslydelicious.com/mushroom-ravioli-twilight/

Description - There's little need to tell you how the ravioli tastes. Instead, let me tell you where you can get this authentic dish, which the restaurant created in honor of the Twilight Saga:

Bella Italia is a REAL restaurant in the REAL town of Port Angeles that Stephanie Meyer frequented while writing Twilight. The mushroom ravioli remains a popular menu item to this day because of Twilight's success. Should you ever be in the area, make sure to call ahead and reserve a table. Please do them a favor and bring along a guest that eats more than mountain lion blood, unlike Edward Cullen! Don't be an Edward.