Themed vacations are becoming increasingly popular and adding a boost to tourism in many places. The Walking Dead Experience is a great example — tour packages offer fans the chance to visit Senoia, Georgia, where the show is filmed to visit sets and participate in zombie experiences.
Fans of the popular Twilight saga can enjoy a themed vacation of their own by visiting Forks, Washington, the home of the fictional Cullen clan, Bella, Jacob and the rest of the gang. Although the films weren’t actually filmed in this quaint little town, teens and tweens can delight in visiting the real-life inspiration for the setting of the series.
Forks is nestled within the Olympic Peninsula in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Surrounded by luscious green forests, the impressive Olympic Mountains and the golden shores of the Pacific Ocean, it is no wonder author Stephanie Meyers opted to use this idyllic location for the setting of her hugely popular Twilight saga.
Forks is a stunning vacation destination in its own right. Located next to the beautiful Olympic National Park there is no shortage of beautiful vistas, scenic drives and wildlife viewing. Outdoorsy families can enjoy the stunning natural beauty of the area while hiking, fishing, horseback riding and camping. It is the perfect place to go clamming by moonlight or take a sunrise boat ride along the Pacific Coast.
La Push Beach © Erik Lattwein | Dreamstime.com
Any die-hard Twilight fan will have to stop at the town’s welcome sign for a picture to commemorate their visit. Once there, make sure you stop to see Bella’s red Chevrolet pick-up truck for another photo-op. You can even visit Bella’s house — although it wasn’t actually used in filming, a local couple has been good sports about the town’s fandom and offered up their home for visitors to view (from the outside only) as the official representation of the Swan house. Fans will be pleased to see the real town of Forks and the one in the hit saga are strikingly similar. For a complete listing of Twilight sites in and around Forks, stop in at the local chamber of commerce for a map.
In September, the town will host the annual ‘Forever Twilight in Forks’ festival to celebrate its claim to fame. The timing for the festival (Sept. 13–16) has been carefully selected to coincide with Bella’s birthday, Sept. 13. It’s a great opportunity for fans to come together and share their mutual love for the series in a setting that helps bring the stories and characters to life.
Fans of the vampire saga Twilight will always have a home in Forks, Wash., where the real backdrop for the popular book and movie series fully enveloped its famous connection.
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