If you know where Edward and Bella had their first date or if you have just about memorised the lines to the New Moon movie, then why not expand you Twilight experience by visiting the places that are mentioned in the books or where filming took place? Here are five places that will allow any Twilight fan to immerse him/her even further into the vampire stories.
Forks, Washington
Think back to where it all started, when Bella and Edward’s love story began. Who would have thought that the small town of Forks in Washington, a place dependent on its timber industry, would be the setting of one of the most popular novels of our time? Struggling to maintain a stable economy, it gained popularity when author Stephenie Meyer chose it as the main site for the Twilight series. This is where Bella moved to and fell in love with Edward; the 104 year old vampire. The local Welcome Center stocks maps of all the Twilight landmarks in the area – it could not be easier to see where the story unfolded.
Port Angeles, Washington
Feeling hungry, why not try the same dish Bella had on her first date with Edward? You can sample this, along with Bella’s mushroom ravioli at Bella Italia. Make a romantic weekend out of it – Port Angeles is a popular resort town. It originally got its name from a Spanish explorer who named it ‘Port of Our Lady of the Angels’. Perhaps it would be more fitting if it was renamed ‘Lady of the Vampires’, as Bella was.
Portland, Oregon
This densely populated city is very different from the small towns that most of Twilight takes place in. A number of movies have been filmed here, so chances are you would recognise this place. Although none of the story was set here, much of the filming was done in Portland. You can get hold of a map to see all the main sites and locations.
Hoh Rainforest, Washington
You hardly need an excuse to visit one of the largest rainforests in the world. At the rate that we are replacing forests with factories, we should grab any opportunity to wonder through these natural marvels. A number of Twilight scenes were filmed here in the Hoh Rainforest, which has resulted in an increase in public interest. Hopefully this means that more people will actively preserve these forests.
Quileute Reservation, Washington
The issue that many non-Twilight fans have is that the series does not seem to have any accurate cultural or factual grounding. Edward in all of his sparkling glory is often compared to the mysterious and awe-inspiring Count Dracula. Regardless of the finer details or discrepancies, Twilight has made an impact in the economies of the towns, which it indirectly promoted. Members of a Native American community who have occupied the area for thousands of years run Quileute Reservation. You seem to enter the twilight zone when you think about Edward, being over 100 years old, coming to the beach here where people have lived for much longer.
Summary:
Fans are in for the ultimate Twilight experience. Trek through the forest where many scenes were filmed, taste the food that Bella ate on her first date with Edward, and stroll along the beach where ‘the cold ones’ lie.
