"New Moon" is the latest "Twilight" movie, and it builds on incredible success from the original picture released in 2008. "Twilight" quickly made a fortune at the box office and inspired a fiercely loyal following of fans who wanted to know more about every aspect of the movie, from the leading actors to the book series and even the setting for the tales.
"New Moon" was shot in Vancouver and in Italy, but its release could stir up some renewed interest in Western Washington.
The fictional stories are set, in part, in towns that actually exist. Perhaps the most important is Forks, Wash.
Forks (pop. 3,175) is located on the scenic Olympic Peninsula, not far from the rugged beauty of the Pacific coast and the misty wonders of the Hoh and Quinault rain forests that have drawn visitors to this part of Washington for generations.
Twilight brought a tourism boom to Forks that is evident the moment you approach the city limits.
Forks has a welcome sign complete with steps and a ledge on which to pose for pictures. In the town, several businesses sell Twilight memorabilia, including a place called "Dazzled by Twilight" where you can sign up for tours and buy everything from T-shirts to calendars. Flip through the guestbook and you'll find many states and countries represented.
Many fans find a formal tour isn't really necessary. They find places in the town that look familiar from the movie, snap a few pictures and move along.
Local landmarks that were represented in the "Twilight" movie include the high school, city hall and Bella's house.
There are several hotels in Forks, and the costs should fit into the budget category. But as you might expect in a fairly small town, lodging choices are few.
Many visitors prefer to stop in Forks but spend the night in one of the area's bed and breakfasts or bunk down the road about 40 miles at the Kalaloch Lodge, operated by the National Park System and directly on the Pacific coast.
Two other real-life places in Western Washington with ties the Twilight series are La Push and Port Angeles. La Push is a remote ocean village at the mouth of the Quillayute River, about 70 miles west of Port Angeles, which is the peninsula's major city. Characters in the books interacted in both places. Die hard fans visit all three locations.
Let's say some in your travel party are interested in Twilight while others don't quite understand the phenomenon. That's okay! The scenic beauty of the Olympic Peninsula makes it well worth visiting for everyone.
Kalaloch Lodge offers specials through the year. So do two other national park lodges located in the vicinity: Lake Quinault Lodge and Sol Duc Resort.
For example, in winter, clam digging specials are offered at Kalaloch. Lake Quinault offers a winter fishing special. Note that these are not exactly rock-bottom budget prices. This remote area requires a lot of expensive transportation and maintenance, and naturally those costs are passed along to travelers.
But this area is well worth some added expense and time on your itinerary--even if you're not a Twilight fan.
Practical information
Port Angeles is about 80 miles west of Seattle, where you are likely to find the best airfares into the region. Port Angeles is also a point at which many people board ferries for Victoria, British Columbia (one hour away). From Port Angeles, it is another 60 miles to Forks along U.S. 101. Fill up your gas tank in Port Angeles or Seattle, because fuel on the Olympic Peninsula is sometimes scarce and frequently expensive.
Forks is about 40 miles from Ruby Beach and the Kalaloch Lodge.
If you enter Olympic National Park, the cost is $15 for a vehicle pass that admits everyone inside for seven consecutive days. Those entering on foot or with motorcycles pay $5.
For a cheap meal, eat lunch across from the Lake Quinault Lodge at the general store, where the proprietor will cook sandwiches to order and also give you practical tips on where to go and what to see.
One final tip: download excellent National Park Service maps to find your way.
