Twilight fan? Forget signing up to fan forums, decking out your room in Bella and Edward posters, or buying multiple copies of the book set (one for reading, one for storage, one in case the others are lost in a fire). Why not get closer to the characters you love so much by actually visiting Forks, Washington state?
You won't have the place to yourself, though. "Twilight tourism" has become an unexpected and rapidly growing phenomenon in Forks. The Peninsula Daily News reported a total of 16,186 people passed through the Forks Visitor Center in July — doubling June's number of 8702 — and in one month nearly reaching the entire year's total for 2008, 18,485 people.
And of course, some of the locals have been getting in on the act. There are loads of unofficial tours, and even a DIY travel guide to Forks, which lists "sights", such as a 1956 Chevy truck painted red by one of the town's enterprising residents and referred to as Bella's truck (although note: it's not actually from the movie).
But if you've come this far, you may as well go the whole hog with Intrepid Travel's Twilight Trails, which will take you to official film locations and the stunning landscapes featured in the movie. Kicking off in Portland, Oregon, and ending in Seattle, Washington, this 13-day adventure will see you strolling Cannon Beach (remember, where Jacob Black warns Bella about Edward and the Cullens), visiting the "Thunderbird and Whale" bookstore and hiking the trail where all those super-romantic forest scenes between Bella and Edward were shot. That piece of grass you're stepping on? Maybe Robert Pattinson once stepped there, too! (Or was it this piece of grass?)
Other highlights of this trip include St Helens, Hood River, Oxbow Park, View Point Inn (where the high school prom was held), the town of Forks including Forks High School, the Cullen and Swan family homes, Jacob Black's home in LaPush and Port Angeles. The trip is available from June to September 2010, from $2255 per person.
Of course, there's one thing missing in this picture. The stars! So if you really want to earn your fan-girl/boy stripes, we recommend you not only get on board the Twilight tour of film locations, but cap off your trip with a Twilight Convention at Sea cruise where you will actually get to hang out with some of the actors from the film. OMG!
Setting sail from Seattle on August 8, 2010, this eight-day Twilight Convention at Sea includes a Q&A session with Ashley Greene (who played Alice Cullen) and Michael Welch (Mike Newton), plus Alex Meraz from the upcoming Twilight sequel New Moon. (Sorry, no R-Pattz, but we're pretty sure Robert Pattinson would not have lasted five minutes on the cruise before being ripped to pieces by crazed Twi-fans!) There will also be a group photoshoot, autograph session and a costume ball.
This cruise doesn't come cheap. Prices vary, starting at $1160, not including the registration fees and taxes. But can you really put a price on your love for Bella and Edward? We didn't think so.
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