Twilight: the series that took the world by storm. What, you may ask, does this have to do with a vacation? Well, my family got it in their heads that I was a diehard, Edward-obsessed fan, and proceeded to plan a Twilight-inspired tour of the Northwest coast, including a few stops in Canada. My uncle and aunt live in Seattle, and when they visited us three summers ago, I flew back with them. I love it out there. Sure, the weather is greyer and not quite as warm (or humid, for that matter) as the weather here in Virginia, but I don't mind at all. Plus, the nature in the Pacific Northwest is gorgeous.
I stayed with my family in Seattle for almost a week, doing the usual touristy activities. They took me to Pike's Place Market, across the street from the world's first Starbucks; we toured the Experience Music Project, which I highly recommend for anyone interested in music; and my cousin and I dared each other to dive into the Puget Sound, which was freezing–even in July. Highlight of the week? I won the neighborhood water-gun war.
When my time at their humble abode was up, my aunt, cousin and I set off for the border. First stop: Vancouver, Canada. The city was not at all what I’d been expecting. We stayed at the Pan Pacific Vancouver, with a view of the harbor—including a gas station for boats, which I got a kick out of. We spent the day shopping at Pacific Centre Shopping Mall, which covers several blocks—quite impressive. The next morning, we stopped at the Vancouver Aquarium and said hi to the dolphins on the way out of town.
On the ferry ride to Victoria, Canada, we passed a Viking ship and a killer whale. A very exciting ride! We stayed at The Empress, this gorgeous hotel covered in ivy, rich with history. During our stay we visited Miniature World, Craigdarroch Castle, and walked around the harbor. Darth Vader was playing the violin, which I thought was pretty awesome. (I included a picture for proof.)
Finally came the last leg of the trip: the Olympian Peninsula and the towns of Twilight. As soon as our ferry docked in Port Angeles, we stopped for lunch at Bella Italia, the restaurant Bella and Edward ate at in Twilight. I ordered Bella’s Mushroom Ravioli, in honor of the infamous character.We rented a room in someone’s house in Forks for the night. Man, is Forks milking this Twilight thing. There are posters and signs, and entire stores dedicated to the novels, including Dazzled by Twilight (the store that I shopped at). Bella’s truck is parked in one of the parking lots, and Dr. Cullen even has his own parking space at the hospital. Forks Outfitters, where Bella works, is an actual store in town. We drove by Forks High School, where Bella first met Edward. I was literally surrounded by Twilight. First thing the next morning we drove to La Push, home to Jacob and the other werewolves. To get to the beaches there, you have to hike a little, and the woods there are amazing: lush and green, with gargantuan trees. The scenery at Second Beach was like nothing I’ve ever seen before.
Thus, my Twilight Tour came to an end, as did my vacation in the Northwest. I flew home the next day. That vacation remains to be my favorite one so far, trumping Cancun, Mexico and Banff, Canada, among others. I’m now even considering living in that region someday, and continuing the adventure.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
