BiteBella.com

Photo: quinnanya  CC BY-SA 2.0

The pop culture phenomenon, Twilight has turned the small Pacific Northwest town of Forks, Washington into a popular tourist destination for fans of the books and movies.

In the midst of the misty scenery and the familiar sites, you might just feel like you've stepped into the fairy tale world of love, danger, and forbidden romance. As you enter the town, you are welcomed by Bella's vintage red Chevy pickup that is parked at the Chamber of Commerce. (Don't forget your camera!) Dreamy eyed fans hoping for a glimpse of a handsome sparkling vampire may not have their all of their fantasies fulfilled, but the town offers tons of Twilight specials, from themed menu items in local restaurants to reserved parking spaces for fictional Twilight characters. The Chamber of Commerce has also mapped out Twilight Points of Interest to make it easy for visitors to easily find all the locations from the books and movies.

Once a year, in September, on Bella's birthday there is a huge celebration honoring Twilight author Stephenie Meyer. If you're lucky enough to attend, you can expect to be treated to special tours and events.

If you can't make it to Forks in person or just want to bring the small town charm into your own home, I highly recommend reserving a spot on your bookshelf  for a copy of  Twilight Tours: An Illustrated Guide to the Real Forks by George Beahm.

Twilight Tours is beautifully written and filled with interesting facts and details that fans will appreciate. The guided tour features 90 gorgeous photographs of the town, the beaches of LaPush & Quileute Nation and the surrounding lush green Hoh Rain Forest, rich in the wildlife that provides nourishment to the Cullen family of 'vegetarian' vampires who resist the temptation to drink human blood.

On the first page of Twilight Tours, you'll find a map drawn by Disney artist/Imagineer Tim Kirk who has done similar maps for Disney destinations around the world. HBO miniseries, John Adams prop artist, Laura Edwards added color to the map. The artist and author worked with Mike Gurling of the Forks Chamber of Commerce to insure that the map was accurate. The whimsical map is very detailed and can actually be used to navigate your way through the town and find Bella's house, the Cullen home, the hospital where Carlisle works, and the high school where Edward and Bella saw each other for the first time. If you love the map as much as I do, you can get a full-color posted sized print from Flights of Imagination.

A very helpful addition to the book is the inclusion of the street addresses, phone numbers and contact information for the location entries in case you want to give Chief Swan a call to let him know you're stopping by for can of pepper spray or need to schedule an appointment with Dr. Cullen at the local hospital.

The hardcover 1st edition is being sold in limited numbers and is definitely worth grabbing while it lasts because it will not be reprinted. The equally beautiful paperback edition is available at an extremely fair price through Amazon.

Both books are also available at BiteBella's Twilight Shop.

Fans of the book will be excited to know that Twilight Tours author, George recently told me that he and Tim Kirk will be in Forks for Stephenie Meyer Days 2009 and hope to meet as many fans as possible. If you're planning to attend be sure to say hello and maybe they'll even autograph your copy of the book!

Twilight Tours is the perfect way to escape reality and feel at home in a fantasy destination that actually exists!

Photo: AMP Photo CC BY 2.0

Start packing your suitcase! In honor of Bella's birthday on September 13th, Forks, WA has a huge celebration planned for Twilight fans. If you've been wanting to take a trip to visit all the amazing locations from the books and movies, this would definitely be the time to do it. Last year's event was a huge success that included a tour of Forks High School and a wolf dance around a bonfire with native storytelling in LaPush.

Stephenie Meyer Day is September 12-13, 2009 in Forks and this year's party is expected to bigger than ever! The Forks Post Office is even planning to create a special Twilight postmark for the occassion. Stop by the Forks Chamber of Commerce or the Forks Forum for a complete schedule of events and updates. If you haven't made your reservations yet, do it now!

Twilight Tours - Information, Hotels, Lodging & Attractions:

• Forks, WA
• LaPush, WA
• Quileute Nation

Twilight Travel Guides:

• Twilight Tours: An Illustrated Guide to the Real Forks
• Twilight Territory: A Fan's Guide to Forks & LaPush from the Forks Forum newspaper

If you can't make it to the celebration in Forks, you can do the next best thing and plan your own party like Bella's bloody birthday in New Moon!

Are you going? Tell us about your travel or party plans!