Twilight in all it's glory

Nathan had the sweet idea to take me on a fabulous weekend trip to Forks, WA to live out some scenes from the Twilight Saga. Nathan and I read the books out loud together. He can handle it because it's about vampires. Clearly though the trip was for me, since he doesn't enjoy it in quite the same silly girl way I do. It was my early Valentines treat.

The road trip was fun. It was about a 3 hour trip not including the time waiting on and riding the ferry. This was a gas station along the way that was big and fancy with all kinds of treats to look through inside.

I took pictures of all things mentioned in my books. Port Angeles is the town the characters had to drive to if they wanted to do anything like shop or watch a movie. It's a pretty small town itself, but still had more to offer than Forks. It may seem silly, but I get so involved in any book I read. When I'm reading I really just throw my mind into their world and then even once I stop, I keep thinking about it all and going over it in my head. I love reading and I love stories that go on for several books. And Twilight is such an involved emotional story, and it takes place in a real town and mentions real things. I went there almost expecting the characters to be real too.

The drive was so amazing. It's crazy how many different views you can get in one state. It's beautiful on Whidbey Island where we live, but it looks so different as we approached our destination. The forest is so very very green and mossy, it was crazy foggy, and we were driving through mountains. It was perfect weather for our purposes. We were glad that it was drizzly rain and covered in fog. The sun was hidden behind clouds and the forest was pitch black. It was so easy to picture all the scenes from our books. Of course we were reading on the drive.


Nathan pulled over every time we got a chance on our drive once we got to the amazing mountain/lake route. He really appreciates all the beauty of Washington. I'm happy for him since he was unsatisfied by our last "paradise."

Come on...can't you imagine a vampire emerging from this picture? That's just plain exciting.


These pretty little stream waterfalls were falling down the side of the mountain all along the way. Creation is so beautiful and captivating everywhere you look.




He looks like he should be contemplating great things. He may have been.

As we were looking out at this amazing view, a Bald Eagle flew right over us.

I'm so glad they love to explore together. I think these gloomy colors are amazing.

perfect

I was trying to capture here how you could see straight through the water to the bottom because it was so clear.

Levi was so into this road trip. He doesn't know anything about vampires or twilight of course, but he knows to appreciate the nature. I was surprised that he never fell asleep in the car, he just kept himself entertained while looking out the windows at the "biggest mountains ever" and the "smoke." (fog) He would comment on the little stream waterfalls or the snow tops on the mountain. His watchful comments along the way impressed us. Nathan says he's more observant than the two of us combined.

We moseyed into a state park area where there were trails and docks and even a little area to rent cabins. We've logged that destination point away for the future.

The forest out here is so magnificent. It towers over you, and if you were to walk into the thickness of it, the sun would disappear. I understand why the author chose this part of the country to base her books in. It deserves and requires professional writing to describe it.

I LOVE the colors in this picture. This is how Gracie Bella paved her first hobbit path into the woods. She was very cooperative throughout this family trip. She doesn't care where we are as long as she gets fed and cuddled on time.

I'm looking for the Cullens

We're reaching for the super high branches here. Levi can't get enough beach and woods time. He doesn't complain about walking or being cold. He complains about getting back in the car.

I love when trees droop down to the water.

That water was so very green. It was an awesome scene in person.

That fog is intense. We discussed how this was truly the wilderness. We were in the middle of wilderness with very little human world invading. The towns in that area are few, far between and small.



We made it! Nathan said "You know of course that this means someday we have to walk the road to Moria." (That's a Lord of the Rings reference.)

Nathan went all the way for me. He didn't just book us a plain hotel room. We got the Twilight suite! The whole experience.

Two beds with good vampires posted above each...Nathan claimed this one as the boy bed

The curtains were glittery and sparkled just like Vampires in the sunlight (according to this vampire story)

Levi doesn't know what vampires are or what they do, but he knows a good set of teeth when he sees one. Obviously, these require a fierce face.

We're under the full affect of Edward's dazzling powers.

Naturally, the town of Forks capitalizes on it's new place of honor. Plenty of people (albeit mostly teenage girls) follow the moss covered trail to the land of vampire trinkets and souvenirs.

I bought this "treasure box" as Levi called it. It is proudly displayed on my book shelf in the living room and it holds diapers and wipes . Both beautiful and practical.

This store was awesome. I'm glad they go all out in that area. You want the full affect for your twilight experience.

They're my friends, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

There was one vampire attack while we were in Forks. It did not make the news. I guess now Levi knows what those teeth are for. Nathan really wishes he was a vampire. He's my very own intoxicatingly gorgeous soul mate.

It's a pretty tiring ordeal...vampire attacks. Edward does not approve

Nor does Gracie. I believe her exact wording here was, "Gasp!"

We got to Forks on Saturday afternoon and did all our shopping and scoping out the town through the book's eyes. We stayed in the Twilight suite that night and then woke up ready to pass through the Quileute reservation to La Push...werewolf territory.

La Push is the great beach on the Quileute reservation. It is of course mentioned and visited in the book. So we had to go there too. Besides, that was one of the things that made the trip ok for both Levi and Nathan. Beach and wood activities.

It was surprising to me to drive up and see actual waves. I forgot that oceans have waves after being on the Puget Sound.

Nathan and Gracie watched while Levi and I made our way out on this huge beached tree. It was crazy big and a little disconcerting to walk down. The waves were crashing up underneath and beside us so it made you feel like you might be falling into the water. Like how you feel when you're sitting in a parked car, and the car parked next to yours starts to pull out. For a second you think your own car is in drive.

Levi turned back half way out, probably because of the afore mentioned feelings. I had to make myself go all the way out...or Nathan would make fun of me.

Then Levi decided to come out afterall.

I guess not too many people probably have photos of themselves like this... Levi's gonna have such a lifetime of great photos.

Somewhere over Levi's shoulder is where they filmed the cliff diving scenes in New Moon

There was a great little paved walkway along the coast that we of corse pulled over for. I like to fall behind for photo opps.

Find Nathan & Levi

Sadly our trip ended. After La Push we began our drive home to vampire-less Oak Harbor. Although, Nathan did see Alice Cullen at the Oak Harbor McDonalds. She smiled and waved. I told him he should have invited her to eat her food with us at our house. But he thought that may have been innappropriate.
This picture is on the ferry...that's why Levi is at the wheel.

Check out the "Bella" stocking cap Nathan bought for me from a nice Quileute lady who told us where to park for La Push access. Clearly I had a marvelous time divulging my girlish interests. It was really a carefree weekend full of laughing (maybe even giggles on my part) and sight seeing. The scenery was beautiful, the shops were so fun and the memories are stored. Eat your heart out teenage girls. My husband rocks!