A bite of “Twilight”: Vampire tourism

The pop-culture phenomenon of the “Twilight” book series, and the films based on those four books by Stephenie Meyer, has resulted in a tourism boom from the dampest corners of the Pacific Northwest to the hill towns of central Italy. “Twi-tourism” will even reach the high seas when a “Twilight”-themed cruise sets sail in August, 2010.

From the time the first book, “Twilight,” was released in 2005, Forks, Wash., was on the minds — and maps — of many of its readers. Located in the northwest corner of the state, Forks appealed to the author for the record rainfall (and the resulting lack of sunshine) the area receives. It is where the human heroine, Bella, lives with her father, and where the vampire family, the Cullens, can easily evade sunshine. “Twilight” fans have flocked to the area over the last few years in the hope of seeing locations featured in the book, such as Bella’s house, Forks High School and the beaches of La Push.

The movie version of “Twilight,” released in 2008, was largely filmed in Oregon. Locations from the movie are frequented by many of its fans, including the town of St. Helens, which stood in for Forks; View Point Inn in Corbett, where the prom scenes were filmed; and Multnomah Falls, which makes an appearance during the vampire baseball game.

On Nov. 20, the next film, based on the second book in the series, “New Moon,” will be released. “Twilight Saga: New Moon” was largely filmed in and around Vancouver, B.C., and central Italy. The Tuscan town of Volterra, where the powerful vampire coven, the Volturi, resides, is a key location in the book. The film, however, recreates those scenes in nearby Montepulciano.

The “Twilight” franchise has created a large online community of fans, experts and aficionados of the series. Next summer’s Alaska “Twilight” Cruise is hoping to tap this market by offering a “Convention at Sea for ‘Twilight’ Fans,” which will sail from Aug. 8-15, beginning and ending in Seattle. The cruise will feature Q&A sessions and autograph signings with some of the movies’ stars, a costume ball, film viewings and more.

Are you a fan of “Twilight”? Have you visited any of the locations from the books or movies? Which places would you like to visit most? Share your thoughts with other travelers in the comments section.