Sunday, October 5, 2014

Choose Lodging In Forks As Your Olympic Peninsula Base

By Jocelyn Davidson


The Pacific Northwest is a perfect destination if you're sensitive to the heat and the sun but still want to spend time outdoors. It has a cool climate but it's not too cold. The landscape is beautiful and full of mystery and you'll never be bored. If you want to escape to a more rural setting when visiting this part of the United States, lodging in Forks is a great option.

With between three and four thousand inhabitants, Forks isn't a big city. It's a friendly rural place surrounded by mysterious forests. The traditional inhabitants of the area are the Quileute and many live in this little city in the western part of the peninsula.

An interesting museum to visit is the Forks Timber museum. It tells the story of how people here used to make a living from logging. Tillicum Park is home to a lovely Shay rail engine. For more about the Quileute, the Native American tribe that calls this part of the Olympic Peninsula home, make the short journey west to the coastal town of La Push, which is the main settlement in the Quileute Indian Reservation.

These days the timber industry has made way for tourism as an important source of income. The city is a gateway to Olympic National Park, a World Heritage Site, and specifically to those parts of the park that consist of temperate rainforests. The Hoh Rainforest is located here, as is the Quinault Rainforest, and there are many opportunities for hiking, fishing and photography. In winter you can also go skiing in parts of the park.

For spectacular views, take a drive along the coast with its high, dramatic cliffs. Inhale the ocean air on one of the rugged beaches, for instance Second Beach. Surfers come here too to ride the waves, even though a wetsuit is essential to prevent hypothermia in the cold water.

In recent years, Forks and the surrounding area have become a popular destination for fans of the 'Twilight Saga'. It's here, after all, that Bella Swan falls in love with Edward Cullen, a vampire. The werewolf Jacob Black is a member of the Quileute, according to the novels, and this is understandable since Quileute legend really does say that their first member was made from a wolf. The area now boasts many attractions related to Stephenie Meyer's tale.

The best way to get to the area is by car. The drive from Seattle will take about three and a half hours but you'll be tempted to stop along the way to admire the scenery. Remember to bring rain gear, though, because this is one of the wettest regions in the United States. The summer months tend to be drier.

The growth of tourism has meant that you'll now find many options for accommodation in and near Forks. If you want to rough it, camping or an RV park is a good choice. However, if you want to stay dry you'll probably prefer a log cabin, a hotel, a motel or a guest house. Find establishments online and try to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.




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