How a Random Twilight-Inspired Trip to the PNW Totally Rewired My Brain
If you’ve been here longer than five minutes, you probably already know: I am an elder millennial to my core. Like, if you used to spend hours coding your myspace page, we’re already spiritually connected.
So when my high school BFF Krista and I stumbled across a random TikTok showing that the actual house used as Bella Swan’s home in Twilight was available to rent on Airbnb, we took it as a sign from the universe. Immediate yes. No thinking. Just chaotic millennial instinct.
Of course, it’s not that easy. Booking Bella’s house is basically like trying to get Taylor Swift tickets. You have to be on their email list, stalk the calendar, and pounce the second dates go live. We picked a few weeks we could take off work, opened our laptops like we were launching a NASA mission, and somehow scored a reservation.
With the dates locked in, we built out a full itinerary. The house is in St. Helens, Oregon, which is charming but not exactly a tourist hotspot. So we rented a car and planned a little PNW road trip to explore as much as we could in about six days.
We started out our PNW trip spending a few nights in Bella’s house — and I need you to understand how truly magical this was. Walking through the front door felt like stepping into a memory you didn’t know you had. Every detail was restored to match the movie set. The green kitchen cabinets. The staircase where Edward awkwardly introduced himself. The exact couch where Bella sat with Charlie and awkward-sighed her way through half the saga. It was all there.
And listen. I unlocked a new core memory that night: eating takeout Greek food on Bella’s couch while watching Twilight in Bella’s living room. Like... who gets to say that? The level of serotonin I reached in that moment was actually alarming.
Everything about it was nostalgic and cozy and borderline surreal in the best way. That moment alone was worth the whole trip—and we were just getting started.
Our nexts major stop was the Oregon coast and I was not ready. Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock were unreal. Like, pictures do not do it justice. It felt like stepping onto another planet. My Midwest brain couldn’t compute it. The scale, the fog, the rocks (i mean - mountains!) rising straight from the ocean… I swear my neurons had to rearrange themselves to process it all. It was absolutely breathtaking. As a midwest girl who’s only ever seen the beach in florida, this just hit a whole ‘nother level for me.
Downtown Cannon Beach was straight out of a Hallmark movie, but better. Cozy B&Bs, adorable shops, sweet little restaurants, and the kind of peaceful vibe that makes you forget what your phone even is. That was hands-down my favorite spot of the entire trip. I’ll always be a coastal girlie at heart.
then we explored the Hoh Rainforest, and I swear I had a spiritual awakening. Dripping moss. Towering evergreens. Ferns the size of toddlers. It’s like walking through a fairytale written. Every step felt enchanted, and every five seconds I was gasping and saying, “Wait… LOOK at that.” I had no business being that excited about banana slugs, but there I was. Fully converted.
I am not—and have never been—an outdoorsy girl. And yet… suddenly I’m Googling hiking boots. Like, real ones. With the cute red laces, obviously. I’m debating granola preferences. I caught myself wondering if I needed a hiking stick?? I think I even bought a “PNW forest” air freshener for my car just to relive the vibe back home. Who am I.
The rest of the scenery on our roadtrip from oregon to washington wasn’t any less dramatic. Endless winding roads hugged by walls of forest that looked like a green explosion in the best way possible. Miles and miles of ancient trees, mist curling through the branches like something out of a fantasy novel. Everything smelled like cedar and magic. The air was crisp, damp, and just a little moody. It was sensory overload in the most peaceful way.
We saw actual elk casually walking into traffic. Logging trucks barreled around curves like —am I in a Final Destination sequel right now? It was chaotic and stunning and strangely calming all at once.
we drove up the coast to Port Angeles, made the necessary pilgrimage to Forks (because obviously), and explored the jaw-dropping shoreline at Rialto Beach. The whole stretch felt like stepping straight into a cinematic universe—complete with brooding skies, crashing waves, and that soft, eerie quiet that makes you feel like you’re the only person on earth.
We wandered the area, soaked in the wild coastal views, and then checked off one of my ultimate bucket list dreams: a whale-watching charter. And holy crap—actual orcas. In the wild. Dozens of them, plus seals and other marine magic just living their best lives out there. I was floored. That was the moment I decided I’d never step foot in SeaWorld again.
We even popped over to Canada for 24 hours to explore downtown Victoria. But in true “we’re just winging it” fashion, we misjudged the parking rules, took our sweet time over an Italian lunch, and came back to find our rental car had been towed. That little detour to a sketchy impound lot in the middle of nowhere? Definitely not part of the itinerary—but hey, it’s a story.
We wrapped the trip in Seattle, doing all the iconic stuff: Pike Place Market, the aquarium (I’m still thinking about that octopus), tons of shopping, and a good amount of aimless wandering. also, let me just give you one piece of advice - if you stand too close at the fish market at Pike’s Place, they 100% will throw a fish directly at your face.
somehow, this random Twilight throwback trip turned into something so much bigger. I fell completely in love with the Pacific Northwest. The fog, the trees, the rugged cliffs, the “i’m still an emo girl - it wasn’t just a phase” vibe—it just did something to me.
Also, I learned a few key things:
I have a deep fear of driving along cliffs with no guardrails
That giant bridge connecting Oregon and Washington? Nearly sent me into a full blackout
I will absolutely plan my next trip before I even get home
And I did. Before we landed back in Wisconsin, I’d already booked another trip to the PNW—this time with my family. Different itinerary, same vibes. (Stay tuned for another blog with that recap!) Because this wasn’t just “Wow, what a great vacation!” It was “If I don’t get back here ASAP, I might actually combust.”
That trip changed me. Spiritually. Celestially. Possibly biologically.
