Forever Twilight Museum

The Forever Twilight museum celebrates the Twilight phenomenon and the connection between the series and the town, which became a key location in the fictional world of vampires, werewolves, and humans. The museum houses a variety of memorabilia related to the Twilight saga, including movie props, costumes, photos, and exhibits that chronicle the impact of the books and films on the town of Forks and the surrounding region. Fans of the series can explore displays featuring beloved characters like Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, Jacob Black, and others. The museum also offers insights into how the Twilight franchise has influenced the local economy and tourism.

Ruby Beach

Ruby Beach is a picturesque and dramatic stretch of coastline located in the Olympic National Park. Known for its stunning beauty, Ruby Beach features striking rock formations, tide pools, and lush, moss-covered driftwood scattered along the shore. The beach is named after the reddish-hued pebbles and rocks found on its shoreline, which can appear ruby-like in certain lighting.

Hoh Rain Forest

The Hoh Rain Forest not far from Ruby Beach is renowned for its lush, green environment, characterized by towering trees, thick moss, and abundant rainfall. This temperate rainforest is often considered one of the best examples of an old-growth rainforest in the United States. The Hoh Rain Forest receives an average of 140 to 170 inches of rain annually, creating a unique ecosystem filled with diverse plant and animal life. The forest is dominated by sitka spruce and western hemlock trees, some of which are hundreds of years old. The trees are draped in vibrant green mosses and lichens, adding to the magical and otherworldly atmosphere of the area. Ferns and other understory plants thrive in the humid conditions. The area is also a haven for wildlife, with species such as elk, black bears, deer, and a wide variety of birds inhabiting the forest. The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the most pristine and beautiful rainforests in the world.

Hoh Rain Forest is part of the Olympic National Park and is such an amazing experience. We enjoyed hiking all the trails and still talk about the beauty we saw there. Definitely a very unique and bucket list experience for us!

Park Review – Gilgal Oasis RV Park

Rating: 1/2
Location: Forks, WA
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 1:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities: The roads are dirt/gravel and the pads are grass. Each site had a picnic table and a fire pit.
Access: Along US-101 in Forks.
Staff: We had minimal interaction but the person who checked us in was professional.
Cellular/WiFi: Verizon achieved about 6.5 Mbps upload and 3 Mbps down on 4G LTE service. The park did not have WiFi. Starlink was unobstructed and had decent speeds. This is the first place we have been that it aligned to the west rather than north.
Restaurants: There aren’t a lot of options but we tried the Longhouse Cafe which featured Native American foods. We weren’t too impressed.
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any other parks nearby.
What we liked: Close to several local attractions including the film location for the Twilight series, the Hoh Rain Forrest, Rialto Beach, Kalaloch Beach and Ruby Beach.
What we didn’t like: It stays very rainy here and the park was mostly dirt so it was quite muddy in spots.
Verdict: We would stay here again if in the area as there are very few options.

Gunkel Orchards Fruit Stand is a family-owned spot that offers a great selection of hand-picked, tree-ripened fruits, including cherries, peaches, apricots, and grapes. Beyond fresh produce, thy also have a variety of locally made products like jams, honey, scone mixes, pie fillings, fruit syrups, and canned goods. The stand also features a beautiful flower garden, adding to its inviting atmosphere.

We bought a flat of fresh peaches at the stand and Anna made fresh peach cobbler from them. Yummy!

Samuel Hill (1857–1931) was a prominent figure in the Pacific Northwest, particularly associated with Goldendale and Maryhill. He was a lawyer, businessman, and philanthropist known for his ambitious vision and contributions to the region’s infrastructure and culture. One of his most notable accomplishments was the creation of the Maryhill Museum of Art, which he originally intended as a mansion but later turned into a museum. Hill also constructed the Stonehenge Memorial, a full-scale replica of England’s Stonehenge, as a tribute to soldiers from Klickitat County who died in World War I. Hill was a passionate advocate for good roads, earning him the nickname “The Father of the Pacific Highway.” His efforts were instrumental in developing road systems in Washington and Oregon. His vision and projects have left a lasting legacy in Goldendale and the surrounding areas, blending art, history, and infrastructure.

Park Review – Peach Beach Campground and RV Park

Rating: 
Location: Goldendale, WA
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 1:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities: The roads and pads are gravel. The gravel in our site was very loose and we almost got stuck, even in 4 wheel drive mode, while trying to get into our tire blocks. Each site has a picnic table.
Access: From Interstate 84 take exit 104 toward US-97/Yakima/Bend. Go north on US-97 across the bridge and then turn right on Maryhill Hwy. (Do not fork right and go into the state park). Turn right on McFarland Ln. and enter the park.
Staff: The staff were very friendly and helpful. We needed some tree branches at our site cut and they were there within 10 minutes to take care of it.
Cellular/WiFi: Verizon was generally good with 4GLTe service at about 16Mbps download and 5Mbps upload. In spite of heavy tree coverage, our Starlink still worked pretty well. The park had WiFi but we didn’t use it.
Restaurants:
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any other parks nearby. I’m not sure there are a lot in the area but there is a State Park adjacent to Peach Beach and it looks pretty good although I don’t remember specifics about site lengths and or full hookups.
What we liked: We were in site 1 which had a beach area right in front of it with the Columbia River in full view. Trees provided a lot of shade to help with warmer temperatures.
What we didn’t like: Gravel in the sites should have been compacted more. They run sprinklers in the sites during the day which could cause problems.
Verdict: We would stay here again if in the area.

European settlers began arriving in the Sequim area in the mid-1800s. The name “Sequim” is derived from a Klallam indian word, likely meaning “a place for eating” or “twilight.” The area around Sequim was originally inhabited by the Klallam Tribe. The tribe lived in the region for thousands of years, relying on fishing, hunting, and gathering from the surrounding lands and waters. Early settlers focused on agriculture, with the fertile soils of the region supporting farming, orchards, and dairies.

We stayed here for a week in mid-August 2024 to visit Anna’s brother John and his wife Anne.

Park Review – Gilgal Oasis RV Park

Rating: 
Location: Sequim, WA
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 1:00/12:00
Site Quality / Amenities: The roads and pads are asphalt and there are gravel areas adjacent to the pad to keep any mud down. Each site has a picnic table. There are two rows of sites with the first row being shorter back to back sites. The longer sites that we were in are just long enough for our rig with room to park the truck sideways in front of the rig. The park can be a bit difficult to navigate due to the amount of things packed into a small area.
Access: From US-101 exit to Washington street in Squim then left on S Brown Rd.
Staff: The staff were very friendly and helpful. They were very helpful in getting Anna’s brother backed into his site after hours (this was his first time backing his trailer). They also helped us get into our site (19). It was a pull through but due to tight spaces on the road in front of our site and a tree on the back right of the site we should have treated it as a back in as we got some scratches from the tree.
Cellular/WiFi: Verizon was generally good with 4G and 5G service. The park has WiFi but we didn’t use it although staff told us it was good enough to stream from. Except for the tree at the back of our site, Starlink was mostly unobstructed.
Restaurants: Oak Table Cafe – Great place for breakfast. Callen’s Restaurant (Coupeville) – Good food, close to the Coupeville Ferry terminal. Downriggers (Friday Harbor) – Good seafood.
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any other parks nearby.
What we liked: While we were here the weather was unseasonably cool (temperatures were in the 60’s) and mostly rain free. Very beautiful part of the country with lots to see and do.
What we didn’t like: Compared to other parts of the country, prices here are high (food, gas, camping, etc.)
Verdict: We would stay here again if in the area.

Rattlesnake Lake

Rattlesnake Lake is a serene and scenic spot surrounded by dense forests, rugged mountains, and expansive views, making it a beautiful destination for nature lovers. The small lake’s calm waters reflect the surrounding peaks, adding to the tranquil atmosphere. It is a great spot for picnicking, photography, and simply enjoying the natural beauty of the area. For the more adventurous, there are various outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming.

The Lake has historical significance because it was once the site of the Rattlesnake Lake Dam, which was built in the early 1900s to provide water for Seattle. The dam was later removed, but remnants of the old dam structure can still be seen today. Additionally, the area around the lake includes the remains of the former town of Rattlesnake, which was submerged when the lake was created.

Snoqualmie Falls

Snoqualmie Falls is a stunning 268-foot waterfall located in Snoqualmie, Washington, about 30 miles east of Seattle. It is one of the most iconic natural landmarks in the Pacific Northwest and a popular tourist destination. The falls are fed by the Snoqualmie River and are particularly known for their dramatic drop, creating a misty, scenic display.

Snoqualmie Falls holds cultural significance for the Snoqualmie Tribe, who consider it a sacred site. It also gained fame through its appearance in the television series Twin Peaks, which helped further its recognition worldwide. Visitors can enjoy the falls from a nearby park, which offers observation decks, walking trails, and picnic areas, making it a favorite spot for nature lovers and photographers.

Originally built in 1898 and is one of the oldest hydroelectric plants in the Pacific Northwest. The plant harnesses the power of the Snoqualmie River to generate electricity, utilizing the natural flow of the river as it cascades down the falls.

The facility was crucial in the development of the region’s infrastructure, providing electricity to the growing towns and industries around Seattle. Over the years, the plant has undergone upgrades and modernization, but it still operates today, supplying power to the local grid. The dam and power station are located just upstream of the falls, and while the area is largely preserved for natural beauty, the hydroelectric plant continues to play a role in energy production.

Park Review – Tall Chief RV Resort

Rating: 
Location: Fall City, WA
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 12:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities: Gravel roads and pads. Each site had a picnic table and a fire ring. The fire ring was unusable for us because it was too close to the trailer but it didn’t really matter anyway as there was a fire ban.
Access: We took exit 22 from I-90 onto Preston Fall City Road SE, then WA-202 West to SE 8th St. to the park. All these were fine for even a big rig.
Cellular/WiFi: Verizon was strong and fast. Starlink was significantly obstructed (>70%) however it still worked pretty well most of the time. There was occasional buffering when streaming.
Restaurants: Aroma Coffee Co. – Great coffee drinks as well as pastries. El Corporal – Not Tex Mex but decent Mexican food even for our tastes. Ivar’s Seafood Bar (Issaquah) – Great fried clams (maybe the best I’ve had) and their signature fried cod fillets. We weren’t thrilled with their clam chowder however as it was a bit bland and watered down. Issaquah Cafe – Great place for breakfast.
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any other parks nearby.
What we liked: Convenient to nearby family and attractions. The park felt like you were camping in a forest.
What we didn’t like: You weren’t assigned a site so you had to drive around and find an empty one. While this could be a good thing, it is more difficult having to navigate through the park to find a good site. Also there were only a few 50 amp sites and of course they were all taken. Because it was cooler we weren’t worried about 30 amps but the power wasn’t good on our site and we could really only draw about 10 amps without the voltage going too low. Lucky for us, we never needed to run our air conditioner and we only had one morning we couldn’t run our Latte machine without the low voltage causing our rig to shut down. Our site was not level side to side requiring some blocks under the wheels.
Verdict: We would probably stay here again if in the area as there aren’t a lot of convenient choices.

Park Review – Hoquiam River RV Park

Rating: 
Location: Hoquiam, WA
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 12:00/12:00
Site Quality / Amenities: The roads and pads are asphalt. Each site has a picnic table.
Access: Just off US-101 on Queen Rd. in Hoquiam.
Staff: The staff were very friendly and helpful.
Cellular/WiFi: Verizon was marginal as roaming service in 4G. The park has WiFi but we didn’t use it . Starlink was mostly unobstructed except for trees on the west side of our site.In this area, Starlink aligns itself west.
Restaurants: Al’s Hum-Dinger – An old style drive in type restaurant with burgers and some fried seafood items. The food was OK but not great. On the plus side, it was inexpensive.
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any other parks nearby.
What we liked: We were in the best site in the park, site 39. We were right next to the Hoquiam river without anyone next to us on our door side. There was a great walking trail following the river down to an old mill site and a very cool “rough” trail through what they called their mini-rain forest.
What we didn’t like: There was some road noise from logging trucks on nearby US-101.
Verdict: We would probably stay here again if in the area. That said, there are plans underway to build a levee along the river to prevent flooding. This levee will pass through the site we were in and could dramatically alter access to the river, the walking trail and views of the water.

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park is one of the most significant petrified wood sites in the world. The park was established in 1935 and is named after the ginkgo tree, a rare species found among the petrified specimens in the area. It covers about 7,470 acres and is one of the most unusual and significant fossil forests in the world. It features a large collection of petrified logs and stumps that were formed millions of years ago during the Miocene epoch, around 15 to 20 million years ago, when the region was covered in a subtropical forest.

In addition to the size of the area, unlike other areas of petrified wood that typically only have a few species of trees, the Ginkgo Petrified Forest has a remarkable diversity of many different tree species due to the unique environmental conditions and geological history of the region. These conditions included climate, varied terrain, volcanic activity and sedimentation. The Ginkgo Petrified Forest is thus a window into a prehistoric ecosystem, offering insights into the types of trees that lived in the region millions of years ago, and showcasing the incredible biodiversity of that ancient forest.

The park is a great place to explore the unique geological history of the area, with a hiking trail that takes you past numerous petrified wood specimens still embedded in the ground. The Visitor Center has displays that explain how the petrified wood was formed and exhibits showcasing various types of petrified wood found in the area. Additionally, the Columbia River offers stunning views, making it a great spot for a day trip.

Park Review – Wanapum State Park

Rating: 
Location: Vantage, WA
Type: State Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 2:30/1:00
Site Quality / Amenities: The roads are asphalt and the pads are gravel. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.
Access: From Interstate 90, take exit 136 toward Vantage/Huntzinger Rd. then go south on Huntzinger Rd. for 2.9 miles.
Staff: The staff at check-in was helpful. Unexpectedly, we did not have to pay for a day or an annual park pass since we were camping. Most other states require payment of a park pass as well as camping fees. I believe the camping tag we got checking in also applied to the Ginkgo State Park as well but we purchased a day pass before we figured that out.
Cellular/WiFi: Verizon 4G LTE speeds were about 5 Mbps down and 0.2 Mbps up. Starlink speeds were great at more than 168 Mbps download and 19.5 Mbps up from the upper level (sites 32-49) as there are few trees. The lower level had more trees so reception could have been obstructed.
Restaurants: We did not eat out while we were here.
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any other parks nearby. There was a commercial park in the town of Vantage that might have been OK.
What we liked: Particularly in the upper level, sites are spacious. The park is clean and generally well maintained. Black sand at the beach from the history of volcanic activity in the area.
What we didn’t like: When we were here in early August, the temperatures were reaching nearly 100 degrees. Reports are that the winds in this park can be really strong but we didn’t experience that while there. We did loose water for about 5 hours one morning but luckily they were able to get it working again. Many sites are too small for larger rigs.
Verdict: This is a nice place to stay for a few nights if passing through the area.