When it comes to the Pacific Northwest, there’s no need for an introduction. Torrential downpours, that golden afterglow following a storm, and the evergreen beauty of Washington and Oregon have long made the region a backdrop for film, television, and video games. The communities that fuel life into the Pacific Northwest, the autumnal landscape that riddles the streets, and the tons of coffee create a breeding ground for representation of a certain kind of coziness. This guide will direct you to the media that have been at the forefront of the PNW for years to outsiders, and how you can visit those very sites today.
10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU
Directed by Gil Junger, 10 Things I Hate About You stars Heath Ledger as Patrick Verona and Julia Stiles as Katarina Stratford. As high school seniors, Patrick aims to steal rebellious student Katarina’s heart in this rom-com set in Tacoma, Washington. 30 Miles from Hazen High School sits Stadium High School, a focal point in the film, to which many scenes featuring the exterior of the school were filmed. Even though just the exterior of the school was shot for the film. Another notable location that hosts Kat & Patrick’s paintball date is the Gasworks Park, which also overlooks Lake Union, where the two went pedal boating together. The Pacific Northwest is riddled with suburbia, tight communities, and the obvious perpetual rain. So, no matter where you end up in the 253,000 square miles that the Pacific Northwest encompasses, you’re guaranteed that cozy feeling that films like 10 Things I Hate About You emit.
TWIN PEAKS
Twin Peaks is a fictional city based upon the small-town, overcast streets of Spokane, where the creator, David Lynch, grew up. The Twin Peaks franchise includes several shows and a movie in its repertoire, all written and directed by Lynch. Twin Peaks follows a cop, played by Kyle MacLachlan, in his pursuit to uncover the dark mysteries that follow the disappearance of a High School student named Laura Palmer. Although Twin Peaks is considered a fictional town, the real filming locations span all across Snoqualmie and North Bend. A prominent landmark that is featured within the franchise is The Double R Diner, named Twede’s Cafe at its actual location. Located in North Bend, just under 25 miles from Renton, Washington, where many scenes within all three films take place, you can order Agent Cooper’s infamous cherry pie that he loves within the series.
LIFE IS STRANGE
Set in a fictional town in Oregon named Arcadia Bay, the ‘choose your own adventure’ game Life is Strange follows the college lives of two girls, Max Caufield and Chloe Price. After being able to travel back in time after a life-changing event, Max must traverse the hardships of everyday life, friendships, a mysterious disappearance, and ultimately, the fate of her entire hometown. Many places, such as the Oregon Coast and the infamous Bay Area Lighthouse (known as the Arcadia Bay Lighthouse in the game), are heavily featured within the game. The most notable location that inspired the Two Whales Diner in the game, which you can visit along the Oregon coast, is the Blue Moon Diner. Being a carbon copy of the diner in the game, you can even order the Belgian waffles that Max orders in the game.
THE LAST OF US 2
Part of a two-game series, The Last of Us 2 is a sequel to The Last of Us, featuring Ellie, a 19-year-old girl living in a post-apocalyptic world, plagued by a fungus named cordyceps. Based in Seattle, the game prominently features many landmarks of Seattle, such as the Paramount Theater, as well as the Chinatown Gateway. Neighborhoods across Seattle also inspired the neighborhoods illustrated in the game, though all are depicted in ruins, providing a harrowing perspective of the home city. A simple trip to downtown can offer you a glimpse of the many inspirations that create the ambiance and setting of The Last of Us 2.
TWILIGHT
You can’t talk about the Pacific Northwest without mentioning Twilight. Set in Forks, Washington but prominently filmed in Oregon, the 5-film series features Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella Swan, an unassuming 17 year old girl who falls in love with Edward Cullen, a century old vampire trapped in the body of a high school student, played by Robert Pattinson. 4 hours from Renton, Washington, filming locations you can visit in just a few hours include the Forks Visitor Center, which boasts various displays from the films, as well as the truck Bella drives. Another location that many fans flock to is the Forks High School, prominently featured in the film. Although the school doesn’t exactly match the one displayed in the films, the general mood surrounding the area immediately transports you to the gloomy yet ethereal setting that plagues the Twilight films.
RESPECT THE CULTURE, RESPECT THE PROPERTY
With the perks of being — not a wallflower, but — featured in the spotlight, comes inevitable unwanted traction from haters and fans alike, treating properties such as their own, with little regard towards the private owners of many of these now-infamous landmarks. A prime example of this taking place recently was with the location of the Stone Cliff Inn, prominently featured in the Twilight series. Due to vandalism, trespassing, and other forms of access manipulation, the Stone Cliff Inn, open to fans for a whopping 17 years, had come to a close. Your love for something doesn’t transcend the lives of others, nor should it come at the expense of someone else’s well-being. Don’t ruin it for the rest of the fans. Respect the culture, respect the property.
