Twilight Movie Fans: Visiting the Carver Cafe and Columbia River Gorge Scenes
In the Twilight movie, the main female lead Bella and her father have several scenes in a quaint restaurant called the Carver Café. The movie has several wide shots of the restaurant that prominently feature the café's name. In fact, this is a real café nestled in a small Oregon town called Estacada.
Yes, the movie is set in Forks, Washington and not Oregon. However, many of the Twilight movie scenes were filmed in my home state including the Carver Café scenes and forest scenes in the Columbia River Gorge. While we certainly do not get as much rain as Forks, we do get enough to make for some lush vegetation as seen in the Twilight movie. The forest canopy is the perfect setting for a vampire romance story.
On a recent weekend trip to get a Christmas tree, I visited the Carver Café. It is a small restaurant, and one that I have driven past innumerable times in my life. They serve a great breakfast and lunch menu, but not a dinner menu. If you are ever in the area and you are a dedicated Twilight fan, then I recommend stopping at this restaurant for a meal and request "Bella's" table. You may get a few chills by eating in the very spot as the actors portraying Bella and her dad.
Hopefully, the next Twilight movie will film a few scenes at the Carver Café and help spur the local economy. This restaurant is approximately 30 to 40 minutes just east of downtown Portland along the Clackamas highway (224).
On of the most spectacular scenes in Twilight the movie occurs when Edward takes Bella high up into a Douglas fir tree. When the camera pans out and around, you can clearly see Beacon Rock in the distance on the Washington state side of the Columbia River Gorge. Many of the forested scenes were shot here in the beautiful and scenic Columbia River Gorge. It is a beautiful place filled with gorgeous waterfalls and some of my favorite hikes.
The area is often misty and rainy, except during the summer when it can be quite hot. I highly recommend a visit to this national scenic area for anyone, not just fans of Twilight. The most visited portions of the gorge include the famous Multnomah Falls which is about an hour's drive east of Portland on Interstate 84.
If you want to see Beacon Rock from the Oregon side, continue eastward on Interstate 84. For a truly breathtaking view of the gorge (and one I think Edward and Bella would love) is hiking to the top of Beacon Rock. You'll need to drive north from Portland on Interstate 5 into Washington State. Take state highway 14 eastward until you see the signs for Beacon Rock. The trip will take a little over an hour from downtown Portland.
Twilight the movie had many scenes filmed in Oregon. I hope to get the chance to visit a few more locations and give you a first-hand look at the places your favorite vampires lurk! Until next time, enjoy reading the Twilight books!
Published by Lyn McCallister - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Lyn is a freelance writer who specializes in crafting, parenting, pets, and travel articles. She makes and sells cold process soap at local events and on the web. In addition, she is an avid quilter who love... View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentWow, I didn't know they used the Carver Cafe. I lived right outside of Carver up until a few months ago. I lived off Gronlund. Thats interesting that they filmed in that area. I truly had no idea.
C Pierce - sorry I made a mistake. I had arrived at the cafe coming from a day spent in Estacada and just got Carver and Estacada confused. Relax!
If you live so close, the you must know that it is NOT located in Estacada which is much farther out on Hwy 224, but in CARVER which is an area in Clackamas!
Coming from the westside, it takes me about an hour to drive to Multnomah Falls. Thanks for the comment, Oregonian.
Multnomah Falls is actaully about half an hour's drive from Portand. It's beautiful, as is Beacon Rock.
Very cool! It would be fun to visit this cafe.
Fantastic review of this little cafe. I too hope that the next movie will film in our location here. I did not know you were so close to me Lyn. We are like neighbors.