I’ll admit it: I like to watch a Hallmark Christmas movie or two over the holiday season. I’m not as obsessed as some people, but there’s just something soothing about the happily ever after of it all at this time of year. What I love most about Hallmark Christmas movies are the picture-perfect (and often fictional) settings. In these charming small towns, there might be a bookstore or small inn in need of saving, and the snow falls ever-so-gently as problems get resolved at the local winter festival or Christmas market.
These kinds of places may seem too good to be true, but there are actually some real-life destinations around the U.S. that have exactly these kinds of holiday vibes. Whether you’re hoping for a meet-cute or have already found your special someone, here are 10 spots that feel straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie to put on your must-visit list.
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1. Bardstown, Kentucky
Bardstown shines during the holiday season.
Dubbed “The Most Beautiful Small Town in America” by Rand McNally and USA TODAY, Bardstown boasts a walkable downtown with almost 200 historic buildings. Brick sidewalks and festive decor create a nostalgic holiday vibe, and the large Christmas tree and ice skating rink in the town square only enhance the appeal.
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Bardstown is also known as the “Bourbon Capital of the World,” with 11 distilleries within 16 miles of downtown where you can warm up during a wintertime visit. Special holiday events take place at Maker’s Mark and Lux Row Distillers to add to the spirited fun.
Where to stay: Plan a swanky getaway at The Trail Hotel, the world’s first and only bourbon-centric hotel, where amenities include a Bourbon Butler and a Rejuvenation Room offering IV therapy and oxygen hyperbaric treatments after a long day on the Bourbon Trail.
2. Kennebunkport, Maine
A white Christmas is a definite possibility in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Named America’s # 2 Christmas Town by HGTV, Kennebunkport turns up the New England charm at Christmastime. The town’s 11-day Christmas Prelude event includes tree lightings, caroling at St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery, a street festival, and Santa’s arrival by lobster boat.
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The Waterhouse Center hosts free ice skating during the winter, and Mornings in Paris cafe serves up festive treats for the holiday season. Learn how to make a hand-tied wreath at Snug Harbor Farm or shop for gifts at the town’s boutiques and galleries.
Where to stay: The 1890s-era Kennebunkport Inn is home to the over-the-top Tinsel Bar at The Burleigh Restaurant, offering seasonal sips and holiday cocktail classes. Cape Arundel Inn & Resort is another good option for a holiday getaway.
3. Dahlonega, Georgia
Dahlonega offers a dreamy holiday escape.
Dahlonega has actually been the setting for multiple Hallmark and Lifetime holiday movies, so you’re getting the real deal here. And this north Georgia city in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains celebrates the holidays for more than a month, from the day after Thanksgiving through the first week of January.
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It starts with the lighting of the Historic Public Square, the Friday after Thanksgiving, when a two-story Christmas tree is set aglow, white lights shimmer and shine around the city, and horse-drawn carriage rides help visitors take it all in. Santa makes an appearance at the Dahlonega Christmas Parade, and Christmas teas take place throughout the season at Waffle’s English Tea Room. Stroll through The Festival of Trees in Hancock Park, shop for gifts at the Christmas Market on Candy Cane Lane, and just soak in the holiday vibes.
Where to stay: The Smith House offers lodging options, including rooms in a 1899 inn and three renovated cottages. Or stay right in the historic district at The Dahlonega Square Hotel.
4. Leavenworth, Washington
Get European vibes without leaving the U.S. in Leavenworth, whose Bavarian-inspired downtown surrounded by the Cascade Mountains makes an ideal setting for a holiday getaway. The village is aglow with more than half a million lights from Thanksgiving through the end of February, which only bolsters its cinematic charms.
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Leavenworth’s Christmastown celebration includes live entertainment, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a gingerbread house exhibition, and plenty of hot cocoa. Fill your days with sleigh rides, cross-country skiing, and shopping, and make sure to check out the seasonally appropriate Nutcracker Museum.
Where to stay: Icicle Village Resort and Hotel Leavenworth exude Bavarian style and put you right in the midst of all the holiday fun.
5. Bryson City, North Carolina
Life is sweet in Bryson City during the holidays.
Bryson City feels more like the North Pole during the holidays, when the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad hosts its popular Polar Express Train Ride. Its downtown sparkles with a 20-foot Christmas tree, festively decorated storefronts, and an outdoor skating rink.
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You can totally picture the characters in a Hallmark Christmas movie sipping hot cocoa as they stroll through the town square, cozying up on a hayride, and picking out a Christmas tree at Darnell Farms, and shopping at the holiday markets. A Christmas parade and the impressive Smoky Mountain Christmas Light Spectacular offer even more opportunities for holiday cheer.
Where to stay: Vacation rentals are a popular choice in Bryson City, or stay at The Everett Hotel, located in a former bank building overlooking the town square.
6. East Aurora, New York
This charming village, just 20 minutes from Buffalo, was actually the filming location for Hallmark’s upcoming “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story,” as well as other holiday flicks like “A Royal Christmas on Ice, A Royal Christmas Engagement,” and “A Prince for Christmas.” Follow one of the Hallmark Movie Itineraries from Visit Buffalo to have your own main character moments at spots like a nearly century-old variety store Vidler’s 5 & 10 and Elm Street Bakery.
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For more than 50 years, thousands of people have gathered each year to sing holiday carols at the annual Carolcade. The village’s Main Street has a definite throwback vibe, with restaurants, shops, an independent bookstore, and a circa-1925 movie theater. Knox Farm State Park is a good place for a winter walk, while the Kathy Bieler Mill Road Scenic Overlook offers the chance to slow down and take in the views.
Where to stay: The historic Roycroft Inn exemplifies the village’s ties to the American Arts and Crafts Movement, with restored suites and gathering spots that lean into the turn-of-the-20th-century design style.
7. Middleburg, Virginia
Even the horses get into the holiday spirit in Middleburg.
Set against the Blue Ridge Mountains, Middleburg is known as “The Nation’s Horse and Hunt Capital.” Its historic district that dates to the 1700s is less than a mile long, just right for a holiday stroll among its antiques stores, boutiques, and equestrian shops.
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A tree lighting, parade, and “Hunt and Hounds Review” kick off the holiday season in early December, and the fun continues throughout the month with carolers and horse-drawn carriage rides. There are also wineries to visit, museums focusing on the town’s horse country history, and cozy spots for a meal like the historic Red Fox Inn & Tavern.
Where to stay: Salamander Middleburg goes all out for the holidays with festive decor, holiday tea and other seasonal culinary experiences, and activities like gingerbread house decorating and movie nights.
8. Galena, Illinois
Galena’s 19th-century Main Street gets dressed up for the season with lights, decorated storefronts, and other festive touches. A fireworks display kicks off the holiday fun, and the popular Night of the Luminaria and Living Windows (held this year on December 13, 2025) amps up the Christmas charm with more than 5,000 candlelit luminaries lining the city’s streets, steps, and sidewalks and interactive storefront displays.
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You can easily imagine a Hallmark-style meet-cute during the city’s Snowflakes and Sweets Stroll or on one of Galena Foodie Adventures’ Ugly Sweater Food Tours, offered on Saturdays and Sundays in December. You can also take a spin around the ice rink at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa’s Nordic Center, enjoy a snowshoe hike on the Galena River Trail, or take a memorable stroll with some furry friends with Hoof It Goat Treks.
Where to stay: Hotel Galena puts you right in the heart of downtown and offers rooms suited for both couples and families. Bed-and-breakfasts are also a popular choice here like the Aldrich Guest House and Farmers Guest House.
9. Nantucket, Massachusetts
A red building on a cobblestone street decorated for Christmas in Nantucket, Mass.
The island of Nantucket is a lovely place to visit during the summer. But it’s equally appealing in the winter, when a tree lighting ceremony marks the start of the holiday season and an annual Christmas Stroll weekend at the beginning of December includes the arrival of Santa by boat, roaming carolers in Victorian garb, a European-style Christmas marketplace, and other seasonal activities.
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Nantucket has lots of Christmas spirit.
Head to the Whaling Museum to admire The Festival of Trees, displaying evergreens decorated by islanders, local businesses, nonprofits, schools, and organizations. Cedar-shingled buildings, cobblestoned streets, and lighthouses add to the one-time whaling hub’s New England Christmas charm.
Where to stay: Find festive decor and special holiday meals at the year-round Nantucket Hotel. Or book a room at the former sea captain’s home, Greydon House, which also offers four stylish guest houses in town.
10. Nevada City, California
Nevada City celebrates Christmas in Victorian style.
In this California Gold Rush town about 60 miles northeast of Sacramento, the entire downtown district is on the National Register of Historic Places. So it’s not surprising that Nevada City takes inspiration from its 19th-century past for its annual Victorian Christmas event.
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Cedar and pine swags and garlands adorn gas lamps and balconies around town, while string lights add a pleasing glow. The scent of roasted chestnuts is in the air while you stroll among the shops and artisan vendors. Wandering carolers are dressed in Victorian attire, and the town’s famous Walking Christmas Tree and Toy Soldier make appearances. Be sure to admire the Dickens Village display and the 25-foot locally sourced Christmas tree in Robinson Plaza, decorated with red bows and frosted pine cones.
Where to stay: Once a Gold Rush mining camp, the National Exchange Hotel offers a modern spin on Victorian style. The 1856 Speakeasy Suites is another good option for a stay that blends past and present.
10 holiday destinations that feel straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 10 destinations that feel straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie