Add this to your seasonal to-do list: After you finish a holiday movie marathon, you can put yourself at the center of a festive Hallmark scene. Traveling for the holidays is the fourth-highest motivator for domestic travel for travelers 50-plus, according to AARP’s recent travel survey. And even though some of that travel may be to visit loved ones, starting off the season with a festive trip can do wonders to put you in the holiday spirit.
There’s a natural cheery feeling that comes with a stroll down a small town’s Main Street, holiday lights twinkling and evergreen wreaths crowning every door. Towns including Leavenworth, Washington; Frankenmuth, Michigan; and Santa Claus, Indiana, have grown in popularity because of their merry (and affordable) traditions. If you’re looking for a new small town with impeccable Hallmark Christmas movie ambience, consider these seven gems found all across the United States.
Kennebunkport, Maine
No other region in the United States delivers small town holiday cheer the way New England can. In Kennebunkport, Maine, the cozy comforts begin with a stay in one of the town’s many inns or bed and breakfasts. Kennebunkport’s small shops will be decorated with lights beginning Dec. 5, when the town’s annual Christmas Prelude kicks off with a holiday-decorated Maine Central Model Railroad at the Seashore Trolley Museum. The celebration continues with a tree-trimming ceremony, but the highlight happens Dec. 8, when Santa arrives in Kennebunkport in true New England fashion — by riding in a lobster boat. Christmas Prelude events continue through Dec. 15, but the holiday cheer carries on throughout the season.
Petaluma, California
If you’re looking for a town that exudes California Christmas, look to the town that provided the backdrop for the Netflix film series of the same name. Petaluma exudes historic charm year-round thanks to its many Victorian homes and 19th-century iron-front buildings. In early December, the town turns out for a free holiday lights boat parade, in which thousands of dazzling lights brighten the way down the Petaluma River. Hotel Petaluma also hosts an annual Gingerbread House Showcase, with some of the entries made to look like cherished local buildings. Petaluma is in the heart of Sonoma wine country, but the cooler months offer a new way to enjoy the area, with activities such as whale and seal watching in nearby Bodega Bay.
Dahlonega, Georgia
This small town in the north Georgia mountains was a well-known gold rush town in the 19th century. Today, it’s transformed itself into a holiday destination, especially for winter wonderland lovers who may be less enthusiastic about a forecast of snow. You may recognize Dahlonega’s downtown from Hallmark’s 2015 film Christmas in the Smokies. Lifetime’s 2020 movie A Taste of Christmas also was filmed across the town, including at its Festival of Trees.
Dahlonega starts decorating for the season in early November, then multiple events begin the day after Thanksgiving, including the lighting of the square and carriage rides. The city’s Christmas Market opens Dec. 6. Check Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned Christmas website for specific event timing.
Estes Park, Colorado
Estes Park’s cinematic claim to fame may not include the most holiday-reminiscent movies. Its most classic film contribution is being the home of the hotel that inspired Stephen King’s novel and subsequent movie, The Shining, the psychological thriller starring Jack Nicholson. However, the small town is serious about its cheerful vibe for the winter holiday season. Starting in late November, the town hosts a nightly light show with its 36-foot-tall Pixel Pine tree taking center stage. The town hosts other family-friendly holiday events throughout the season, including a parade and festivals featuring snowmen and sweet treats. If snow-capped mountains and trees are more your vibe, enjoy the base of Rocky Mountain National Park in all its winter splendor.
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is technically a midsize city, with a year-round population of slightly more than 155,000, but this Washington suburb still gives cozy small town vibes, especially during the winter months. Take a stroll down King Street’s brick-laden sidewalks through Alexandria’s historic district, and you may feel like you’re in an old European village…