Hallmark Movies Meet the Travel Channel
This year when I began my yearly tradition of watching Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas movies, I couldn’t help but notice that many of the movies now have a destination as part of the story’s theme. This is not necessarily new, I just noticed it more so than in years past and then I realized that I have actually been to the vast majority of the locations of these cinematic gems!
So if this holiday season, you find yourself bundled up on a cozy couch with a glass of Hallmark wine (my preference is Joy), watching a big city girl fall in love with a small-town country boy, thinking you want to book a trip to an iconic Winter Wonderland, I hope this travel guide will be a great resource for you!
This list of Hallmark movies will be updated through the 2023 holiday season.
Christmas in Tahoe (2021)
Lake Tahoe, California
Movie Tagline: To save her family hotel’s Christmas show, talent booker Claire must ask for help from her ex-boyfriend Ryan, the lead guitarist of a now-famous band that fired her as their manager years ago.
Where to stay: A family owned resort that puts on a Christmas variety show
What to wear: For guests at the family owned resort – Flannel, bonus points if a red plaid pattern. For employees of the hotel – black suit or black power dress with red accents
Don’t forget to pack: your guitar – just in case an act for the variety show backs out at the last minute, you may need to step in to save the day!
Be sure to check out: The Christmas variety show – obviously.
What to eat: Not much emphasis on the food at this family owned resort - there are some festive holiday drinks as well as family gatherings with yummy food, but not a focus.
We had the chance to visit Lake Tahoe in the summer of 2023 as part of our “Long, Long, Road Trip” and used the location as our half-way point. Knowing we would be exhausted we decided to splurge stayed at a lux “family owned resort” - the family goes by the name Marriott. The resort was amazing, but the scenery was what made it exceptional. We stayed during the off season so it was quiet and serene - no skiers around so staying during another time of year would be a much different experience.
What was unfortunate about this movie is that it focused so much on the Christmas variety show that it didn’t even mention the amazing setting for the resort. During our visit, we did drive around the lake and see the area where hotels with concerts, variety acts and casinos are located - however, I would suggest staying away from this part of the lake! There is so much else to see and experience when you visit Lake Tahoe, that if you had an extra evening, maybe seeing an act would be nice. However, I think it would be much more enjoyable to roast marshmallows with a festive drink around a bonfire rather than going to see a concert - just watch out for bears! Also, the traffic is pretty dreadful at times. Unfortunately for us, President Biden was in the area at the same time as our visit so we would get caught waiting upwards to an hour waiting for him motorcade to pass.
Christmas in Rome (2019)
Rome, Italy
Movie Tagline: Lacey Chabert plays an independent-minded American tour guide named Angela, who is fired from her job in Rome just before Christmas. She crosses paths with an American executive named Oliver (Page), who wants to buy a high-end Italian ceramics company. Oliver hires Angela to be his tour guide around the Eternal City, as the owner of the ceramics company won’t sell it to him until he learns “the heart and soul of Rome.” But is there another heart and soul that he may win?
Where to Stay: High End Swanky Boutique Hotel
What to Wear: a Blazer style winter coat that makes you look academic-ey
Don’t Forget to Pack: a healthy appetite
Be Sure to Check Out: a multitude of artisan small businesses
What to Eat: Panettone
It is hard to believe that ten years ago, I finally took my long awaited and much anticipated trip to Italy for my 35th birthday. When I was in high school I took four years of Latin and opted not to go on either of the trips my Latin teach sponsored to Italy. This is a borderline regret as Italy had become an illusive country I had wanted to visit since my freshman year in high school, but for a number of reasons I had to wait two decades for the dream to come true! Our trip took us to Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence, the Amalphi Coast and concluded in Rome. I did not spend nearly the time that the stars of our Hallmark movie would say is an appropriate amount. However, when planning the trip, I had a haunch that someday I would make it to Rome again and that is still a hope. In the short time we spent, we were able to visit the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps and Roman Forum. Fortunately I had purchased tickets ahead of time to visit the Vatican museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. Although I would typically agree with her, since we had been traveling Italy for the previous two weeks, I was find with doing the Greatest Hits and looking forward to discovering the off the beaten path places on a return and longer visit! Now I just need to get around to discovering when that will be!
Checkin’ It Twice (2023)
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Movie Tagline: A journeyman hockey player falls for a real estate agent in a career crisis when he’s traded to her hometown and moves into the cottage in her hockey loving family’s backyard.
Where to Stay: A charming Guest House
What to Wear: Wintery hat with a puffy pom-pom
Don’t Forget to Pack: Hockey Skates
Be Sure to Check Out: Mountain Views and a Fighting Trout hockey game
What to Eat: Afternoon tea at the Urban Garden
I have not spent nearly the amount of time in Idaho Falls as our charming hockey player and witty real estate agent - I’ve only driven through at best. However, despite only spending only a sliver of time, I found the surrounding landscape to be the real show-stopper and unforgetable.
Idaho Falls is an equal distance between Jackson, Wyoming, and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, which I believe are both very worthwhile visits.
I do feel as though the creaters of this film missed out on an opportunity as if I was writing a rom-comey movie about this area of Idaho, I would have our two leads have a moment under a star filled night sky. Craters of the Moon was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2017 and the lack of light pollution in this area of the world is a reason to visit.
Finally, a quirky side trip from Idaho Falls would be to visit Acro, Idaho which was the first city in the world to be entirely lit by nuclear power. It’s a quaint small town and they are very proud of their history! Hey - play the hand you are dealt right?
Christmas in Vienna (2020)
Vienna, Austria
Movie Tagline: Jess, a concert violinist whose heart just isn’t in it anymore, goes to Vienna for a performance. While there, she finds the inspiration she has been missing, and a new love.
Where to Stay: A diplomat’s home with your friend who is working as a nanny for the diplomat’s kids
What to Wear: Wintery beret type hat
Don’t Forget to Pack: Your violin
Be Sure to Check Out: Schlossberg Castle and the Vienna Opera House
What to Eat: Gingerbread cookies but call them by their German name and butcher the pronounciation
I visited Vienna, Austria in 2017 along with my like-a-sister-friend, Antje who happens to live in Cologne, Germany. Although we visited in February and this movie takes place prior to Christmas, I feel as though we got to experience a glimmer of the iconic wintery festivities.
I was surprised to discover that most of the film was actually shot on location in Vienna - yay for Hallmark. I particularly was impressed with the filming from inside the iconic Schlossberg Castle - very beautiful.
For the most part, I found the movie to be reflective of my experience in Vienna except for when our leading lady stated “Philadelphia is like the Vienna of the U.S.” Now granted she did attempt to provide justification for this. I vehemently disagree. Philadelphia is my 2nd least favorite city - this statement is foolish, but fortunately does not ruin the movie.
The main characters discovered their romantic sparks by enjoying apple strudels in the Christmas Market. The only Austrian apple strudel I sampled was many years prior in a rural area near the border of Austria and Germany. I was also very young so I’m not sure if apple strudel would help in creating a romantic spark.
However, I did try the famous Sacher Torte and I would happily go on a date with anyone to enjoy that delicious goodness again. In addition the torte is enjoyed at a beautiful hotel so the ambiance assists in creating romance as well! And for people who want to find love in a bookish place, Cafe Central is an iconic Vienna coffee shop that has been a favorite haunt of authors through the years - highly recommend!
Antje and I did not visit the Vienna Opera House but we did attend a performance of the Vienna Philharmonic which was lovely. Certainly worth a visit if classical music is your thing.
Finally, a fantastic off-the-beaten place to visit is the iconic Hundertwasserhaus apartment building with remarkably unique architecture. In addition to seeing the quirky building, it is in a fun neighborhood that is away from the touristy parts of Vienna.
Mystic Christmas (2023)
Mystic, Connecticut
Movie Tagline: Juniper travels to Mystic, Connecticut during the holidays to work at the rehabilitation center and aquarium. She reconnects with Sawyer, the owner of the pizza shop.
Where to Stay: A Friend’s seaside cottage
What to Wear: Mystic Aquarium gear
Don’t Forget to Pack: A Top Hat for a festive town Christmas celebration
Be Sure to Check Out: Mystic Aquarium (obviously)
What to Eat: Pizza
When driving to Boston from New York City, there are two pizza places that are worth a visit : Frank Pepe’s in New Haven and Mystic Pizza in Mystic (made famous by the movie Mystic Pizza - Julia Roberts first blockbuster).
Now, I’m not a native New Englander which means, when I think of Mystic, Connecticut - it is reasonable to only think of pizza. It wasn’t until my husband, who grew up in Connecticut, that I learned of the Mystic Aquarium.
Well now thanks to Hallmark Countdown to Christmas all of the world now knows - there is a fantastic aquarium in Mystic Connecticut!
In November of 2022, we decided to make a day trip down to Mystic for our son to experience the aquarium, which has a wonderful outside exhibit as well as a beautiful indoor area with plenty of fish to observe. In addition, there is a great auditorium ith an educational show, complete with seals. I’ve been to a lot of aquriums and Mystic holds its weight with regards to the Baltimore, New England and Monteray aquariums.
The town of Mystic is absolutely charming and you get to see for yourself as Hallmark actually filmed the movie in the town! Pizza is a supporting character of the film, but they do not single out Mystic Pizza. But I will single them out - go to Mystic Pizza! Enjoy your pizza and pick up some great swag - It’s great.
Across from Mystic Pizza is a super cute bookstore, Bank Square Books. It’s a perfect place to pick up a Mark Twain novel, Harriet Beacher Stowe novel or Baby-Sitters Club book - all great American literature with roots in Connecticut.
Finally, a wonderful aspect of the area surrounding Mystic is the Connecitcut shore. There are a handful of beach communities with cottages that can be rented during the summer. This was a summer vacations destination that my husband recounts fondly. The beach communities really are gems and worth visiting!
