Find Your Own Hot Santa on the New Hallmark Christmas Movie Trail

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially with all the gift guides popping up. For the true holiday connoisseurs, this means it is time to turn on the near-endless supply of romantic Christmas movies. Who doesn't love titles like One Royal Holiday, Snow Bride, and Three Wise Men and a Baby? These low-conflict, high-comfort movies are always set somewhere unbelievably cozy and idyllic, places that don't even feel real.

But they are real! Well, to an extent. The perfect fluffy white snow is not promised in our ever-changing climate. But many of your favorite Christmas movies were filmed in Connecticut. For the first time, fans can visit some of the most famous filming locations on the nation's first Christmas Movie Trail. The trail features 22 filming locations from various Hallmark, Netflix, and Lifetime movies. There are cafes, shops, and inns where visitors can get a little taste of that Christmas magic.

Here are the films shot on the new trail:

"Holiday films bring us comfort, nostalgia, and a bit of magic," Andrew Gernhard, producer of One Royal Holiday, The Noel Diary, and other holiday films, said about the trail. "Having grown up here, I know firsthand the character and warmth that make Connecticut an ideal setting to bring these films to life. We've had the joy of filming so many holiday scenes here, and I think fans will love experiencing Connecticut through this lens."

To visit the trail yourself, you just need to reference the Visit Connecticut website. For each of the 22 movies, there are recommendations for the stores, inns, and sights featured in the film. You can easily plan a whole weekend of Christmas activities—and even stay at one of the inns where a high-powered executive who's too busy for the holidays and a sweet townie who loves to bake cookies find the true meaning of love.

You can visit the locations on the trail anytime of year, but there will be special decorations and festive events happening at various points throughout the holiday season. Maybe you’ll even find your own lumberjack with a heart of gold somewhere between Downtown Mystic and Mohegan Park. Happily ever after is not guaranteed.

If you're ready for an adventure but not sure where you'd like to go or what to do, we're on it. The best new hotels opening up around the world. The most exciting places to travel without a passport. The world's best beaches, as ranked by travel influencers. It's all here along with all the travel news you need to stay informed and inspired.

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