This time of year, we’re putting away our little black dresses and opting instead for down jackets and fur-lined boots, and switching out three-olive martinis for spiked hot apple cider. The winter chill is upon us, and we’re living out our best Hallmark movie fantasies.
Straight from the silver screen, these adorable locales are the perfect recipe for winter romance: a walkable Main Street, a smattering of twinkly lights, and a collection of local “extras” to supply the background noise to your main character energy—humble small town hunk not (necessarily) included.
From Amador City, California to Genoa, Nevada, these quaint and quirky Western towns will have you feeling like you’ve just stepped into an episode of Gilmore Girls.
Carson City, Nevada
(Courtesy of Visit Carson City)
Nevada’s state capital oozes small town charm. The inviting historic downtown (around Curry and Carson streets) dotted with both 1800s-era Victorian buildings and locally owned boutiques, antique shops, and eateries is home to festivals and markets year-round. It’s a bit Stars Hollow-esque, with Comma Coffee (312 S. Carson St.) a near-perfect double for Luke’s Diner. And when the snow is falling, a stroll down the Kit Carson Trail snaking past the governor’s mansion is made better with a cup of hot cocoa in hand, perhaps from Old World Coffee Roasters (301 N. Curry St.). After hours, a glass of wine at Cellar 8 Wine Bar (408 N. Carson St.) is ideal, and the quaint, family-owned shop doubles as Press Café for morning beverages and treats. In operation for more than 125 years, Bank Saloon (418 S. Carson St.) serves an impressive menu of specialty craft cocktails.
The city inspired its own ultra-cheesy mini movie titled A Winter’s Charm in Carson City, to promote local tourism (check it out on YouTube), and if you’ve been watching Lifetime movies, you may recognize scenes from Feliz NaviDAD, starring Mario Lopez. The backdrops also appeared in Once Upon a Main Street, starring Vanessa Lachey.
Amador City, California
(Denise Marie Photography)
Located in Amador County, this tiny place holds the designation of smallest town in California with a population of 205 covering a one-third square mile on the outskirts of the Shenandoah Valley, where people come for wine tasting but usually stay in better-known Sutter Creek or Plymouth.
Small but mighty is the rally cry in Amador City. It’s basically one short Main Street, which makes crafting an itinerary quite easy. You’ll first want to book a room at the Imperial Hotel and Restaurant (14202 Main St.)—bonus points if you can get one of the top-floor dwellings with a balcony overlooking the rest of the town. The six-room boutique hotel boasts adorably chic accommodations with rustic charm. When you’re ready for a meal, head to the downstairs restaurant for accessible comfort food featuring everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to sardines on toast. There are a few tasting rooms to visit without venturing out into the vineyards, including Holgate Hill (14204 Main St., Old CA-49 Ste. 5) and Wine Tree Farm (14467 CA-49 #73), plus two antique shops to browse and Gold Rush history to uncover.
Nevada City, California
(Haley Wright/Nevada City Chamber)
Nevada City typically enjoys a snowy season from December to February that doesn’t just feel like a movie set: the 2006 movie The Christmas Card was filmed here. All winter long, historic Broad Street (and nearby Spring Street) is alive with twinkly lights, illuminating romantic dates and friendly catchups. You’ll find a smattering of wine tasting rooms where you can sip the local bounty before catching a show at Nevada Theatre (401 Broad St.)—the state’s oldest existing theater building, established in 1865. On select dates throughout December, people flock to Victorian Christmas performances to ogle holiday decorations and watch historical reenactments. Dinner at Lola Dining (211 Broad St.) is the setting you’d expect to reunite with unrequited love if your life was indeed a Hallmark movie—with a menu that is both modern and a nod to the town’s rich Western past, and favorites that run from fresh West Coast oysters to steak frites to chickpea panisse with eggplant. After dinner, Golden Era Cocktail Bar and Lounge (309 Broad St.) is quiet luxury with colorfully adorned craft cocktails.
Don’t miss out on seeing the local art at LeeAnn Brook Fine Art (231 Broad St.) and Ginny Davis Metal Garden Art (240 Boulder St.), or checking out the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum (5 Kidder Ct.). In February, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival draws crowds.
Genoa, Nevada
(Zach Hooper)
Another Nevada gem, Genoa is the oldest city in the state—older, in fact, than the state itself. Founded as Mormon Station, Genoa has all of the makings of a cozy winter town: snowy days, a quaint Main Street (literally named Main Street, perpendicular to Genoa Lane), and family-owned businesses run by local purveyors. Food here is surprising considering the town’s tiny footprint. The Pink House (193 Genoa Ln.) serves a menu of steaks, seafood, pizza, and other American fare in an 1855-built Victorian building named for its paint job. Daniel’s (2291 Main St.) is known for French delicacies in an upscale setting with an adjacent bar called The Ice House, and Flutter & Buzz Café (2285 Main St.) makes yummy breakfast and lunch plates alongside warm coffees. When you’re not dining on local spreads, see the historic sites, which include the Genoa Courthouse Museum (2304 Main St.), Genoa Bar & Saloon (the state’s oldest bar; 2282 Main St.), and Mormon Station State Historic Park (2295 Main St.).
Breckinridge, Colorado
(Courtesy of Breckenridge Tourist Office)
What’s more romantic than a visit to one of Colorado’s most magical ski towns at the base of the Rocky Mountains’ Tenmile Range? At 9,600 feet in elevation, the ski resorts here are some of the best in the West, and you can spend your days rushing down mountains over 2,908 acres of ski terrain at Breckenridge Ski Resort (1599 Ski Hill Rd.). When you’re not falling in love on the slopes, stroll hand in hand downtown. Clutching cups of hot coffee in your gloved fingers as you walk the eight-block stretch, popping into boutique shops or trying your hand at a competitive (or collaborative) activity such as axe throwing or an escape room, will have you googly-eyed for your travel companion.
Slip into dinner at Hearthstone Restaurant (130 S. Ridge St.) for elevated American cuisine with scenic mountain views. Then, enjoy wines from high-altitude Continental Divide Winery (505 S. Main St. #A-4) at the Main Street Station tasting room. Accommodations at the resort are sure to impress, with oversized soaking tubs and private bedrooms; not to mention outdoor hot tubs that feel extra special under a blanket of falling snow.
Solvang, California
(Courtesy of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley)
The Danish-style town in California’s Santa Ynez Valley, far from the European locale it takes direction from, gets an extra air of magic thanks to its fairytale connections to Hans Christian Andersen (who’s memorialized in various statues and tributes throughout the three-mile, walkable downtown). While it’s an adorable escape year-round with plenty of character, something about winter here feels like you've been transported across the pond, not just to the other side of the state.
Julefest is part of the seasonal magic, a multi-month celebration lasting through early January that features everything from light displays to holiday markets, all with a Danish touch. The pastries inside the famed Olsen’s (1529 Mission Dr.) and Mortensen’s (1588 Mission Dr.) get a festive sprinkle, while the downtown streets come alive with winter music and cheer. Regardless of what time of year you visit, wine tasting is among the best ways to spend your time, with more than 25 places to do it in the village. The shopping here is good, too. Purchase goodies from the Swedish Candy Factory (485 Alisal Road #125) and step in and out of shops hawking everything from vintage wares to handcrafted beauty products.
Ferndale, California
(Leon Villagomez for VisitFerndale.com)
Those venturing to the redwood forests or Pacific Ocean near the Lost Coast may find themselves in Ferndale off Highway 101 in Humboldt County. Known for its Victorian architecture, visiting the one-square-mile town can feel like taking a step back in time—and it's starred as the set of many a movie, including The Majestic with Jim Carrey. Like many on this list, the main stretch, which is indeed called Main Street, is where you’ll find most of Ferndale’s attractions. Whether you want to watch local actors at the Ferndale Repertory Theatre (447 Main St.) or learn about the area’s connections to the dairy community at the Ferndale Museum (515 Shaw Ave.), the slow pace is a welcome escape.
The best local businesses include a classic diner open for breakfast and early lunches called Poppa Joe’s (409 Main St.); a quintessential small-town coffee shop, Mind’s Eye Manufactory & Coffee Lounge (393 Main St.); and Golden Gait Mercantile (421 Main St.), where you’ll find all of the best wares from candy to antiques. For a thrill, check out the creepy but beautiful cemetery on the hill above town.
Lodi, California
(Courtesy of Visit Lodi)
Perhaps best known as an accessible wine tasting destination, this Central Valley spot has a lot more to offer than a glass of vino—although we certainly suggest ordering one (specifically zinfandel) during your visit. While rolling hills and country backroads filled with vineyards are one of the region’s main draws, they aren’t what landed Lodi on this list. If you head to School Street, you’ll find many of the denominators common to the Hallmark genre: a small downtown filled with individually owned boutiques and restaurants located within a few-block radius, delicious food in every unsuspecting corner, a cast of quirky locals, and a little bit of winter cheer—even if there’s no snow to be found. Just peep the adorable red wine tasting trolley and the welcoming white Lodi arch.
Accommodations at Appellation Lodi (2505 W. Turner Rd.) include second-story dwellings with views of a lush green courtyard; an on-site spa with body treatments, facials, and more; and a hot tub and heated swimming pool outdoors. When you’re not lounging in your room with a roaring fire or slipping up to your nose in the soaking tub with a glass of the aforementioned vino in hand, traipse down to the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center (2545 W. Turner Rd.) for a tasting or indulge in high-end fare at Americana House on the property. Consider a stroll at Lodi Lake or take in an afternoon movie followed by burgers and shakes at Moo Moo’s Burger Barn (113 N. School St.). Then, check the local calendar for live music at local wineries or gatherings downtown.
Bellevue, Washington
(Courtesy of Diamond PR)
Just 15 minutes from downtown Seattle, Bellevue feels like an island. Cross over the bridge and enter into an affluent world sparkling with every amenity you could dream of. From boat rides across Lake Washington proffering views of the Emerald City and Mt. Rainier in the distance, to romantic strolls through Bellevue Botanical Gardens (12001 Main St.), each experience feels curated for an optimal outcome. Much of Bellevue is tall buildings with shopping and dining atop hotels. Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi (10400 NE 4th St., Ste. 3100) serves an elevated menu on the 31st floor of one of those buildings and is a can’t-miss for good views on a clear day. Perhaps one of the quaintest features is the Bellevue Bellhop, an on-demand shuttle service that transports visitors and locals all over town for free. Winter visits to the city are extra special because of Snowflake Lane, a festive celebration with nightly parades down Bellevue Way—the perfect finale for your cold season escape.
