The festive season is in full swing, and for lovers of Christmas movies this really is the most wonderful time of year!
Everyone has their own favourite yuletide flick, but we’ve put together a list of 7 Christmas film locations that will give you some holiday inspiration for your travel bucket list.
Falling for Christmas (Park City, Utah)
This cute/cheesy (depending on your take) romcom launched on Netflix in November 2022. It has no shortage of festive feels as Lindsay Lohan’s lead character undergoes a character transformation after a bout of amnesia. Featuring jaw dropping luxury ski resorts and ridiculously cosy mountain lodges, this Christmas film will have you googling Winter holidays before it reaches its happy ending!
If you fancy hitting the same slopes as Lindsay Lohan or enjoying some Christmas cheer in the mountain air, then you’ll need to head to Park City Utah, where this cheery film was shot. Boasting 17 slopes and 300 trails, this super sized ski resort is the largest in the USA. The nearest airport to Park City is, Salt Lake City, which has regular direct flights from London. So, if you are looking for love or just some great ski/snowboard action then contact one of our ski specialists in Tunbridge Wells.
Home Alone (Winnetka, Illinois)
It’s not the best advert for a festive family holiday, but this slapstick Christmas classic is a firm favourite with the younger travellers in our house! Fellow fans of Home Alone will want to make a pilgrimage to the sleepy suburb of Winnetka, Illinois, specifically to 671 Lincoln Avenue. Here they will find the on screen home of the McAllister family.
Each year this sizable abode attracts thousands of sightseers that come to take selfies with the iconic mansion in the background. If you want to make a visit to Winnetka, you can include this as part of a Christmas city break to Chicago, or wait until summer when you will be able to include this as part of a Route 66 Road Trip. Just don’t forget the kids please!
It’s a Wonderful Life (Seneca Falls, New York)
This heart warming Christmas classic has been passing down its upbeat message through the generations since it was first released in 1946. If you want to go looking for your own Guardian Angel, you will have a hard time finding the fictional town of Bedford Falls though – Frank Capra’s snow dusted film was shot entirely on a Hollywood studio set. Don’t despair though, as its widely believed that this magical movie was inspired by the very much real, upstate New York town of Seneca Falls.
Sharp eyed viewers will recall that the film references the nearby locations of Buffalo and Rochester (Seneca is midway between these), but also shares some strikingly similarities in terms of its architecture – including the steel girder bridge which George contemplated his life from. The town even has its own museum dedicated to the film, featuring memorabilia and photos from Its a Wonderful Life, documenting Seneca’s connection to the film. Each December the museum holds a celebration of the film, that is attended by members of the cast.
If you would like to visit Seneca then get in touch with one of our team who will be able to include this as part of a tailor-made American Road Trip – the town can be combined with Niagara Falls, Syracuse, The Finger Lakes region or The Catskill Mountains. Mkaing this a truly ‘wonderful’ holiday!
Die Hard (Los Angeles, California)
As divisive as a winter world cup, there’s been more blogs debating the virtues of Die Hard as a Christmas movie, than there have ben sequels to this 80’s action blockbuster! I’m not here to get into an argument as to whether Die Hard is a Christmas Film or not (there’s absolutely no doubt about it!), rather than help you pinpoint the location of the Nakatomi Plaza for yourself. Still standing strong, this 34 storey tower is better known as Fox Plaza, located on Hollywood Boulevard in the centre of Los Angeles. Much of the film was shot in and around this skyscraper (it was actually built by Fox for use as a film set), so ahem ‘die hard’ fans of this movie may recognise some of the nearby locations. LA isn’t quite warm enough for winter sunshine, so we would recommend that you save your visit for a summery California Road Trip , Yippee-Kay-Yay!
Miracle on 34th Street (New York City, New York)
The title is a bit of a giveaway with this one, but in case you were not sure, the 34th street featured in this Christmas classic is on Manhattan, New York – home of Macy’s! Many of the original films scenes were shot on location at this world famous department store, and the opening scenes used live footage from the 1946 Thanksgiving parade. The parade has been a New York tradition since 1934 and features staff and their families from Macy’s. November and December are the perfect time of year to visit New York for a pre-Christmas shopping break, with festive window displays and twinkly lights aplenty. Shoppers will relish the chance to grab a Black Friday bargain, whilst sightseeing takes on a new perspective as the cities shiny ice rinks are unveiled for the winter. If you would like some help planning a New York City break, then get in touch with one of our team who will be happy to help you.
White Christmas (Vermont)
Most of our travellers heading to Vermont go in search of autumnal colour but if you’re dreaming of a White Christmas then Vermont is the place to be! The fictional town of ‘Pine Tree’ and the quaint ‘Pine Tree Inn’ that star in this festive flick were filmed on a theatrical set in sunny Hollywood, but there’s no shortage of cosy B&B’s and rustic inn’s in this part of New England. Head to the towns of Woodstock, Burlington, Stowe or Chester for a smorgasbord of winter activities including skiing, snowboarding, skating and carriage rides through snowy streets! If winter is not your thing then these mountain towns are just as beautiful in the summer months.
Love Actually (Millawuke, Wisconsin)
This hit British offering follows the happy moments and heartbreaks which unfold at Christmas time. One strand of the many plots which run through this 2003 Rom com follows Colin, an unlucky in love character, to Wisconsin, USA where he meets the girl(s) of his dreams. We can’t guarantee you will find love (or lust) like Colin did, but if you would like to meet the locals and enjoy some stunning scenery, then let us put together a tailor-made self drive holiday of the Great Lakes for you. You’ll find lush forests, collosal sand dunes and picturesque towns on a tour of Lake Michigan.