Tinsel Towns

Step into some holiday movie magic.

- ERICA LEIGH FINAMORE

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK a lot like…Hallmark holiday movie season! The channel’s official “Countdown to Christmas” marathon kicks off in mid-October—this year, with 24 brand-new movies. Are these made-for-TV rom-coms a tad formulaic? Sure are! Are they also irresistible? You betcha, with their sweet storylines, perfectly timed snowfalls, and too-cute-to-be-real villages. Only guess what: Many of those charming little villages are real. They look like film sets and smell like hot cocoa, and they have actual, visitable holiday festivals this time of year. Read on and get ready to leave your uptight fiancé and big-city life behind for the small town where your rugged ex who never did settle down now runs a dairy farm. Pack a sweater!

Victoria, British Columbia

Dozens (!!!) of Hallmark movies have been filmed in and around this seaside Canadian city of fewer than 100,000 people. It’s easy to see why. Nestled at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, it boasts historic architecture in various styles (Tudor, Gothic, Châteauesque), abundant parkland, and loads of culture. A few must-sees: the Parliament Buildings (completed in 1897), the Butchart Gardens (which hold a Christmas light display starting December 1), and views of the Olympic Mountains. Spend a day in the Oak Bay neighborhood, where you can peep those mountains and pop into quaint shops, many of which may look familiar—they’ve played backdrop to more than one meet-cute.