Listen, this list is completely subjective. You may have your own, and that’s cute for you, but I’m standing firm.
Every December I plan a trip that could double as a Hallmark film set, and at this point I have receipts.
I’ve eaten the festive scone. I’ve crossed the covered bridge. I’ve heard the faint sound of sleigh bells in the distance (or possibly just a Subaru).
So here they are—my definitive small-town power rankings for maximum rom-com potential.
1. Woodstock, VT
Woodstock has main character energy and knows it. It’s the town every Hallmark producer secretly wishes they could afford to film in.
Covered bridges. Church steeples. Main Street wrapped in garland. You can horseback ride, buy maple syrup, or accidentally fall in love with a flannel-clad local named Ben who fixes antique sleds “on the side.”
Four seasons of perfection, but Christmas is its peak form.
2. Cannon Beach, OR
The upscale beach town of my heart.
Think moody skies, sea stacks, and the kind of windswept walk where someone definitely says something vulnerable.
There are breweries for “accidental” second dates, coffee shops for soul-searching, and park perches high enough to reflect on all your bad decisions.
Also, Oregon has the best beaches in America. I don’t make the rules.
3. Kennebunkport, ME
If coastal New England had a PR team, this is their campaign.
Lighthouses, lobster rolls, and the kind of clapboard houses that make you believe in monogamy again.
My favorite spot? The tiny Episcopal chapel overlooking the coast. Breathtaking enough to convert a cynic.
This is where the big-city consultant comes home for Christmas and remembers how to breathe.
4. Adare, Ireland
Thatched roofs. Stone gates. Rolling green hills that look Photoshopped.
Adare is pure magic—the kind of place where the pub regulars know your life story by day three.
You can stay at Adare Manor if you’re feeling fancy, or stroll through medieval church ruins if you’re feeling reflective.
Every Irish accent here could be its own meet-cute.
5. Moab, UT / Breckenridge, CO (tie)
For the adventure girlies.
Full disclosure: I am not one.
But I respect the vibe—majestic views, mountain air, and enough adrenaline to carry the plot for you.
Whether it’s hiking arches or après-skiing, you’re either falling for someone or just falling, period.
Either way, it’s cinematic.
Honorable Mentions to these Regions:
- The Berkshires (US) -- Norman Rockwell lived here, and it shows. Stockbridge is peak small-town charm. The only downside? Slightly less to do, but the vibes are immaculate.
- The Cotswolds (UK) -- Technically multiple towns, but who’s counting? Stone cottages, flower boxes, and the actual setting of The Holiday. If Nancy Meyers blessed it, it’s gospel.
- Alsace Region (France) -- Think half-timbered buildings, mulled wine, and Christmas markets so charming they make your teeth hurt. Disney modeled Beauty and the Beast after these towns, and it shows. Like the Berkshires and the Cotswolds, it’s a region of perfection—pick any village and you can’t go wrong.
In conclusion: New England has an unfair advantage, Oregon beaches deserve more rom-com screen time, and Ireland is never the wrong answer.
Not saying I’m chasing a meet-cute, but I do keep suspiciously ending up in places where they happen.
xoxo, Abs
PS: Speaking of small towns and love stories—my first short read, An Unexpected Christmas in Ireland, takes place in one of them.
