7 Charming Towns Where Romantic Movies Were Filmed (& Where to Stay While You’re There)

Movie Filmed There: A Walk to Remember

Author Nicholas Sparks lives in New Bern, NC, and as a result, the Tar Heel State is often his preferred backdrop for his stories, including the 2002 tearjerker (starring Mandy Moore) that made him a household name. With its restaurant-laden historic district and close proximity to the Cape Fear River and surf-friendly beaches, there’s plenty to do there, beyond scope out the spots where the two high schoolers fell in love. Like check out the spots where other high schoolers fell in love (Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill were filmed there too).

Where to Stay:

• Historic Riverfront Home, $165/night: 8 guests
• The Cottage at Spofford Mills, $160/night: 4 guests
• Downtown Wilmington Cottage, $75/night: 4 guests

Movie Filmed There: Sweet Home Alabama

Despite ‘Alabama’ being in the name, this rom-com was largely filmed in Georgia. Reese Witherspoon plays Melanie, a newly engaged Manhattanite who returns to her hometown to request a divorce from her ex, who refused to sign the papers. Along the way, she gains a new appreciation for him—and for her small town, which is actually Crawfordville, GA (population: < 1,000). While there, you can eat at Heavy’s Barbeque—aka Stella’s bar in the movie—and check out the Victorian architecture at the Taliafarro County Courthouse. If you’re up for a drive, check out Oak Hill, which served as Melanie’s wedding venue.

Where to Stay:

• Bison Farmhouse, $165/night: 4 guests
• Private Suite in Historic Washington, GA, $50/night: 3 guests
• The Fitzpatrick Hotel, $117/night: 2 guests

Movie Filmed There: Malcolm & Marie

While you may not be able to stay at the Caterpillar House, where the drama between filmmaker Malcolm (John David Washington) and Marie (Zendaya) unfolds as they await critics’ reviews of his latest work, there are still plenty of reasons to visit Carmel-by-the-Sea. There are nearly 20 outdoor wine tasting venues, art galleries, plenty of shops and restaurants, and Carmel Beach, where you can surf, stroll or play fetch with Fido (dogs are allowed off-leash, provided they respond to verbal commands).

Where to Stay:

• Beach Front Cottages, $445/night: 4 guests
• Pebble Beach Dreaming, $100/night: 6 guests
• “The Great Escape” Downtown, $208/night: 6 guests

Movie Filmed There: Just about every Hallmark Christmas movie

OK, it’d be a bit hyperbolic to say “nearly every,” but Fort Langley in British Columbia has hosted dozens of Hallmark movies. Brunner’s Village Square, a shopping complex with a quaint, historic-looking façade, has been the backdrop to 30 movies in the past 15 years, according to Canadian women’s magazine Chatelaine. The town of 3,400 features nearly all small businesses (the only chain is a Subway), and during the holiday season, Fort Langley goes all out, becoming the stuff of elves’ wildest dreams.

Where to Stay:

• Relaxing, Serene Studio, $151/night: 4 guests
• Blueberry Farm, $141/night: 2 guests
• Marin Riverside Lodge, $201/night: 6 guests

Movie Filmed There: Nights in Rodanthe

People headed to theaters to see Diane Lane and Richard Gere’s on-screen chemistry (this is their third movie together, after all)…and wound up dreaming of moving to North Carolina. Airbnb saw one of the highest increases in search year over year for the area, and within minutes of watching the movie, it’s easy to see why. The Outer Banks steals the show as the backdrop to this story of a doctor who falls for an “unhappily married woman.” Rodanthe is part of a group of villages in the Outer Banks, with miles of coastline, plenty of campgrounds and some of the best seafood around. You can stay at the actual inn from the movie (!), or visit it as part of this two-day itinerary to take in every sight from the film.

Where to Stay:

• The Inn at Rodanthe, $2,195/week: 6 guests
• Castle by the Sea, $199/night: 11 guests
• Dog-Friendly Oceanview Triple Fins Home, $98/night; 12 guests

Movie Filmed There: The Notebook

Staying in the town from The Notebook can be a bit tricky. You see, while the novel takes place in Sparks’s hometown, the movie takes place in Seabrook, SC—but it wasn’t filmed there at all. Noah (aka Ryan Gosling) builds his house and woos Allie (Rachel McAdams) all around Charleston, SC. (Well, except for that “I’m a bird” scene, which was actually shot at El Matador Beach in California.) In the Charleston area, you can scope out Boone Family Plantation, which served as Allie’s family’s summer house, and Calhoun Mansion, where the interior scenes were filmed. You can also tour the College of Charleston, where Allie went to school.

Where to Stay:

• Gorgeous Carriage House, $367/night: 4 guests
• Adorable Downtown Bungalow, $160/night: 2 guests
• Romantic Loft Apartment in Historic Downtown, $228/night: 2 guests

Movie Filmed There: Twilight

The relationship between Bella, a teenager, and Edward, a 100-and-something-year-old sparkly vampire, is questionable at best. But in quarantine, it sparked a resurgence in popularity, maybe due to its escapist quality. Or the fact that author Stephenie Meyer released Midnight Sun, the story told from Edward’s perspective. Or maybe due to a combination of the two and the Hot and Bothered podcast, where the hosts break down each chapter of the series. Who knows? What we do know is that Forks was another Airbnb hotspot that’s exploded in search interest over the past year, and the town itself hosts a Forever Twilight in Forks Festival every September to celebrate the series.

If you travel outside of that time frame, you can still take in several filming locations (including seeing Bella’s trucks up close, apparently), as well as go fishing, clamming, camping or strolling along the beach.

Where to Stay:

• Wild West Coast Getaway with Hot Tub, $325/night: 6 guests
• Rainforest Valley Guest House Retreat, $75/night: 4 guests
• Cozy Yet Spacious Tiny House on Wheels, $125/night: 2 guests