10 picturesque winter destinations that look like they're straight out of a holiday movie

In the 2003 holiday film "Elf," Buddy the elf (Will Ferrell) gets his first kiss from Jovie (Zoey Deschanel) at the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink. Before lacing up their skates, Jovie shows Buddy the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree that lights up Manhattan for the holidays every year.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree became an annual tradition in 1933 and held a lighting ceremony that year, Rockefeller Center's website reported. An ice skating rink was added to the plaza in 1936.

While visiting this historical epicenter of Manhattan, you cancatch a 360-degree view of Manhattan on one of three Top Of The Rock observation decks or tour the Channel Gardens, which house the "12 luminous angels" that surround the tree.

Rockefeller Center also had plenty of places to pick up sweet holiday treats. Plus, it's a holiday shopper's dream if you seek out designer names. Some of the biggest brands in the world have stores there. Swarovski and Tiffany & Co will delight jewelry lovers, while Kate Spade New York and Michael Kors are for fashion-focused visitors, and the LEGO store will keep kids entertained for hours.

Location is key in the 2006 film "The Holiday." Cameron Diaz's character Amanda swaps houses with Kate Winslet's character Iris so they can both escape the stress of their lives for the season. As an added bonus, they also eventually fall in love while away.

Amanda flees Los Angeles for Iris's quaint English cottage, which was filmed in Shere, Surrey, England.

If you're lucky enough to find your own English cottage to stay at in Shere, be sure to visit The Dabbling Duck Cafe , a local eatery, and soak in the quaint vibe or brush up on the history of the village at the Shere Museum before grabbing a pint at one of two village pubs. The thatched roofs you'll see in Shere are similar to the ones that the villages of the Costwolds are known for, even though the towns are about two hours apart.

Many scenes in "The Holiday" were filmed outside of Shere in the larger area of Surrey county, and there are plenty of festive events to soak in there.

If you love to gaze at lights during the holidays, you'll love the light show at Kew Gardens in Kew, Richmond, London. And if there's someone in your life who needs to tell Father Christmas their holiday wishes, be sure to visit Goodstone Farm in the village of Godstone on a weekend.

For a truly unique experience, take a wintery walk to discover 12 decorated snowmen at "Walking with the Snowman at Winkworth Arboretum" in southwest Surrey. Cap off the experience with a carousel ride and a cup of hot cocoa.

Many sequels have been attempted, but none have become as memorable as the original John Hughes film "Home Alone," released in 1990. It follows Kevin McCallister's (Macaulay Culkin) quest to protect his suburban Chicago home from burglars after his family accidentally leaves him home during a family vacation to Paris.

In 2021, Airbnb offered four lucky travelers a one-of-a-kind experience: a stay at the real McCallister home, located at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois.

The exclusive stay was as part of the promotion for a new film, but there's nothing stopping travelers from heading to Lincoln Avenue to get a glimpse of the iconic home this year.

Winnetka is only about an hour away from Chicago, and there are plenty of opportunities to experience uniquely midwestern cheer in the city.

Christkindlmarket Chicago is an outdoor shopping experience unlike any other. At the German-style outdoor market, you can shop for artisan gifts while enjoying german delicacies like bratwurst and hot spiced wine.

If you can't stay away from holiday lights, ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo is waiting for you.

Those who love an indoor adventure can become part of a classic holiday tale at the Immersive Nutcracker show.

And if you love eating while you holiday shop, don't miss the chance to dine at The Walnut Room, the first restaurant ever to be opened in a department store and a Chicago institution. Enjoy Mrs. Hering's 1890 Original Chicken Pot Pie with a view of Macy's "Great Tree" in the middle of the floor.

Whoville might be located inside of a snowflake, but that probably doesn't stop everyone who watches "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000) each year from wishing we could transport ourselves there.

It's not just about the festive, bright colors and whimsical structures that line the streets either. There is something comforting about believing there's a place where a Grinch's (Jim Carrey) heart will grow full of love, no matter how much he tries to prevent it from happening.

Whoville might not be real, but Breckenridge, Colorado, definitely shares its vibes for more than one reason.

In early December, the town hosts an event called The Race of The Santas, in which everyone is encouraged to dress up like jolly St. Nick and, well, race. In the middle image above, a participant decided to embrace his inner Grinch at the race.

The quaint, colorful Victorian buildings downtown evoke a feeling of Whoville. You can feel the holiday spirit through art classes to decorate ornaments, scenic sleigh rides, and a live adaptation of "A Christmas Story" available through most of December.

Plus, it's a ski town, so hitting the slopes is always an option if you want the real Grinch experience. He did live in secluded, snowy mountains after all.

Breckenridge is also the home of the International Snow Sculpture Championships, which will take place from January 27 to February 3, 2023. The grand works of art are exclusively built with hand tools and on display at the Riverwalk Center.

In "It's A Wonderful Life" (1946), an angel in the process of earning his wings is sent down from heaven to show George Bailey (James Stewart) the joys of his life and what the world would look like for his family without him in it.

It was filmed exclusively in California and takes place in the fictional town of Bedford Falls, a snow-filled fake suburbian town in upstate, New York.

The fictional town of Bedford Falls was created in California through movie magic. But, it's widely accepted that the town was inspired by a town called Seneca Falls in upstate New York.

In December, the town has an "It's A Wonderful Life," festival featuring events like Mrs. Martini's pasta dinner, a holiday lights contest, and a ringing of the bell ceremony to honor a real-life angel in residents' lives.

Seneca Falls has historical places to visit like the National Women's Hall of Fame and also boasts about having an "It's A Wonderful Life," museum. There are bed and breakfasts to stay at or lake houses to rent to make you feel at home!

In 1996's "The Preacher's Wife," an angel named Dudley (Denzel Washington) comes into Reverend Henry Biggs's (Courtney B. Vance) life to help him save his church and his family around Christmas time. In the process, he finds he might be falling for Henry's wife Julia (Whitney Houston).

Sparks fly between the pair in a scene at an outdoor ice skating rink that looks like it's out of a painting.

You can still go ice skating at Deering Oaks Pond in Portland like Houston and Washington did! While in the city, make sure you visit the lit-up tree at Monument Square.

The Narrow Gauge Railroad museum also has a train ride inspired by another Christmas classic, "The Polar Express." Or, you can tour Victoria Mansion while it's decorated for Christmas.

Speaking of decorations, Fogg's Water Taxi offers a cruise to tour the Parade of Lights, and of course, there are plenty of local shops to buy artisan gifts.

Some scenes in "Jingle Jangle" were shot in the UK, but we think Colmar, France best evokes the spirit of Cobbleton in real life.

Colmar is known for its Christmas Market as if strolling through its streets was not magic enough, it's a wonderful place to get Christmas shopping done.

Art lovers might enjoy the exhibition of Christmas landscapes the town is planning, featuring five painters who are inspired by the holiday season.

Or, if you're truly feeling in the "Jingle Jangle" spirit, you can view the exebition "JOUER EST UN ART" (Playing is an art) and view a private collection of toys at the Museum of Play.

You can delight in a food and wine pairing event in a nearby town prepared specifically for Christmas. Or, take a walk with the night Watchman to discover the town's secrets and treasures.

"A Christmas Story" (1983) tells the tale of a young boy named Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) growing up in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana in 1943.

He is determined to convince every adult he knows that he deserves a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun under his tree on Christmas morning. He swears to them all that he will not, in fact, shoot his eye out with it.

The "A Christmas Story" house is located at 3159 West 22th Street, in Cleveland, Ohio. The owner has turned it into a museum dedicated to the movie, so if fans are looking to experience a Christmas close to Ralphie's, Ohio is the place to go. You can even spend the night.

Cleveland has a WinterLand festival that lasts throughout the season that features ice skating, fire pits, and a public lighting of a Christmas tree.

Adults can check out Christmas pop-up bars and bar crawls. If you love a unique dining experience, several restaurants in Cleveland offer the option of dining in an igloo.

The Cleveland Botanical Gardens also offers several festive features over the holidays, like a gingerbread house display, festive holiday plants, and an option to have breakfast with Santa. Ralphie would've loved that!

Baker Stacy goes to a baking competition in the fictional country of Belgravia in "The Princess Switch" and runs into Lady Margaret, who looks just like her (both played by Vanessa Hudgens). Frustrated with their lives, they decide to switch places and they change their lives as a result.

Lady Margaret lives in a palace, which is the definition of picturesque. Who doesn't want to live like a royal for Christmas?

The castle where "The Princess Switch" was filmed is located in Santu Mare County in Carei, Romania, and you can visit it.

But there are tons of traditional things to do throughout the entire country of Romania throughout the holidays like Christmas markets, and mountain resorts you can visit.

Romania also celebrates St. Nicholas Day on December 6, a day in which children wake up and find treats, sweets, and, fruits inside their boots.

Cluj-Napoca is the country's unofficial capital and home of the country's largest university. The tallest church tower in the country, Gothic St. Michael's Church, is located here as well as the National Museum of Art.

Timisoara is one of the country's largest cities, and a great place to walk around and see some of the country's oldest architecture.

If you love to ski, visit Sinaia in the winter, where you can also visit the summer home King Charles built there.

In "The Santa Clause" Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has an unfortunate mishap with Santa on Christmas Eve and soon learns that he has now inherited the job of bringing toys to children around the world. The job comes with perks: a toy factory and sweet living quarters in the North Pole.

The North Pole in "The Santa Clause" might be fictional, but North Pole, Alaska is real — and it's Christmas every day there.

Santa's house is a main attraction. It features a sweets shop with fudge, cookies, and chocolates and a gift shop where you can pick up unique Alaskan gifts and toys. You can take a picture with jolly St. Nick himself and get an up-close and personal look at his sleigh. Next door, the Antler Academy gives you a chance to visit Santa's reindeer team (but only in their off-season beginning in the summer).

The town also has a Winter Festival featuring ice sculptures, fireworks, and other festive activities.

North Pole, Alaska is also close to the Chena Lakes Reservation area in Fairbanks. It's an ideal place to go ice fishing, camping, or view the Aurora Lights if you visit from August 21 to April 21.