By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
Hallmark has become the king of Christmas, not only with their abundance of holiday greeting cards, but with their unlimited feel-good movies. The Hallmark Channel’s Christmas Countdown includes over 25 days of new made-for-TV films, almost always following a blossoming romance learning the true reason for the season.
The single protagonist always moves from a big city to a small, quaint town overflowing with Christmas activities. Even the biggest Scrooge falls in love under the mistletoe while Santa Claus smiles down on them, switching their name from the naughty list to the nice.
Although some plotlines in these films may seem unrealistic, the picture-perfect towns are based on the real world. In fact, Ocean City is the epitome of a ‘Hallmark Christmas’ town, and here’s why:
Wholesome Family Values
America’s Greatest Family Resort aligns perfectly with Hallmark: Faith-driven, traditional and family-oriented. Hallmark doesn’t need to worry about its main characters getting drunk because Ocean City is a dry town.
Adorable Downtown
Asbury Avenue is the picture-perfect representation of a Hallmark movie shopping district. It’s walkable, offers a variety of cute specialty restaurants, and includes a dozen of fashion-forward boutiques to ensure that the main characters look stunning. Groups can take pictures on Ninth and Asbury by the lifeguard boat with Santa after doing some holiday shopping at Stainton’s. (Supporting local crafters, artisans and small businesses)
There’s Plenty of Christmas Cheer
Ocean City offers tens of Christmas events, where you and your new man can meet. Take your nieces and nephews to the annual holiday parade and wave to Santa as he lights up City Hall. Wear matching pajamas to the Earlier-Than-The-Bird Shopping Extravaganza. Ride in a free horse-drawn carriage. Can it get any more winter-wonderful?!
Picture-Perfect Locations
Every budding love story needs some special spots to smooch. As you hold hands on the boardwalk, you and your lover can kiss under the Music Pier (and when the giant old-fashioned clock strikes 9pm, you can run back to your seaside cottage under the moonlight). In the morning, you can sip coffee on the beach, cozy in his sweatshirt while he catches waves in a wetsuit. During your lovey-dovey montage, you can ride the ferris wheel or Victorian carousel, share a doughnut from Drip N Scoop or the Fractured Prune, and bike over the Ninth Street Bridge.
Small Businesses Only!
Characters can stop into cute little businesses like Ready’s, Positively Fourth Street Cafe, Dak’s Kayaks, Peace of Wood, or Heritage Surf Shop, reminding the city-dweller that small towns and the families that make up that town add to one’s quality of life.
Live, Love, Local
The #1 best part of Ocean City is that it is beloved by year-round islanders, mainland folks who spend a week there each year, and all visitors in-between. Places like Corson’s Inlet, A La Mode Ice Cream Shop, Waverly Beach, and Castaway Cove Playland make Ocean City one of the best places on Earth, not just America’s Greatest Family Resort. So, Hallmark, if you need a new location to shoot another Christmas masterpiece, choose Ocean City. We would love to bring our small town magic to the silver screen.
Photos by Steffen Klenk
