Country Living Says These NJ Towns Are Worthy of a Hallmark Movie

There are tons of cute towns with downtowns we love in New Jersey and Country Living agrees. The site just named its top 30 towns in NJ that would be perfect to film a Hallmark movie. If you’re a fan of rom-coms, you know the streets in Hallmark movies are filled with cute cafes and quaint shops and the scenery is a mountainside or village. So which towns did Country Living choose for its Hallmark-worthy list?

Known for its pretty homes, vibrant downtown, summertime jazz and more than 300 years of history, Westfield landed at the top of the list. We love Westfield for its Italian food at Ferraro’s, epic desserts at Bovella’s Pastry Shoppe and the amazing shopping on Broad Street. We vote for a Halloween-inspired film here since every October the town hosts AddamsFest, a celebration of the Addams Family. The town hosts the fest in honor of creator Charles Addams, who lived in Westfield.

Princeton comes in at number 2 on the list. The architecture of Princeton University and the downtown alone are a sight for sore eyes. Favorite spots include McCarter Theatre Center, Morven Museum & Garden and the Princeton University Eating Clubs.

Number 3 on the list is Cranford. Once called the “Venice of New Jersey” because it’s a river town, Cranford is full of history and charm. Many of the homes were built in the 1800s, and the history is also represented at Droescher’s Mill and the Crane-Phillips House. We love Dreyer Farms and the trails at Lenape Park or Nomahegan Park.

Known for its cute downtown and theater community, Madison comes in at number 4. Beloved spots include the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, or the Community Arts Center. Quite possibly the perfect setting for a film shoot is Millionaire’s Row, a series of mansions built in the 19th century along Madison Avenue. Or how about the Giralda Farms Preserve Trail, the former estate of Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge who used to host dog shows at the property?

ISTOCK.COM/DENIS TANGNEY JR. / Downtown Cape May

There are a bunch of Jersey Shore towns on the list, like number five Cape May, which boasts stunning Victorian homes. Hallmark characters love a quaint B&B, and there are plenty here to choose from. Cape May is also a fun place for biking, railbiking, crabbing and fishing. And let’s not forget Hallmark Channel Wines and the wineries of Cape May.

Here is Country Living‘s full list:

1. Westfield
2. Princeton
3. Cranford
4. Madison
5. Cape May
6. Morristown
7. Montclair
8. Chatham
9. Ridgewood
10. Summit
11. Spring Lake
12. Clinton
13. Stone Harbor
14. Hoboken
15. Asbury Park
16. Chester
17. Frenchtown
18. Ocean City
19. Stockton
20. Jersey City
21. Lambertville
22. Avalon
23. Colts Neck
24. Wildwood Crest
25. Newark/Belleville
26. Millburn
27. West Cape May
28. Tenafly
29. Point Pleasant
30. Bay Head

If you’re a loyal Hallmark fan, you know Christmas Con is coming up. The huge convention brings together fans and Christmas movie stars for a three-day weekend at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center in Edison; this year’s dates are Dec. 8-10. There’s also a sold-out Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise sailing from Miami to the Bahamas in November 2024.

Last season, Hallmark held a Countdown to Christmas celebration event at eight farms across the country, including Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm in Manalapan, where there were goodies, hot chocolate, stickers and Hallmark prizes. And it turns out Netflix is coming to film at Fort Monmouth, so why not invite Hallmark here, too? Which town would you choose for the set of the next Hallmark movie?