Follow the Door County Christmas Movie Trail: Where A Cherry Pie Christmas Comes to Life
From the orchard to the Christkindlmarkt, fans can step right into the scenes of A Cherry Pie Christmas — and discover a Wisconsin winter wonderland full of festive lodging, lights, and cherry pie.
I know that when A Cherry Pie Christmas premieres, Wisconsin's Door County's snowy streets and cherry-red storefronts will steal the show. Now, the summer and winter destinations are turning that cinematic magic into a real-world travel experience. Through early January, visitors can explore the Door County Christmas Movie Trail, a self-guided tour that connects many of the film's most memorable locations, offering travelers a chance to step right into the story.
A Door County Christmas, Firsthand
I still remember racing through a snowstorm in a rented minivan, trying to make it back to the nearest airport before the roads closed. It was my first work-related media trip, my first taste of Wisconsin, and the beginning of what's become an unexpected fondness for this state from a travel perspective.
That weekend, Door County delivered everything I'd imagined a Midwestern winter could be. I stayed in a small hotel where I could step onto the balcony and watch snow drift across the water, the kind that hushes everything for a few hours. There was a tunnel of lights to run under, the kind of spontaneous joy that makes you forget you're technically there for work. And there was my first Door County fish fry—advice I learned quickly: don't stand too close. The splatter is real.
I'm a New Englander at heart. I've walked down Main Street USA in the Berkshires, where the Main Street at Christmas painting was modeled after. I know what a storybook winter looks like. But there are only a few places I'd actually want to be snowed in for the holidays, and Door County is one of them.
There's a familiarity hear in the small towns strung with lights, the smell of coffee and wood smoke, people who insist you try a warm slice of pie before you go. It's the kind of place that makes you believe in the season again, even if you arrive with a deadline and a snow scraper in hand.
That same sense of small-town warmth runs through the Door County Christmas Movie Trail, which brings the film A Cherry Pie Christmas off the screen and into the heart of the peninsula.
Walking Through the Movie
Fans can trace Emma and Mitch's footsteps from scene to scene. At Lautenbach's Orchard Country, which played the role of "Parker Orchard," guests can sample cherry wine and preserves before continuing to Novel Bay Booksellers, the cozy shop where the film's leads reunite. The Hillside Waterfront Hotel—the backdrop for the town's Christmas party—welcomes visitors to experience its holiday decor in person, while the Sister Bay Historical Society hosts the Christkindlmarkt featured on screen. Stops like Door County Coffee, where Emma and Mitch share lunch, and Renard's Artisan Cheese, home to the film's Door County Cherry Cheddar, add delicious local flavor to the trail.
Those who visit ten official movie trail locations can collect a limited-edition Door County coffee mug and enter a drawing for a signed movie poster. Maps, rules, and participating stops are available at DoorCounty.com/movie starting November 1.
Stay Where the Story Unfolds
Several inns and resorts have built special holiday packages around the film's release. At Sand Bay Beach Resort & Suites, travelers can book a Christmas-themed suite complete with a tree, cookie dough, hot chocolate, and a movie library — plus a fourth night free when they stay three. The Hillside Waterfront Hotel, a filming location itself, invites guests to "stay where the story unfolds," with champagne, hot cocoa in the library, and gifts of local coffee and chocolate. Over in Ephraim, the Highpoint Inn offers a two-night special that includes a complimentary cherry pie at check-in, with early guests receiving a Door County Cherry Checkers game to take home.
Together, these packages turn the peninsula into an immersive holiday getaway — part movie magic, part Midwestern hospitality.
A Door County Kind of Christmas
Beyond the movie trail, winter in Door County feels like its own holiday film. In Egg Harbor, Holly Days brings the community together with horse-drawn wagon rides, caroling, and an old-fashioned tree lighting. Sister Bay celebrates with Capture the Spirit, where visitors can sip cocoa alongside Santa's reindeer before watching the lights switch on. The Christkindlmarkt at the Sister Bay Historical Society transforms the village into a Bavarian-style market, filled with handmade gifts and warm cider.
Other traditions add depth to the season. The Merry-Time Festival of Trees showcases dozens of creative trees and wreaths decorated by local makers. Ephraim's Christmas in the Village offers wagon rides and holiday crafts for families. At The Ridges Sanctuary, luminary walks light up snow-covered trails, while Northern Sky Theater's Home for the Holidays concert brings together beloved Door County musicians for a homegrown performance. Lastly, when the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, Sister Bay rings in the new year with fireworks and the famous Cherry Drop— a fitting finale for a region that built its name on cherries and charm.
Why It's Worth the Trip
The Door County Christmas Movie Trail blends film tourism with the region's long-standing holiday spirit. Visitors come for the nostalgia of A Cherry Pie Christmas but leave with a deeper connection to the peninsula's small-town traditions — local coffee, artisan cheese, handmade gifts, and the comfort of a place that feels like it was made for the season.
For maps, travel packages, and more events, visit DoorCounty.com/movie.
