Following The Christmas Card to Nevada City, California

After traveling north through Nevada, we eventually left US-95 and joined Interstate 80 heading west into California. One of the most beautiful parts of the drive was crossing through the Sierra Nevada Mountains near the Donner Pass area. Snow still lined portions of the highway even though spring had arrived, creating stunning views of snow-covered peaks, pine forests, and mountain valleys. It was a dramatic change from the desert landscapes we had been driving through earlier in the trip. After crossing the mountains, we turned onto CA-20 and continued toward our destination for the evening: the charming Gold Rush town of Nevada City.

For fans of the Hallmark movie The Christmas Card, Nevada City is a special destination because many scenes from the film were shot here. One of our main goals was to visit the filming locations and experience the small-town charm that made the movie so memorable. We stayed at the historic National Exchange Hotel, the same hotel where Cody stayed in the movie. Perched on the hill above town is the beautiful Nevada City United Methodist Church, another recognizable filming location. We also visited the famous Classic Café where Cody ordered a chicken salad club with curly fries before heading to the restroom, only to have Faith walk in and mistakenly believe the meal was hers because she had ordered the exact same thing.

Arriving in Nevada City proved to be a little more challenging than expected. A fairy-themed event was being held at the National Exchange Hotel that Thursday evening, and parking spaces throughout downtown were completely full. We spent quite a while circling the streets waiting for a spot to open before finally finding a place to park. Once we got settled into the hotel, we headed to Deer Creek Grill for dinner. We ordered the Veggie Pesto Pasta and the Western Burger with fries, and both meals were excellent. Our server, Andreas, provided great service and made the dining experience even more enjoyable after a long day on the road.

The next morning, we took advantage of the quieter streets before the town became busy with visitors. Walking around Nevada City early in the day made it easy to photograph many of the filming locations from The Christmas Card as well as the historic buildings that give the town its unique character. One of the highlights was visiting the United Methodist Church perched at the top of the hill, a recognizable location featured in the movie. The church’s beautiful setting overlooking the town made it easy to see why it was chosen for several memorable scenes.

Of course, we also had to stop at the Classic Café for breakfast. Sitting inside was especially fun because they had a copy of The Christmas Card DVD displayed right on the counter, proudly embracing their connection to the beloved Hallmark film. Between the Classic Café, the National Exchange Hotel, and the United Methodist Church, it felt like we were stepping directly into the movie while exploring the charming streets of Nevada City.

Our stay at the National Exchange Hotel was one of the highlights of the entire road trip. The beautifully restored hotel blends historic elegance with modern comfort and feels perfectly at home in Nevada City’s Gold Rush-era downtown. We also found the people in town to be incredibly friendly. The owner at Bonanza Market was especially helpful when we needed to pick up a few supplies before continuing our journey. Between the historic buildings, welcoming locals, movie locations, and relaxed atmosphere, Nevada City delivered exactly the small-town charm we had hoped to find before continuing on to Campbell and San Jose for the next leg of our California adventure.