Today is December 6th. Christmas is coming, and on a weekend night I opened my laptop and accidentally watched this film… My Secret Santa.
The night was quiet, and the only light in my room came from the screen. Snow shimmered through each frame like soft glitter floating through the air. The movie felt warm, comforting, nostalgic in the gentle way only Christmas films know how to be. As the story unfolded, one thought kept returning to me: where was this filmed? Could such a magical winter village really exist outside of the movie world?
It turns out, it does. And not just in one place, but two.
Where was My Secret Santa filmed?
The beautiful Christmas scenery you saw in My Secret Santa is not just a cinematic illusion. The movie was filmed at Sun Peaks Resort and in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. These filming locations are real places that anyone can visit, filled with quiet snowfall, glowing lights and that gentle holiday spirit that wraps around you like a scarf.
Sun Peaks brings the magical winter resort setting, with snowy streets and cozy chalets. Kamloops adds the intimate small-town charm that appears in many of the street scenes. Together they form the heart of the movie’s visual warmth.
Sun Peaks Resort as the primary filming location
Most of the movie takes place in Sun Peaks Resort, a mountain village that looks like it was designed for Christmas. When you walk through Sun Peaks, you immediately feel the same calm joy that the film carries. Snow sits softly on rooftops. Icicle lights twinkle above the streets. Steam rises from cups of hot chocolate held in mittened hands. Everything moves slowly, peacefully, like a deep breath.
A real life village that feels like a Christmas postcard
Sun Peaks is not overly commercial or crowded. Instead, it feels intimate and welcoming, like a place where strangers nod hello and children play in soft white snow. Wooden balconies, alpine-style architecture, pastel colors, pine trees dusted like sugar. If you loved the cozy atmosphere in the film, Sun Peaks is where that feeling lives.
The pedestrian village is small enough to explore at a gentle pace and scenic enough to photograph at every corner. Each shop window feels warm against the cold outside. Each café glows with comfort. Even the sound of footsteps on fresh snow feels cinematic.
Ski slopes and soft winter days
Sun Peaks is known for skiing, and in the movie its slopes appear often as wide, scenic shots of the mountain landscape. But even if you do not ski, the resort offers plenty to enjoy. You can take slow morning walks, sip hot drinks by a fireplace, watch the snow fall from a wooden balcony or simply breathe in the crisp alpine air.
This is a place that encourages slowing down. A place to reconnect with winter, with stillness, with yourself.
Sun Peaks Grand Hotel as a key filming spot
At the heart of Sun Peaks stands Sun Peaks Grand Hotel, featured throughout My Secret Santa. Many interior and exterior scenes were filmed here, making it the most recognizable location from the movie. When you walk into the lobby, surrounded by wood, stone, soft lighting and festive decoration, you instantly feel the connection to what you saw on screen.
Staying here is the closest way to step inside the movie. You can wake up to snowy mountain views, walk downstairs for coffee, and wander into the village just as the characters did. Fans of the film will recognize details all around them. It feels surreal in the best way possible.
Kamloops BC as the small town filming location
A short drive away from Sun Peaks is Kamloops, another important filming site for the movie. While Sun Peaks delivers the magical resort atmosphere, Kamloops contributes the everyday town scenes that make the story feel relatable and rooted.
A charming downtown perfect for Christmas ambience
Kamloops has a lovely downtown with brick buildings, local shops and warm cafés. In winter, lights stretch across the streets and soft snow gathers on sidewalks. It looks like a town built for Christmas movies even before decorations appear. When you walk here, you understand immediately why the film crew chose it.
It feels like the kind of town where small miracles could happen. Someone might hand you a cookie at a bakery. A stranger might smile as you pass. The simplicity is comforting, cinematic and tender.
Warmth that can be felt, not just seen
Kamloops offers a different kind of Christmas charm. Quieter. Softer. More human. Evenings feel slow and gentle. Bakeries smell like cinnamon. Stores glow with golden light as people wander inside to warm their hands. Snowfall here doesn’t just cover the city. It calms it.
This is the type of place where you hold someone’s hand a little tighter. Where you notice small details like frost on window glass or the sound of bells tied to a wreath.
Why these filming locations matter
Sun Peaks and Kamloops are not just backgrounds for a movie. They are characters of their own. Their beauty shapes the tone of My Secret Santa. Their quiet energy creates the feeling of comfort, hope and holiday wonder.
The film works because these places feel like the heart of Christmas. And when you visit them in real life, that feeling follows you.
Ideal for couples, solo travelers and families
Everyone finds something here. Couples find romance under winter lights. Solo travelers find peace and time to think. Families find joy in snow, laughter and shared memories. The locations do something subtle and meaningful. They remind us what winter is meant to feel like: slow, sparkling, full of warmth.
Planning a My Secret Santa-inspired trip
If you want to experience these filming locations for yourself, the best season to visit is December through February. Snow is deep, lights are bright and the atmosphere is exactly as you saw on screen. A stay at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel makes the trip even more immersive. From there you can stroll through the village, shop for handmade gifts, enjoy warm meals and take short scenic trips to Kamloops.
Bring a journal. Bring someone you love. Bring your inner child. Let yourself feel the magic.
These mountains hold stories. Snow carries memory. And Christmas becomes something you live, not just watch.
Final thought
A simple movie night led me somewhere unexpected. First into a story. Then into a place. And now maybe into your imagination too. Sun Peaks Resort and Kamloops are real, and beautiful, and ready to be experienced. If you ever find yourself there, pause for a moment. Look up at the lights. Listen to the quiet. Let winter hold you gently.
You might think what I thought.
This feels like Christmas.
