A day in the life of someone who lives in a Canadian town where hundreds of Hallmark movies are filmed

I work from home as a freelance writer and podcaster, so most of my weekdays revolve around my laptop. I like to use my weekends to get out and enjoy everything my hometown has to offer.

Even if I'm meeting friends for brunch later, I always start my day with a green protein smoothie and some coffee.

I need bananas to make my smoothie, but I've run out, so I throw on some clothes and walk to the general store.

Although we have plenty of big-box grocery stores, the adorable Local General Store looks like it's right out of a Hallmark movie set.

The year-round temperate weather (the snow you see in your favorite Hallmark movies is man-made) paired with the fact that this corner of the world known as "Hollywood North" makes Victoria, BC, a very health-conscious city.

Biking, hiking, paddle boarding, and kayaking are all popular activities, and you'll find a large number of gyms and yoga studios peppered throughout the downtown.

I love to do a barre or yoga class in the morning to kick off my weekend.

Victoria is an incredibly walkable and bike-friendly city. After yoga, I shower and get ready to make the 20-minute walk downtown to meet friends.

Although I've noticed that film crews tend to be more active during the weekdays, it's not uncommon to spot signs around popular filming locations like Fernwood Square, Oak Bay, and Old Town on the weekends.

Victorians love a good hot beverage. The city has a booming coffee culture and is home to a large number of independent coffee shops and roasters.

One of my favorites is Discovery Coffee because it sells delicious treats from Yonni's Doughnuts (a must-try if you visit the city).

I grab an Americano on my way to brunch.

Just like the fictitious towns in Hallmark movies, Victoria has a reputation for being a sleepy place. But what the city lacks in nightlife it makes up for with a bustling brunch scene.

One of my go-to places to meet friends is Shanzee's in Old Town. The cozy brunch spot serves delicious homemade biscuits and a wide range of hearty breakfast foods.

I order my usual: biscuits and gravy with a side of eggs and hash browns.

With our bellies full of biscuits, my friend and I stroll through Market Square, a historic outdoor shopping area that's home to independent boutiques, restaurants, and Whistle Buoy Brewing.

We do some more window shopping around Lower Johnson Street — a stretch of candy-hued, Victorian-era buildings that house independent boutiques and eateries.

I can never resist a visit to Paboom, a cheerful store that stocks affordable and quirky home goods.

You'll certainly see plenty of men sporting the "Hallmark movie uniform" — beards, boots, and flannels.

But Victoria is also home to a handful of ultra-stylish boutiques like Outlooks for Men and Still Life that sell European designers and hip streetwear.

My friend wants to check out the sales, so we head to Four Horseman and do some more browsing.

Although it can be touristy, I love the ice cream at Chocolat Favoris.

It has the most delicious chocolate sundaes made with soft serve and real chocolate sauce.

I also take the break as an opportunity to read a few pages of my book.

No trip downtown is complete without a stop at Munro's Books, an independent bookstore and local institution housed in a storybook-like setting.

Although my TBR (to-be-read) pile is on the verge of taking over my nightstand, my friend and I spend a few minutes wandering the aisles to see what's new.

Weekends are also a great time to swing by Ditch Records, my favorite independent record store in town. I like to stop in to see what's new.

Here you'll find a solid selection of new and old vinyls, CDs, and even cassette tapes.

After all that walking, I'm once again starving.

My cousin is in town from Seattle — a 2 ½-hour ferry ride from Victoria — so we meet up for a happy hour at Cafe Mexico and catch up over tacos and margaritas.

My cousin is staying on her friend's boat for the weekend, so she invites me back for a drink.

We enjoy some wine on the deck while taking in the sunset.

I head straight to my local London Drugs, a drugstore chain in Western Canada where you can buy everything from toothpaste to a kayak.

I pick up some toiletries and browse the vinyl section (yes, our drugstore sells records).

I wind down for the day with a little "RuPaul's Drag Race" before turning in.

From delicious food to great company, days like this are the perfect reminder that I can find exactly what I need in my storybook-like hometown.