A day in the life of someone who lives in a Canadian town where hundreds of Hallmark movies are film
- I live in Victoria, British Columbia, an idyllic Canadian town featured in many Hallmark movies.
- A typical day in my life includes plenty of coffee, lots of movement, and time with friends.
- I also like popping into the local shops for food, books, and records.
If you've ever watched a Hallmark movie, you may have seen my hometown, Victoria, British Columbia. With its charming, storybook-like setting, it's become a filming hot spot.
But I like to think of my hometown as a place where "Hallmark meets hipster."
In addition to quaint architecture and cozy local inns, Victoria is a health-conscious, outdoorsy city that's home to trendy independent boutiques and a thriving local food and drink scene.
Here's how I spend a typical Saturday in Victoria as a local.
I start the day with some strong coffee and a smoothie.
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.
But first, I take a quick trip to the general store for smoothie ingredients.
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 as if it's right out of a Hallmark movie set.
Yoga and fitness are a big deal here, and I love to take classes whenever I can.
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 is known as "Hollywood North," makes Victoria a very active and 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.
On the walk downtown, I spot signs of filming.
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 such as Fernwood Square, Oak Bay, and Old Town on the weekends.
Additional coffee is required before meeting up with friends.
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.
Brunch is a popular social activity on the weekends.
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.
After brunch, my friend and I wander through Market Square.
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 get our steps in while wandering around Old Town.
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.
The stores sell more than just plaid shirts.
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, such as 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.
When I notice I’ve already walked 10,000 steps, it’s time for dessert.
Although it can be touristy, I love the ice cream at Chocolats 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.
A stop at a storybook-like bookstore is a must.
No trip downtown is complete without a stop at Munro's Books, an independent bookstore and local institution that looks as if it's from a storybook itself.
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.
Supporting our local record store is another favorite activity.
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.
I meet up with my cousin for happy hour.
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.
You can't beat watching the sunset from the deck of a boat.
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.
It’s still early, so I decide to pick up some essentials and walk home.
I head straight to my local London Drugs, a drugstore chain in Western Canada where you can buy items as varied as toothpaste and kayaks.
I pick up some toiletries and browse the vinyl section (yes, our drugstore sells records).
Exhausted and grateful, I tuck myself into bed with some Netflix.
I wind down for the day with a little "RuPaul's Drag Race" before turning in.
With delicious food and great company, days like this are the perfect reminder that I can find exactly what I need in my storybook-like hometown.
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