Sidney (population: 11,315) is located on the Saanich Peninsula in southern Vancouver Island. The location of the Victoria International Airport, it's an artsy, seaside community surrounded by parks, nature reserves and all sorts of farms. Most days, Sidney Island, the San Juan Islands and Mt. Baker are clearly visible from its popular waterfront walkway. The commercial hub of the peninsula, it manages to offer a wide range of shopping options, tour operators, visitor services and recreational facilities and still maintain a slow-and-easy pace of life. Many of the South Island's top attractions, including world-famous Butchart Gardens , are just a short drive away. Learn more about the new Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre in Sidney, Vancouver Island
BC Aviation Museum , a volunteer-run museum with a hangar full of historic aircraft, as well as artifacts, uniforms, photographs, and personal histories, including the diary-like letters of a World War I pilot. Those interested in the pioneer story of this town can head to the Sidney Historical Museum.
Fans of marine life will be impressed by the new Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre , an aquarium and environmental centre that showcases the wonders of the ocean surrounding the Gulf Islands. Spy on wolf eels, jellies, the octopus and hundreds more creatures in massive aquariums, or delicately dip a finger into touch pools to feel bumpy sea stars and spiny urchins. For more undersea learning, head to the Institute of Ocean Sciences, a government facility devoted to the study of coastline, oceans, lakes, and rivers.
Other great things to do in Sidney include digging for gold, fossils, and coloured stones at Mineral World and Scratch Patch. Take the ferry to Sidney Spit Marine Park for a day of hiking , beachcombing, and bird watching . Or watch for whales and wildlife on a marine tour. Kayaking tours and fishing charters are also available. For great ocean views, stroll the docks at the marina, follow the beachside walkway along Lochside Drive and walk to the end of the pier on Bevan Avenue.
The Saanich Peninsula Other great stops on the Saanich Peninsula include Island View Beach, Coles Bay Regional Park, and John Dean Provincial Park. Families and history buffs have a couple of intriguing options. Heritage Acres is a twelve-hectare park featuring antique farm equipment, a model train track, nature trails, heritage buildings and an eclectic museum operated by the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society. The Log Cabin Museum and Archives is a charmingly restored building that first opened July 1, 1933 by Premier Tolmie and now offers a look at the Saanich Peninsula from the 1850s to the present.