Its idyllic setting on the Salish Sea, sheltered waters, myriad islands and varied landscape all contribute to Sidney's role as hub for outdoor adventure.
Diving, fishing, ocean kayaking, whale watching and eco-tours bring pleasures of the sea.
The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, Butchart Gardens, Butterfly Gardens, golf, hiking, biking, shopping in "Booktown," and visiting Saanich Peninsula wineries keep landlubbers busy, busy, busy.
Golf
The varied topography of the Saanich Peninsula makes for challenging golf at two Sidney golf courses. The 18-hole Glen Meadows Golf and Country Club is former host of the BC Open, the World Left Handers Tournament and North American Indigenous Games.
The Butchart Gardens
The Butchart Gardens is a household name across Canada and one of the most famed gardens in the world. Italian, Japanese and Mediterranean gardens transport green fingered types through the flowers and foliage of faraway cultures. The 22ha/55ac gardens embrace all four seasons, but Christmas ranks as a fifth season. Some visitors prefer this wintery wonder even to the knock 'em dead outdoor concerts and fabulous fireworks that hallmark a Butchart summer.
Butterfly Gardens
Just five minutes from The Butchart Gardens, hundreds of butterflies representing 50 species flutter through this sun-dappled tropical forest environment. Pursue exquisite targets through the camera viewfinder. Sit in on miraculous metamorphoses. Look for tiny butterfly eggs on the gardens' host plants. Watch infant butterflies actually emerging from chrysalises.
Hiking
With its exquisite seaside setting, flat terrain, forest and farmlands, Sidney proves a natural for gentle, scenic hiking. Catch the ferry for the 25-minute cruise to Sidney Spit Provincial Marine Park. Bring hiking boots and a camera. The spit is all white sand beaches, towering bluffs, tidal flats and salt marshes. Scenic hiking trails marry field, forest and beach. The lighthouse hike is a particularly delightful two-hour round trip.
Shopping
"Booktown" Sidney has 12 bookstores in a four-block radius of downtown. Wherever a shopper steps, knowledge and literacy are no further than the turn of a page. Think of the Sidney book trek as a safari for words, whether the treasure is a rare first edition or a bestselling paperback.
Wineries & Vineyards
Flanked by the fertile soil and benign climate of the Saanich Peninsula, Sidney lies within easy reach of four wineries and a ciderhouse. A self-guided ramble through the vineyards, wineries and tasting counters makes for a day of exhilarating, epicurean discovery.
Diving
Marine legend Jacques Cousteau called the waters of Vancouver Island "the best temperate water diving in the world and second only to the Red Sea." Divers explore the wrecks of the GB Church and HMCS Mackenzie, man-made diving reefs promising spectacular undersea adventure.
Fishing
The great Sidney fishing grounds begin steps from the dock. The catch is trophy-size chinook or "king" salmon, fighting coho salmon, monster halibut and lingcod. But the cheapest, most accessible fishing in Sidney is crabbing from the 90m/300ft Bevan Avenue Fishing Pier straight out into the ocean. All it takes is a crab trap, bait, a little practice, a lot of patience and a fishing license.
Ocean Kayaking
Sheltered waters, a peppering of islands and easy-to-reach marine parks delight dedicated paddlers. Several islands and the Sidney Spit have camping areas for kayakers, enabling overnight expeditions. Bald eagles, sea lions, and sea otters watch from the cheap seats.
Adventure Tours
Sidney's most rewarding tour is Captain Brian Smiley's eco tour. Passengers voyage in comfy pontoon boats often described as "floating living rooms." Expect to see everything from bald eagles and harbour seals to eerie karst rock formations and undersea forests of bull kelp – the fastest-growing plant in the world. It's edible, too.
Whale Watching
Sidney waters boast Vancouver Island's highest concentration of Orca sightings. Relatively calm Gulf Island waters help make the town an unusually safe and convenient base. Bring cameras, binoculars and a sense of adventure.
Driving Routes
Explore Sidney's diving, fishing, kayaking, whale watching, golf, hiking, and biking opportunities, the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, Butchart Gardens, Butterfly Gardens, and wineries along two distinct driving routes. Learn more about driving routes through Sidney here: Driving Routes.
For more information on things to do, drop into the Sidney Visitor Centre at 10382 Pat Bay Hwy, just two minutes from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.
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