GUIDE & FOLDOUT MAP 1 WELCOME TO SIDNEY BY THE SEA We hope you enjoy exploring our charming town and discovering what makes Sidney such a remarkable place. Nestled on the edge of the Salish Sea, with spectacular views of the Gulf Islands, San Juan Islands and Mount Baker, Sidney offers a fascinating array of fun and memorable things to do. This guide contains detailed information about Sidney, and INSIDE highlights experiences and activities to inspire you! You will soon realize why locals love living here and why visitors return every VISITOR INFORMATION 5 year. So take some time, relax, and enjoy your Sidney FESTIVALS & EVENTS experience. 7 TRANSPORTATION 8 ATTRACTIONS & ADVENTURE 12 FOOD & DRINK 16 ACCOMMODATION 20 WINERIES & FARMS 22 SHOPPING 26 SALONS & SPAS 34 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 39 3 A Garden for all Seasons butchartgardens.com SIDNEY VISITOR CENTRE TOP INSTAGRAM The Sidney Visitor Centre has a team of dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers WORTHY HOT SPOTS ready to answer your questions, provide ideas, directions and Looking for that perfect vacation inspiration to ensure you have the most memorable experience photo? The following locations on Vancouver Island. From hotels, dining, tours and attractions, around Sidney and the Peninsula won’t we’ve got all the information you need and are happy to make disappoint even the most discerning Instagram influencer. reservations for you! Along with the ideas, information and Be sure to tag us in your masterpieces @exploresidney and inspiration our team provides, we have device charging tools, use the hashtag #thisissidney free WIFI and a computer station. Our Centre is set amongst beautiful flowers and trees in a park-like setting, complete with • Sunrises at the Bevan Fishing Pier • Beacon Park and Satellite Fish Market picnic benches and cozy lounge chairs so you can take time to make your plans for the day. Between May and August check Don’t miss • Sunsets at Patricia Bay the sunrises over • Port Sidney Marina Boardwalk out the remote kiosk down at Beacon Park for assistance on Mount Baker from the Sidney • The Sculptures Along the Waterfront the go. We even have water and treats for your 4-legged waterfront • Lochside Trail Beach Walk travel companion. Sidney Visitor Centre 2281 Beacon Avenue 250-665-7362 4 5 ANNUAL EVENTS FESTIVALS AND EVENTS Details at: sidneybia.ca/events/calendar Residents and visitors flock to Sidney’s annual events. It is hard to imagine a community more committed to celebrating with JANUARY JUNE AUGUST such flair and enthusiasm! Polar Bear Swim Sidney Street Torque Masters Car FEBRUARY Market Show Extravaganza (Thursdays – Salish Sea Beginning in February, Family Day weekend is a festival full Sidney Family Day June to August) Weekend Lantern Festival of activities and events for kids of all ages. Summer kicks off Dinner en Rouge MARCH Bed Races on with the Sidney Street Market every Thursday night, a weekly World Oceans Day Beacon ArtSea Spring Art happening that showcases local crafts, produce, music and Show & Sale VI Comic Con SEPTEMBER APRIL Taking it to the Sidney Seaside culinary delights. Not to be missed are Sidney’s two annual Street 10k & 8k Bazan Bay 5k parades, one on Canada Day, the other at Christmas. Floats, fun, JULY OCTOBER Sidney Literary and music abound in celebration of the best the community has Festival Sidney Days Bufflehead Festival to offer. Summer brings extraordinary free events such as World MAY Canada Day Sidney Celebrations Fine Art Show Oceans Day, Summer Sounds, the Torque Masters Car Show, Bed BC Boat Show Sidney Sidewalk Fall Studio Tour Races on Beacon, the Sidney Sidewalk Sale & Street Festival, and Sale & Street Treat Street Festival multiple events at the Mary Winspear Centre. The Sidney Fine NOVEMBER Summer Sounds Art Show, the Fall Studio Tour and the Literary Festival are just a Outdoor Concerts Tribute to the (July & August) Armed Forces few of the colourful fall events. Christmas in Sidney is a holiday Exhibit extravaganza that features carol singers, a festival of trees, DECEMBER picturesque shop windows, charming horse and carriage rides Christmas in Sidney and more. With something for everyone, Sidney’s annual events offer fun for the entire community! 6 7 TRANSPORTATION Getting here is half the fun! Sidney is the transportation hub of Southern Vancouver Island. Victoria International Airport, Helijet Victoria National Car Rental International International 250-656-2541 BC and Washington State ferries, local marinas, plus local bus 800-665-4354 Airport nationalcar.ca helijet.com 250-953-7500 and taxi services make getting here and getting around easy victoriaairport.com Pacific Coach Lines and affordable. Kenmore Air 800-661-1725 866-435-9524 GROUND pacificcoach.com BY SEA Port Sidney Marina BY AIR kenmoreair.com TRANSPORTATION 250-655-3711 Sidney Taxi Alpine portsidney.com Air Canada Pacific Coastal BC Transit 250-656-6666 Sidney Spit Ferry 888-247-2262 Airlines 250-382-6161 sidneytaxiltd.com 250-474-5145 Van Isle Marina aircanada.com 800-663-2872 bctransit.com alpinegroup.ca 250-656-1138 pacificcoastal.com Wilson’s vanislemarina.com Alaska Air/ Budget Rent a Car Transportation BC Ferries Horizon Air Saltspring Air 250-953-5300 888-788-8840 888-223-3779 Victoria Clipper 800-252-7522 877-537-9880 budget.ca wilsonstransportation.com bcferries.com 800-888-2535 alaskaair.com saltspringair.com clippervacations.com Modo Car Share M.V. Coho Harbour Air WestJet 250-995-0265 888-993-3779 Washington State 800-665-0212 888-937-8538 Modo.coop cohoferry.com Ferries harbourair.com westjet.com 888-808-7977 wsdot.wa.gov/ferries 8 9 Mentioning bird watching, OUTDOOR ADVENTURE the area is on the People come from around the world to enjoy Sidney’s recreation migratory route for a wide and leisure activities. And with good reason! The area offers so variety of birds. The 143 much to do, all in the midst of extraordinary natural beauty. hectare Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a few minutes from Surrounded by water and blessed with mild winters, Sidney downtown Sidney and provides is a recreation paradise. Whether golfing, sailing, yachting, kayaking, habitat for more than 2400 birds or paddle boarding, people who love the water are drawn to the representing 51 species during the beautiful Salish Sea and the stunning Gulf and San Juan Islands. year. Other nearby sites include Roberts Without doubt, Sidney is a boater’s delight! Bay, Island View Beach, Horth Hill and many others. Not surprising, Sidney offers excellent fishing and crabbing Cycling is another popular activity that attracts riders from near opportunities too, some from Bevan Pier in the heart of town. and far. With safe streets and well-marked bike paths, Sidney All it takes is a license and a little time! welcomes riders of all levels. The Lochside Trail and the YYJ Twenty-five minutes away is Sidney Spit, a unique National airport path are popular destinations. For the adventurous, Park accessible only by boat or ferry. With picnic and camping mountain bike trails are close by too. facilities, Sidney Spit is a gem enjoyed by locals and visitors Hiking and walking opportunities abound, not just in Sidney, throughout the summer. It offers excellent hiking trails and but in nearby provincial parks, along the waterfront, the bird and wildlife watching too. The sandy beaches are quiet, beaches, and in other scenic locations. immaculately clean, and a true get-away. 10 11 ATTRACTIONS AND ADVENTURE Sidney features an aquarium, an interactive historical museum, ADVENTURE NATURAL an aviation museum, a dynamic community arts centre, an ATTRACTIONS outstanding concert theatre, a seaside sculpture walk, whale Blue Dog Kayaking Panorama 9835 Seaport Pl Recreation Centre Coles Bay watching, hiking & biking trails & much more! Sidney is also 250-710-7693 1885 Forest Park Dr Regional Park bluedogkayaking.com 250-656-7271 9324 Inverness Rd located a short drive from world-renowned Butchart Gardens. panoramarecreation.ca Boulders Glass Beach Climbing Gym Sidney Whale Sidney Waterfront Heritage Acres Sidney Mineral World ATTRACTIONS 1627 Stellys X Rd Watching & Scratch Patch 7321 Lochside Dr 250-544-0310 2537 Beacon Ave Horth Hill ArtSea Gallery 250-652-5522 9808 Seaport Pl climbtheboulders.com 250-656-7599 Tatlow Rd 9565 5th St shas.ca 250-656-0791 sidneywhalewatching.com 250-656-7400 scratchpatch.com Here by Cycle Island View Beach cacsp.com Mary Winspear Bicycle Rental Sub Sea Experience Regional Park Centre Sidney Museum 778-584-4373 707 Downey Rd Island View Rd & Archives BC Aviation Museum 2243 Beacon Ave herebycycle.ca 250-208-4920 1910 Norseman Rd 250-656-0275 2423 Beacon Ave pjsislandand John Dean 250-655-3300 marywinspear.ca 250-655-6355 Island Cruising subsearetreat.com Provincial Park bcam.net sidneymuseum.ca 9776 4th St Dean Park Rd Sculpture & 250-656-7070 Victoria Boat Rentals Historical Walk The Butchart islandcruising.com Port Sidney Marina Lochside Gardens Sidney Waterfront 250-508-9318 Regional Trail 800 Benvenuto Ave sidney.ca Miracle Lanes victoriaboatrentals.ca Various Access Points 250-652-5256 2375 Bevan Ave in Sidney Shaw Centre butchartgardens.com Enjoy bird 250-656-2431 Victoria Flying Club for the Salish Sea watching at Shoal Shoal Harbour miraclelanes.ca 1852 Canso Rd Victoria 9811 Seaport Pl Harbour, a migratory Bird Sanctuary bird sanctuary 250-656-2833 Butterfly Gardens 250-665-7511 Pacifica Paddle flyvfc.com Access through 1461 Benvenuto Ave salishseacentre.org Sports parking lot at 250-652-3822 789 Saunders Lane 10440 Resthaven Dr butterflygardens.com 250-665-7411 pacificapaddle.com 12 13 ART AND CULTURE People often wonder why so many artists, musicians, and highly The Mary Winspear Centre, a state of the art community centre, skilled crafts people live in Sidney and on the Saanich Peninsula. offers an extraordinary mix of cultural events throughout the Is it the beautiful environment, the laid-back lifestyle, or other year, showcasing music, dance, and theatre performers from factors that make the area such a haven for creative people? around the world.