Things to Do in Sidney

The town of Sidney, while it doesn't have much of a thrilling nightlife, is a lovely spot to spend a few days. Seen here from my parents' balcony, it's a fast-growing town with a beautiful location right on the water and plenty of things to keep you entertained while you're in the area.

The justifiably famous Butchart Gardens is about a 20-minute drive from Sidney. Now a National Historic Site, it was the brainchild of Ms Jennie Butchart, who converted a hideously ugly limestone pit into this oasis of floral beauty. There's quite often excellent live music, too.

Small but enthusiastic - and they have a very cool new octopus, as well as a fully articulated orca skeleton - the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is right on the waterfront in Sidney and worth a visit for its displays on the local sea life.

If you're the bookworm type - and let's face it, if you're a friend of ours there's a very high likelihood that you enjoy reading - you could spend most of a day just browsing all the bookstores in Sidney. Designated as "Canada's only booktown" - and no, I don't know what that means either - Sidney boasts a surprising range of excellent bookshops, including a variety of specialty second-hand shops that will supply all your mystery, feng shui, and children's reading needs.

Another excellent way to introduce yourself to our beautiful West Coast environment is to take a whale-watching trip. There are two different companies that both leave right out of Sidney, Emerald Sea Adventures and Sea Quest Adventures. Dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, orcas, humpbacks, greys, minkes... apart from a slightly fishy smell, what's not to love?




And, of course, I wouldn't be my father's daughter if I didn't tell you to visit the British Columbia Aviation Museum, which has some great displays and a lot of fascinating restoration work.

(Please note that the photo is actually from the Science Museum in London, England; but it is me with a DC-3.)

There's lots of other stuff going on in the area, particularly if you're looking for some nice walks, hikes, kayaking, short boat trips, and the like. Check out the Sidney tourism site for more info.