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Sidney
Sidney is located on the north-east side of the Saanich Peninsula
27 km (17 miles) north of Victoria at
Beacon Avenue on Hwy 17.
Panoramic
Ocean View
Sidney is completely surrounded by the municipality of North
Saanich on three sides - the north, west and south. Towards
the east, Sidney has a beautiful panoramic ocean view of Haro Strait
from Sidney Spit Marine Park up to Coal Island in the north plus
other Gulf Islands in the distance.
Beacon
Avenue
The main street running in an east to west direction going into
Sidney off Hwy 17 is Beacon Avenue. Here you can find all the major
conveniences, services, transportation links and accommodation within
walking distance including the Mary Winspear Centre featuring the
Charlie White Theatre. Some businesses include a Thrifty Foods,
Safeway grocery store, BC Liquor Store, a number of coffee shops
including a Starbucks
and a Serious Coffee, restaurants, Airport Travelodge, the Sidney
Waterfront Inn & Suites and The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa.
Sidney
Museum
The Sidney Museum is also located on Beacon at the corner of 4th
Street building next to Serious Coffee. The museum situated in the
old post office is operated by the Society of Saanich Peninsula
Museums. The very interesting highlights are on artifacts and photographs
pertaining mostly to the early pioneers who settled and developed
North Saanich and Sidney.
Sidney
Summer Market
Definitely the place to be if you want to have fun in Sidney from
beginning of June to the end of August also occurs on Beacon Avenue
with the Sidney Summer Market. The city closes Beacon Avenue every
Thursday night from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. making it very pleasurable
during the summer evening to browse for collectables and unique
items. For more general information on the Sidney Summer Market,
telephone (250) 655-6417.
Sidney
Spit Marine Park
The Sidney
Spit Marine Park is located directly across the pier towards
the east from Sidney. To get here, take the passenger-only ferry
operated by Alpine Group that runs back and forth to the island
from mid May to the end of September leaving from the foot of Beacon
Avenue at the Sidney Pier on a regular schedule aboard the MV
Alpine III.
Ferries
Schedule
If you're just staying the day, make sure you bring a watch so you
can check the time to return. The crew of the ferry of the MV
Alpine III are very helpful as they blow the whistle upon arrival
at the dock for picking up passengers returning to Sidney.
Oceanfront
Campground on Sidney Island
If you prefer to stay overnight there is camping available situated
nearby at a beautiful beach location on Sidney Island. This oceanfront
campground is very convenient as it is only a short walking distance
from the ferry landing of the MV Alpine III.
Local
Favourites
There are quite a few local favourites in Sidney for eating or having
a beverage. One local favourite is the 3rd Street Cafe at 2466 Beacon
Avenue which specializes in breakfast. As for a cold beverage Sidney
is home to the Charles Dickens Pub, which is in the Travelodge on
Beacon Avenue. For a seaside view, go to The Rumrunner Pub situated
at the foot of Beacon near the Fish Market and Port Sidney Marina.
Tulista
Park
Sidney has a number of parks and walkways for you to explore. A
favourite is Tulista Park located on the south side of Sidney on
5th Street at Lochside Drive near the Washington State Ferries Anacortes
Ferry Terminal. At Tulista Park you can find a large parking lot,
boat ramp, washrooms, a large grass play area, picnic tables and
an oceanfront walkway.
Marinas
For boaters coming to Sidney, besides Port Sidney Marina, moorage
right at the foot of Beacon Avenue walking distance to downtown,
there are also a number of other marinas in the near vicinity. To
the east, situated on Harbour Road at Tsehum Harbour, there is Van
Isle Marina. Then, in nearby North Saanich, there are a number of
marinas situated near the BC Ferries Terminal at Swartz Bay.
Bevan
Fishing Pier
If you make it to the foot of Beacon Avenue to the Fish Market and
would like to take a walk, there is a beautiful pathway that follows
the waterfront and leads to the fishing pier on Bevan Street. The
pier supports a number of recreational opportunities including nature
viewing, fishing, skin-diving and SCUBA diving. For underwater photography,
the ocean eco-system is being rejuvenated with sea life aided by
the use of artificial Reef Balls.
British
Columbia Aviation Museum
Other places for you to explore and discover in Sidney include the
Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre plus the Mineral World and Scratch Pad.
For aviation fanatics there is also Victoria International Airport
and the British
Columbia Aviation Museum in North Saanich.
Fresh
Baked Goods
If you happen to visit the museum or airport, make sure to visit
either Mary's Bleue Moon Café which is across Canora Road
from the British Columbia Aviation Museum. Also nearby is the Roost
Farm Bakery, situated at the corner of McTavish and East Saanich
Roads, which serves up fresh baked goods and a very good farmer's
breakfast.
Accommodation
There are a number of accommodations and places to stay in Sidney
and nearby North Saanich including the hotels and resorts along
Beacon Avenue plus Bed and Breakfast facilities. Also, past Van
Isle Marina at the end of Harbour Road, there is the historic Latch
Inn and Restaurant.
Information
on Sidney
Entertainment
Accommodation
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