It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Holiday Shopping! Best Local Shops on the Peninsula

Whether you prefer turquoise waters where cold drinks melt in your hand, icy peaks where you feel like you’re on top of the world or invigorating coastlines that make you want to curl up next to a crackling fire, travelling during the holiday season is magical. So is wrapping up the gifts you’ve found while you’re away to fill stockings or place under the tree. It’s these mementos – from the tacky fridge magnet that made you laugh to that rare treasure, watching friends and family enjoy the gifts you’ve brought them from your adventures is wonderful. South Vancouver Island has some incredible shopping where you can find everything from the truly outrageous to incredibly meaningful – you’ll find something for everyone on your holiday list, including you.

At the top of the Saanich Peninsula, you’ll find the little town of Sidney. If you’re staying at either the stunning Oceanside Lodge or Pendray House, you’ll be thrilled to find that a short drive will take you to Sidney town center: an easily walkable and an excellent place to find great holiday gifts. Cameron Rose is basically a one-stop-shop for everything you’re searching for. While Cameron Rose isn’t a large store, it carries everything from clothing and jewellery to games, puzzles and toys to novelty napkins and magnets. This is a great place to go if you’re pressed for time and you need unique, travel-friendly gifts. If you are looking for amazing gifts for the ladies on your list, Miss Bliss Boutique is an excellent option. This little store prides itself on personalized service and high quality women’s clothing and accessories – you’ll find your holiday ‘wow’ here. There are few better places on the Peninsula to find an excellent selection of books than Tanner’s Books. This little bookstore is a fixture in the community for good reason – besides the selection, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better, more helpful staff of literary experts than at Tanner’s. If you’re looking for something a little different, Galleon Books & Antiques specializes in non-fiction books and has a plethora of antiques and collectables to peruse – it’s a great store to stop into even if you’re with a non-shopper. Last, but certainly not least is Snowden House Gourmet & Gifts Ltd. A lovely little farm just west of Sidney town center, Snowden House will have the perfect gift for any gourmand. With small batch vinegars, pre-mixed bread kits, dips, rubs, herbs and spices as well as cards, locally crafted vessels and more – you won’t be disappointed!

A quick trip south of Sidney and close to bothDalmeny Farm Estate is one of the longest running markets in the Victoria region, the Peninsula Country Market. Located at the Saanich Fairgrounds, this market hosts vendors that “make, bake or grow” everything they sell. It is a great place for anyone who really wants to immerse themselves in the community and find some amazing gifts even in the winter – check when the market is running while you’re visiting here. For those who love to rummage through eclectic shops, The Old Attic should be your next stop. Part retro, part vintage, part antique, this store has nothing but top quality collectables and one-of-a-kind pieces for the one-of-a-kind people in your life. Way out there in left field is Quarky Science, an absolute must for all the professional and amateur scientists on your holiday list. You can find something for every scientific discipline here from small 3D bug specimens and brass magnifying glass sets to prepared microscope slides and telescopes.

Only a half an hour drive from the top of the Peninsula is Victoria, one of the most visited cities in the world, for good reason. Between the breathtaking beauty of the Juan De Fuca and the preponderance of perfectly maintained historical buildings, this incredibly vibrant, heritage city on the tip of Vancouver Island is the perfect blend of natural and architectural beauty. There are a few stops that you won’t want to miss and if you’re staying at either EMR properties, Arbutus Hill or Nature’s Gate Executive Vacation Home, these gems will not be far from your doorstep. At the top of the list is Murchie’s Fine Tea and Coffee flagship store located in the heritage Murchie’s building on Government street, right in the heart of Victoria. Since 1894, Murchie’s has been blending perfectly balanced teas, providing Victorians and visitors alike with unique and exceptional products. The soaring ceilings and rich, dark wood shelves inlaid with stained glass that line each wall, showcase the art deco era of the building and give patrons an experience from another time. But it’s not just the beauty of the building that draws people from all over the world – in the tea room you can find an extensive food menu and decadent treats to nibble while the adjoining gift shop carries a myriad of different tea sampler boxes, tea cups, mugs, tea towels and so much more. If you’d prefer to seek out small, local businesses and artisans, then give the mall a miss and head to Lower Johnson or “LoJo” as the locals call it, where you’ll find every kind of gift you could possibly want. From genuine, First Nations artisan ware to smart eco-friendly toys, to luxurious clothes to fun gadgets and knickknacks, Lower Johnson has it all. While you’re checking out LoJo, make sure you visit Market Square. The historic, Italianate building was built in the late 1800’s and is the cornerstone of Victoria’s Old Town. Today it’s home to dozens of locally owned businesses where you can find one-of-a-kind merchandise, dine-in and take-out restaurants and an open-air square that is a venue for art installations, performances and fairs.

With so much choice for holiday shopping, make sure you visit and support local businesses where you are sure to find unique, thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list.

The Perfect Cup! The Best Coffee in Sidney, BC

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There are few better ways to get to know a neighbourhood than by popping into a local café. From tiny, hole-in-the-wall places to large, bustling coffee boutiques, you can immerse yourself in the daily life of the community by stopping in and grabbing your favourite beverage. When it comes to coffee in Sidney BC, where the sea meets the sky, this incredibly quaint, walkable town is no exception!

Just north of Sidney town center, there is the little Lone Tree Bakery perched on the edge of the beautiful Van Isle Marina and is steps away from both EMR Sidney BC Properties. Stop in to grab a great cup of coffee and a freshly baked treat to-go and explore the marina. Or if you’re seeking some serious post-hike sustenance, order one of their famous “mile-high” sandwiches. It’s no wonder this little, unassuming café is considered the hub of this little community. A quick drive inland from the Patricia Bay Beach House, is The Fickle Fig, a rustic, farm market and bistro where farm-to-table isn’t a fad, it’s a way of life. Stop by for a relaxing latte and a decadent dessert, enjoy a hearty daily pasta or pizzette made with fresh, farm-grown veggies or grab a rich americano and browse the market for some of their fruits and veggies to take with you. With ample indoor seating in the bright, barn-style café and outdoor umbrella tables set among the garden, this charming café is sure to exceed expectations.

No matter where you’re staying, Sidney’s beautiful town center is perfect for exploring with ample parking, a huge seafront walkway and some truly incredible café experiences. 10 Acres Café and Market is an upscale but comfortable spot that offers a farm-to-table fare with a simple but refined food menu and some excellent coffee. Located just steps from the water’s edge, it’s a popular spot for locals and a must for visitors whether you’re grabbing something to go or settling in to sip while enjoying the view. Just on the other side of the roundabout, is the charming Quince Café and Ice Cream. While this bright little café seems unassuming, their entire menu is made fresh, in-house, daily. Its’ a wonderful little spot for a hot soup and panini on a drizzly day or a buttery scone and a perfectly pressed Lavazza at a sunny window. This hard working, little café even churns out some downright delicious ice cream. Right next door is the Beacon Café and once you’ve been, you’ll understand why it is a fixture of community. This bright, corner café offers comfortable seating, mouth-watering breakfast and lunch menus, and tons of to-go options. With lots of window tables and seasonal outdoor seating, it’s a perfect place to mix with the locals, people watch and enjoy some delicious, local fare. Stroll a little farther along Beacon Avenue and you’ll come to the relaxed, funky Red Brick Café. Whether you’re looking for a meal or a snack, this cozy spot offers some good honest food and coffee at great prices. Continue strolling up Beacon Avenue and you’ll come to a little cottage-style building set back from the sidewalk, home to Alexander’s Coffee Bar. This tiny little café doesn’t have a big menu or lots of seats – but what it lacks in variety and size, it more than makes up for in quality. It’s a perfect spot to pop in for a delicious, fresh pastry and coffee (the cream-cheese cinnamon rolls are delightful). Plus, while you’re waiting for your coffee you can peruse their small selection of specialty beverages and mugs. Enjoy an incredible coffee and pastry while you cross some souvenirs off your list ­– two birds, one stone! Just off the main avenue, you’ll find a great spot for anyone looking for quick, quality food and coffee on-the-go. La Pignatta is a bright, counter-serve café that offers a solid variety of in-house made soups, sandwiches and pastries, locally roasted Oughtred Coffee and organic teas. Just serve yourself and enjoy! Before you say goodbye to this beautiful town center, make sure you head over to the historic, Sidney Bakery. This community staple has been baking sweet and savoury breads and buns for over one hundred years! Stop in for some incredible, fresh baked treats, find a bench and watch the waves while you enjoy some of the local confectionary, alfresco.

Although it’s a small town at the top of the peninsula, Sidney is a wonderful place to visit year-round and touring the local café’s is a perfect way to get to know this unique, friendly community by the sea. 

The Perfect Cup!

The Best Little Café’s in Sidney, BC

There are few better ways to get to know a neighbourhood than by popping into a local café. From tiny, hole-in-the-wall places to large, bustling coffee boutiques, you can immerse yourself in the daily life of the community by stopping in and grabbing your favourite beverage. In Sidney BC, where the sea meets the sky, this incredibly quaint, walkable town is no exception.

Just north of Sidney town center, there is the little Lone Tree Bakery perched on the edge of the beautiful Van Isle Marina and is steps away from both EMR Sidney BC Properties. Stop in to grab a great cup of coffee and a freshly baked treat to-go and explore the marina. Or if you’re seeking some serious post-hike sustenance, order one of their famous “mile-high” sandwiches. It’s no wonder this little, unassuming café is considered the hub of this little community. A quick drive inland from the Patricia Bay Beach House, is The Fickle Fig, a rustic, farm market and bistro where farm-to-table isn’t a fad, it’s a way of life. Stop by for a relaxing latte and a decadent dessert, enjoy a hearty daily pasta or pizzette made with fresh, farm-grown veggies or grab a rich americano and browse the market for some of their fruits and veggies to take with you. With ample indoor seating in the bright, barn-style café and outdoor umbrella tables set among the garden, this charming café is sure to exceed expectations.

No matter where you’re staying, Sidney’s beautiful town center is perfect for exploring with ample parking, a huge seafront walkway and some truly incredible café experiences. 10 Acres Café and Market is an upscale but comfortable spot that offers a farm-to-table fare with a simple but refined food menu and some excellent coffee. Located just steps from the water’s edge, it’s a popular spot for locals and a must for visitors whether you’re grabbing something to go or settling in to sip while enjoying the view. Just on the other side of the roundabout, is the charming Quince Café and Ice Cream. While this bright little café seems unassuming, their entire menu is made fresh, in-house, daily. Its’ a wonderful little spot for a hot soup and panini on a drizzly day or a buttery scone and a perfectly pressed Lavazza at a sunny window. This hard working, little café even churns out some downright delicious ice cream. Right next door is the Beacon Café and once you’ve been, you’ll understand why it is a fixture of community. This bright, corner café offers comfortable seating, mouth-watering breakfast and lunch menus, and tons of to-go options. With lots of window tables and seasonal outdoor seating, it’s a perfect place to mix with the locals, people watch and enjoy some delicious, local fare. Stroll a little farther along Beacon Avenue and you’ll come to the relaxed, funky Red Brick Café. Whether you’re looking for a meal or a snack, this cozy spot offers some good honest food and coffee at great prices. Continue strolling up Beacon Avenue and you’ll come to a little cottage-style building set back from the sidewalk, home to Alexander’s Coffee Bar. This tiny little café doesn’t have a big menu or lots of seats – but what it lacks in variety and size, it more than makes up for in quality. It’s a perfect spot to pop in for a delicious, fresh pastry and coffee (the cream-cheese cinnamon rolls are delightful). Plus, while you’re waiting for your coffee you can peruse their small selection of specialty beverages and mugs. Enjoy an incredible coffee and pastry while you cross some souvenirs off your list ­– two birds, one stone! Just off the main avenue, you’ll find a great spot for anyone looking for quick, quality food and coffee on-the-go. La Pignatta is a bright, counter-serve café that offers a solid variety of in-house made soups, sandwiches and pastries, locally roasted Oughtred Coffee and organic teas. Just serve yourself and enjoy! Before you say goodbye to this beautiful town center, make sure you head over to the historic, Sidney Bakery. This community staple has been baking sweet and savoury breads and buns for over one hundred years! Stop in for some incredible, fresh baked treats, find a bench and watch the waves while you enjoy some of the local confectionary, alfresco.

Although it’s a small town at the top of the peninsula, Sidney is a wonderful place to visit year-round and touring the local café’s is a perfect way to get to know this unique, friendly community by the sea. 

The Pacific Marine Circle Route – a Perfect West Coast Adventure

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When you’re researching your trip to Vancouver Island, Canada you’ll likely find endless information about British Columbia’s capital city, Victoria and there’s always lots to read about Nanaimo, the second largest city on Vancouver Island. You’ll find a plethora of articles all about the incredible restaurants, attractions, heritage sites in these areas – we know, we wrote a lot of them! But if you’re looking for a real Canadian adventure, there’s one road trip that is relatively unknown to anyone but locals that offers breathtaking pacific northwest coast landscapes, hidden natural swimming spots, wild surfing, quaint towns to explore, heritage sites, wineries and more: The Pacific Marine Circle Route. This 255 km road trip loops around southern Vancouver Island and takes you to parts of this Island that you would never normally get to experience. So, buckle up because we’ve got an adventure in 5 parts that will make you never want to leave Vancouver Island. 

Victoria to Sooke

(40 km ~45 minutes)

Beginning in Victoria, you’ll want to head west on Highway 14. While this is technically a highway, Highway 14 is more of a country road than a major thoroughfare as it meanders through the city of Langford and the small town of Metchosin on the way to Sooke. Along this route, there are many stops you can make to stretch your legs. While you’re going through Langford, you can stop by Goldstream Provincial Park where you can find forested hiking trails, rushing rivers and gorgeous waterfalls. Pop into My-Chosen Cafe for a taste of country living and just outside of Sooke, be sure to visit Sheringham Distillery and try some truly unique pacific northwest coast flavoured spirits. When you get to Sooke, you’ll want to take a break and experience where the forest meets the ocean at East Sooke Park or take the short drive to see the incredible Sooke Potholes. You can take a seaside walk along Whiffin Spit, enjoy the spectacular ocean views and stop in at the nearby West Coast Grill for dinner.

Sooke to Port Renfrew

(71 km ~1.5 hours)

When you leave Sooke, you’ll be leaving a lot of familiar comforts behind and beginning your journey into the wild west coast. Many sections of this route are former logging roads that have been paved to make this trek easier and safer, but it is important to note that there is no cell service on this leg of the journey so use caution. Following this road that twists around enormous trees and past rushing waterfalls, between the open Pacific Ocean and dense west coast rainforest, you’ll find yourself in the most beautiful places in the world. On this part of your journey you’ll want to stop at the historical Sheringham Point Lighthouse, grab a bite at Shirley Delicious, one of the best rated cafés in Canada and stretch your legs at Jordan River, the southernmost beach of the Juan de Fuca Provincial Park where surfers from all over the island come to find incredible waves and battle the elements. As you continue your journey north into the Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, be sure to stop at some of the beaches that dot this incredible park. You’ll find Sombrio, China, Mystic and Botanical beach along this route, each more beautiful than the next, perfect for stretching your legs and getting some fresh sea air. Perched at the top of Juan de Fuca Provincial Park you’ll find Port Renfrew. Here, the land juts out into the ocean, making it feel distinctly wild and where you’ll find incredible open ocean seascapes, old growth forests, hiking trails like the trailhead to the famous West Coast Trail and a quaint little town. It’s the perfect place to stop for supplies, have a delicious dinner or book a whale watching tour or go on a fishing expedition from Wild Renfrew Resort! 

Port Renfrew to Duncan

(91km ~1.5 hours)

Heading back out onto the road from Port Renfrew, your route is going to start heading east to the Cowichan Valley where you will stop in the lovely little city of Duncan. As you leave Port Renfrew, you can make a quick detour to visit Avatar Grove – a magical grove of old growth Western Red Cedar and Douglas Firs and home to Canada’s Gnarliest Tree known to locals as “Big Lonely Doug” (note: this detour is best made with a four wheel drive vehicle.) As you’re leaving Port Renfrew, you can also visit Fairy Lake where you can see the mysterious “bonsai” – a tiny Douglas Fir growing out of a submerged log in the lake. The twisting road will eventually take you to Lake Cowichan, a large, fresh water lake and popular swimming spot for locals! Take a dip in the lake or take the time to experience tubing down the Cowichan River before heading back out on the road towards Duncan, home of the Cowichan Tribes First Nation and known for the incredible totems throughout the city centre. 

Duncan to Sidney

(45km ~1.25 hours)

Once you’re finished exploring the beautiful heritage city of Duncan, it’s time to head south toward your next stop: Cowichan Bay. The people of this tiny little maritime village on the east coast of southern Vancouver Island really know how to slow down and appreciate life. With a bustling houseboat community on the water, an artisanal bakery, ocean-side dining, handmade ice cream and gift shops filled with handmade, local items, Cowichan Bay is a great place to take a break. From here, you’ll head south on Highway 1 towards Mill Bay passing through Vancouver Island’s wine country, home to incredible wineries. On this leg of the journey, there is also the Kinsol Trestle on the Cowichan Valley Trail that you can stop to see. As one of the largest free-standing wooden trestles in the world, views from here are remarkable! From there, you can go straight to the Mill Bay BC ferry terminal and wait for the ferry to take you across the Saanich Inlet to Brentwood Bay on the Saanich Peninsula, just south of Sidney. While the crossing doesn’t take long, the ferry itself is small and can only accommodate a certain number of vehicles each crossing so when you’re planning this leg of your journey, check the website to ensure there are no delays! When you’re landed in Brentwood Bay, head north to Sidney to explore this pedestrian friendly town centre, the lively marina and incredible restaurants! 

Sidney to Victoria | Duncan to Victoria

(27km ~25 minutes) | (61km ~50 minutes)

If you’ve made it to Sidney from Duncan on the ferry, you’ll want to head down the Peninsula to the capital city of Victoria where your journey began! On your journey south, you’ll find many incredible sites where you can stop! In Sidney you can visit the Shaw Center for the Salish Sea, the local aquarium and educational centre, head to Butchart Gardens and explore the incredible blooms, wander through the orchard at Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse and stop into one of the many breweries in Saanich to try some local beer! 

If you’re heading to Victoria from Duncan and have decided to save a trip to the Peninsula for another day, you’ll want to head south on the Malahat, the swooping, cliffside section of Highway 1 that connects the Cowichan Valley to Greater Victoria. As you travel south from Duncan, you can stop in at one of the many incredible wineries in the Cowichan Valley to taste the wine or to stop for a wonderful lunch. You’ll have to take the short hike to see the Kinsol Trestle on the Cowichan Valley Trail and if you’re ready to relax after such a long journey, be sure to book a treatment or two at the spa at the Villa Eyrie! As you approach Victoria, this is a great opportunity to stop by Goldstream Provincial Park if you weren’t able to on your way out of town or take a small detour to visit Hatley Castle and tour the incredible home and grounds of one of Victoria’s founding families in Colwood. If you’re ready to kick back after your journey, we get it! Grab an appointment at Willow Stream Spa and take yourself and your travel companion out for an incredible dinner downtown Victoria and pat yourselves on the back for completing the Pacific Marine Circle Route! 

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