What to Do in Sidney: Our After Ferry Lunch Stop
Explore Sidney, BC with me as we take a quick lunch break on the way to Sooke on Vancouver Island. We’re on a family vacation with three generations of my family, and I’m so excited to show my grandma everything British Columbia has to offer. From delicious seafood to visiting local seal celebrities on the pier, here‘ are the beautiful sights and delicious foods’s we got to experience on a short stop in this beautiful little seaside town!
Birthday Family Vacation to Vancouver Island
Come with me on a family getaway to Sidney and Sooke, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island for my mom’s birthday! This trip, there’s three generations of my family together: Dom, my Mom, Aunt, and Grandma, my sister and her husband, and our special guest, Poporina. A little backstory, this is actually my mom’s first ever mother-daughter-sister trip with her mom and her sister. It is also my 86-year-old grandma’s first ever solo trip to Canada since she visited 7 years ago. I was determined to fill this getaway with lots of new experience and make it a trip of a lifetime for them that’s still slow and relaxing.
Our final destination this trip is Sooke, but we’re taking a lunch break in Sidney, a quaint little town right outside of the ferry terminal. It’s the perfect stop for an after-ferry lunch break before continuing on your journey to Victoria, or like us, to Sooke.
Getting To Sidney From Vancouver
Maybe I’m biased, but one of my favorite parts about traveling around British Columbia is that the journey itself already feels like part of the vacation. The mountains, the clear skies, the crisp air. literally everywhere you look is absolutely breathtaking. We all woke up super early in the morning, and Dom even stayed up until 2 AM last night making homemade banana bread for the ride. We’re driving all the way to Sidney today in 2 cars. In total, the trip took about 3.5 to 4 hours. In the process, we aoso officially crossed off my aunt’s first ever ferry ride! To get to Sidney:
- Drive to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
- Taking the BC Ferries at to Swartz Bay. The ferry itself takes about 1 hour 35 minutes.
- 10 to 15 minute drive by car to Sidney.
But, you can also get to Sidney without a car. To get to Sidney from Vancouver without a car:
- Take the Canada Line to Bridgeport
- Take the 620 bus to Tsawwassen.
- Walk to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
- Take the ferry to Swartz Bay
- Take BC Transit Bus to Sidney
Sidney
Sidney is a charming little seaside town on Vancouver Island, only 10 minutes away from the ferry terminal. It’s known for its beautiful waterfront with beautiful ocean views, local shops, and of course, lots of delicious food. It’s about 20 minutes from Victoria, and about 1 hour 15 minutes from Sooke.
Pier Bistro
Our first stop in Sidney was the Pier Bistro on Sidney Pier. This casual, super family-friendly waterfront restaurant gives you the full pier experience with a beautiful view of the ocean while you’re enjoying your food. The menu is full of delicious seafood options from crab cakes to steamed mussels. We of course had to get their Seafood Clam Chowder ($13.90). This homemade chowder actually won the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Chowder Cook Off. It was creamy, thick, and packed with delicious chunks of seafood.
We also got their super fresh Halibut and Chips ($38.95). Each order comes with 4 oz of fish, fries, and cole slaw. The fish itself was extra crispy, and perfectly cooked inside. Overall, The portion sizes were amazing, the views were stunning, and the food was actually very delicious. It was an amazing start to our time in Sidney!
Sidney Pier
After our lunch, we went for a waterfront stroll on the Sidney Pier. I highly recommend stopping here after you get off the ferry to stretch your legs. You can stroll alongside the pier, breathe in the fresh ocean air, and just relax for a little before you continue on to Victoria, or like us, to Sooke. It has a beautiful view of the Salish Sea and the surrounding geography, including San Juan Island, Gulf Islands, and Mount Baker. This is also a recreational fishing and crabbing pier, so you can see local fisherman working. There’s also so much wildlife here, from seals to sea birds. Definitely make sure to say hello to Tabitha the harbor seal if you see her!
Sidney Scones
Our final stop in Sidney was the delicious Sidney Scones. This grab-and-go bakery is the spot for creative scones, bubble tea, and tea lattes. Trust me, you have to pick up a few homemade scones here if you’re in town. They have SO MANY creative flavor options, with both sweet and savory scones. There’s even a breakfast scone sandwich!
We had to order a box to take with us. Out of the range of options, we picked Strawberry Shortcake, Blueberry Lemon, Oreo Cookies and Cream, and Cream of Earl Grey and Vanilla Bean. We completely for got to film our reaction, but trust me, we destroyed all of this within one day. They’re open Thursday–Sunday from 10 AM–5 PM, so definitely grab some treats here when you’re visiting!
Explore More Of Beautiful British Columbia With Me!
