Sidney-by-the-Sea ('Canada's Booktown'), Gulf Islands National Park & Salt Spring Island

Stretching 30 kilometres north of Victoria between the warm waters of the Saanich Inlet and Haro Strait is the sun-drenched Saanich Peninsula—home not only to The Butchart Gardens, but also to wineries, cideries, the walkable seaside town of Sidney-by-the-Sea, and the 35-minute ferry to artistic Salt Spring Island.

1. Sidney-by-the-Sea (25 Mins North of Victoria on Bus #70/#72!)

Located at the northern tip of the peninsula looking straight across the islands at snow-cone Mount Baker, walkable Sidney is an effortless half-day stop (especially before or after visiting Butchart Gardens or the BC Ferries terminal):

• Beacon Avenue ('Canada's Booktown') & The Waterfront Sculpture Walk: stroll three blocks down flat Beacon Avenue—famous for packing six distinct independent new, used, antiquarian and children's bookstores within a five-minute walk (led by Tanner's Books and The Haunted Bookshop, founded in 1947!)—right out onto the wooden Bevan Fishing Pier and the 2.5-kilometre paved waterfront promenade!
• The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea (Aquarium) & Victoria Distillers: step inside the waterfront Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea (9811 Seaport Pl) to come face-to-face with a giant Pacific octopus, wolf eels and glowing jellyfish in 160,000 litres of local seawater, then enjoy a tasting next door on the over-water lounge of Victoria Distillers (makers of the famous indigo butterfly-pea-blossom Empress 1908 Gin)!
• Victoria Butterfly Gardens & Sea Cider Farm (On the Way from Butchart Gardens!): five minutes from Butchart Gardens, walk among tropical flamingos and butterflies at Victoria Butterfly Gardens, or sip organic apple cider overlooking the ocean orchards at Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse!

2. Day Trip by Ferry to Salt Spring Island (35 Mins from Swartz Bay!)

Right from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal (5 mins north of Sidney), hop aboard the 35-minute BC Ferries sailing to Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island—the largest and most famous of the Southern Gulf Islands! Visit on a Saturday between April and October for the legendary Ganges Saturday Market (where over 140 island farmers, potters, woodworkers and bakers sell everything must-be-made-grown-or-baked-by-the-vendor!), and tour Salt Spring Island Cheese to taste handmade flower-petalled goat cheeses!