Winter months can be great for exploring closer to home destinations. With the colder weather, you don’t always want long boating trips, and when you arrive it can be nice to enjoy the luxury of shore power. Boat furnaces are great, but cranking up both the boat furnace and electric heaters with shore power always makes for a luxury cozy experience onboard. Winter months are always a time where having a dehumidifier onboard to help keep the boat dry also greatly helps with the boat feeling warmer.
Sidney BC is one of those urban destinations that may not be on your cruising list in the summer, but it can be a great little boating destination in the winter. It’s a reasonable sail from Victoria and the San Juan Islands, and even a shorter sail if your boat is in North Saanich. Sometimes in the winter it’s not about the duration of the sail, it’s about spending time on the boat.
Where ever you are, spending time on the boat always feels like being away. Over the years I think Sidney has greatly improved as a winter boating destination, with some great options for spending a mini vacation weekend on the boat. Mooring your boat at the Port of Sidney Marina, you are in the heart of downtown Sidney. Here’s some ideas for spending a relaxing weekend in Sidney!
The Farmer’s Daughter
Tasty wine and cheese, say no more. The Farmer’s Daughter is a hidden gem in Sidney. Cheese and wine flights, charcuterie board, a selection of warm plates, it’s a great way to spend your afternoon in Sidney. Step off the street and into a unique little hidden gem in Sidney.
Sidney Bakery
Donuts have become more fashionable over the years, with ridiculous fancy and expensive donuts available. The Sidney Bakery has been a family since 1944 and offers fantastic donuts and desserts. They don’t have the fancy earl grey donuts, but if you crave a classic donut like a chocolate glaze you can’t go wrong. Delicious and fresh, they go perfectly with a coffee. If you crave something more like a butter tart or almond tart, they also have other tasty options, in of course addition to bread (being a bakery and all).
Victoria Distillers
The number of west coast craft distilleries has been growing over the years, with one practically at the top of the ramp at the Port of Sidney Marina. Whether it’s a tour and tasting you fancy, or just sitting in their lounge sampling their numerous offerings, it’s hard not to make this a stop when you’re in Sidney.
Sabhai Thai
Samhain Thai is a tasty family run authentic Thai restaurant. There is another thai restaurant in Sidney, but this is the one to go to. Whether it’s lunch or dinner, they have perfectly spiced thai dishes.
Deep Cove Chalet
Enjoy the fine dining experience at the Deep Cove Chalet. Deep Cove Chalet is known for having guests arrive by helicopter to experience their west coast menu. The restaurant does close for a couple weeks in January/February, so be sure to check their website before you go!