The following post is courtesy of Susan Moore from Vancouver Island, British Columbia. 

Sidney Pier

The picturesque town of Sidney-by-the-Sea is Canada’s only Book Town. Situated on the beautiful Saanich Peninsula, at the southern tip of Vancouver Island just twenty minutes from Victoria, Sidney is a bucolic little town with twelve unique book stores. The Sidney Book Town was created in 1996 and centers on the marvlous Haunted Bookshop, which is Vancouver Island’s oldest book store . 

Sidney is also a very popular “green” tourism destination. It’s the gateway to the southern Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and a great place for whale watching, boating, fishing, biking, hiking and camping. It’s also the only Canadian port of call for the Washington State Ferry Line from the US. 

The best time to visit Sidney is on Thursdays in the Summer when Beacon Avenue is transformed into the Summer Market with over two hundred vendors and the book stores stay open late.