Play Finders Keepers at Mineral World & Scratch Patch in Sidney, BC

Recognized as one of the best state-of-the-art establishments in Canada, Mineral World is a unique venture in retail with its stone works of art, unique giftware, beautiful jewelries, fossils, school and community programs, Earth and Science exhibits and of course, their most well known Scratch Patch area. 

It’s easily one of the most popular and fun Vancouver Island travel attractions all year round, and why not? People of all ages  love to getting the chance to look for rare minerals and gems which they keep for free. If you want to get your hands on a few pieces of your own, better head down to Sidney, BC.

Launch a Treasure Hunt at Scratch Patch

When we discuss about the Scratch Patch area, it refers to a labyrinth of outdoor activities of shells, gold panning, gemstones and fossil digging. What is best is, it is absolutely free to visit. Jade, agate, amethyst, jasper and many are others are the gems that you could hunt and choose as your own treasure when you purchase a collector’s bag in the Scratch Patch area. Yes, you only pay for the bag! How cool is that?

The Scratch Patch can also be a family gold panning and gemstone adventure.  It is specifically designed to let everyone enjoy and experience an adventure land full of magic and wonders through gems. It is where you will learn what it’s like to hunt and collect treasures.

A Garden of Gems and Minerals

Basically, the area is comprised of almost all of the gems around the world. Set like a garden right beside the sea, it is about 1800 square feet containing a pond of shells, two pools for gold panning and a pile of precious gemstones like amethyst, jasper and tigereye and about 80 varieties more.  When there is nothing more to do, especially during hot summer days, you can just enjoy the cold stream and pick up tropical shells that you can just put in your bag.

All in all, you can enjoy the sea breeze, listen to the voices of the seagulls as you sit down, relax and feel  in sync with nature. To somehow set the mood, you can also experience the lazy moment of the Scratch Patch. Once you get home, you might also want to identify the gemstones that you have collected and who knows it might be an amazing discovery for you to keep. Some discoveries were in fact about 400 million years old.

The Art of Hunting for Gemstones

Even though there is not an entrance fee, in order to collect a wide array of selections out of minerals, you must buy the collector’s bag for either $6.00,  $8.00 or the largest one at $10.00 so that whatever you fill in the bag, it is going to be yours to keep! As you can imagine, a lot of people have learned of this. It is usually a family activity appealing from 6-year olds to the grannies. In fact, a lot of grandparents go back, purchase a bag for themselves and have fun without bringing their grandchildren along the second time.

It takes approximately 20 minutes to fill a bag if you rush it, but just take your time – you have the whole day to spend. The staff wouldn’t mind at all. So, what are you waiting for? The more you continually go back to the place, the more chances of getting more and more types and varieties of gemstones that you can collect and treasure. What do you think of a star sapphire?

Accommodations

When it comes to visiting one of the lovely places in the entire Vancouver Island, BC, it is generally best to book ahead of time to avoid the tourist crowd. There are a string of wonderful places to stay in Sidney, among the most popular ones include one of our major sponsors, BEST WESTERN PLUS Emerald Isle Motor Inn:

BEST WESTERN PLUS Emerald Isle Motor Inn
2306 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, British Columbia V8L 1X2
Phone: 250/656-4441 | Fax: 250/655-1351

If you are looking for great accommodations at reasonable rates, the Emerald Isle Motor Inn presents the ideal place to stay. It is the ultimate accommodation of choice for large groups and families.

Located a mere 5-minute drive from Victoria International Airport, along with other ports and terminals, Emerald Isle Motor Inn is highly accessible and easy to locate. For tourists searching for comfortable and affordable place to stay, this one is definitely on top of the list .

A short ride from Emerald Isle Motor Inn will take you to some of the major tourist destinations such as the Butchart Gardens, the Butterfly Gardens, the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre and Centre of the Universe Observatory, Church & State Winery, among others.

The guest rooms are spacious and well-appointed basic modern conveniences. In addition, the inn also features a number of wonderful amenities that are all designed to ensure a comfortable and memorable stay.

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.

The Dazzling Display of Lights Made Butchart Gardens a Truly Spectacular Sight Last Christmas

Its no secret, the primary all-year round tourist attraction of Vancouver Island, BC is the Butchart Gardens. People who catch sight of this wonderful place never fail to gush over its magnificent beauty. But last Christmas, the entire 55 acres transformed into a magical wonderland of sorts, designed to enthrall children and adults alike. Even locals like me who have enjoyed the beauty of the gardens on numerous occasions, was truly impressed at the stunning display of lights.

Breathtaking Views for the Young and Old

Last December, I heard people raving about the Butchart Gaderns’, Magic of Christmas Special. This prompted me to make a mental note of checking out the place and bring along the kids to take a few photos for the blog. With the holiday rush, I only got around to visit the site on the last week of December. Luckily, the presentation was scheduled to end on the first week of January.

Despite the chilly weather, one can’t help but be amazed at the sight of thousands of twinkling lights, complemented with evergreen swags, wreaths and other holiday decor. It was truly a beautiful sight to behold. For children, one could just imagine the visual impact the entire place presents, which no doubt only fuels their vivid imagination. It was too much to take in with a one glance. In fact, it may take a few minutes before you notice every detail that makes up the entire breathtaking view.

Fun Holiday Activities for Locals and Tourists

As soon as we started to roam around the gardens, I found out there were highlights other than the stunning display of lights. Part of their Magic of Christmas presentation included the 12 days of Christmas displays, which were strategically spread all throughout the gardens.

The whole garden was also abuzz with activities and families enjoying the sights. In one area, a 3, 300 square foot ice rink was set up, where one can enjoy ice skating during regular admission hours. There was also the Piazza, which presented the perfect stage for holiday music performances and carols, which I discovered was available on a daily basis from December 1, 2011 to January 6, 2012.

Like many, I would assume, I did not notice the time. I enjoyed a good two hours just walking around and absorbing the festive holiday cheer. The Butchart Gardens during December is definitely something everyone should look forward to every year. In fact, for people planning to visit Victoria, it’s a good idea to schedule a trip during the holidays. The photos simply won’t do justice to the visual delight it presents up close.

Accommodations

Sidney BC Accommodations:

The BEST WESTERN PLUS Emerald Isle Motor Inn is a charming hotel located just minutes from the Victoria International Airport in Sidney, British Columbia. This hotel is near the Centre of the Universe Observatory, the Butterfly Gardens and the Saanichton Fairgrounds.

The Sidney hotel offers spaciously-appointed guest rooms and suites, microwave, refrigerator, and cable satellite television and free wireless high-speed Internet access. Additional amenities include a fitness center, dry cedar sauna, hot tub, full business services and the Mary Winspear Conference Centre. Pets are welcome with restrictions.

Contact info:

BEST WESTERN PLUS Emerald Isle Motor Inn, 2306 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, British Columbia V8L 1X2,

Canada Toll Free: (800) 315-3377 Phone: (250) 656-4441

Fax: (250) 655-1351

Email: frontdesk@bwemeraldisle.com

Come and enjoy Vacouver Island and please tell your friends about us.

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.

If you are planning for some fun family vacations around Sidney, Vancouver Island, you might want to add the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre on your itinerary. I have personally checked out the place, and found it highly entertaining and educational, a perfect destination especially if you have kids in tow.

The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is located right on the magnificent Sidney waterfront, easily across from the downtown area. Featuring massive underwater habitants, visitors get an unhampered view of the extraordinary marine life of the Salish Sea of Gulf Island, from the smallest plankton to the gigantic Pacific octopus. Children are sure to have a field day ogling the different colorful creatures they have not seen before.

A Great Venue for Special Events

During my visit, I found out that the centre does not only host educational excursions, which it was primarily famous for. It can also cater to corporate meetings as well as cocktail parties. It presents a unique venue that can easily turn a simple event into a highly memorable one for your guests.

I could only imagine how their galleries and exhibits can provide a stunning backdrop for a wedding. That’s a great possibility, you also want to explore or consider. The facility can easily accommodate up to 300 people comfortably.

The facility is not that large and the tour usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour to complete. This makes it an ideal side trip if you have a number of other destinations lined up. They also offer some hands-on exhibits attended by well-trained guides to provide more fascinating information about what you are looking at.

When visiting, don’t forget to check out their touch tank. It’s basically an area where attendants lift up a sea cucumber or a starfish or other marine creatures so you can personally touch it. A lot of kids and even grown ups enjoy that experience. If you are near the Sidney area, or you plan to visit often, they offer an Annual Pass, so you have a perfect excuse to return. Check out their rates below:

Admission

Regular Rates

Adults                                                                                  $14.00

Youth (7 to 17)                                                                    $8.00

Child (3 to 6)                                                                       $4.00 (comes with Free Annual Pass)

Toddlers (2 and under)                                                      Free Admission

Annual Pass

Adults                                                                                  Admission Rate + $12.00

Youth                                                                                  Admission Rate + $10.00

Contact Details

Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre

9811 Seaport Place

Sidney, Vancouver Island, BC

V8L 4X3

Phone: 250.665.7511

Fax: 778.426.0715

Email: info@oceandiscovery.ca

Hours of Operation: Daily from 10:00AM to 4:00PM

Closed on December 24 and 25, and January 1.

Getting to Sidney

Sidney is situated about 25 KM (15.5 miles) north of Victoria. It is easily accessible to BC Ferry Terminal and Victoria Internal Airport.

By Land

· Pacific Coach Lines

· BC Transit

By Sea

· BC Ferries

· Victoria/Port Angeles Ferry

· Victoria/Seattle Ferry

· Sidney/Anacortes Ferry

By Air

· Helijet Airways

· Victoria International Airport

· Harbour Air

· Pat Bay Air Seaplanes

Vancouver Island Accommodations

For those weekend getaways, there are a number of superior accommodations Vancouver Island you can choose from, including our sponsor, BEST WESTERN PLUS Emerald Isle Motor Inn:

BEST WESTERN PLUS Emerald Isle Motor Inn

2306 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, British Columbia V8L 1X2

Phone: 250/656-4441 | Fax: 250/655-1351

If quality accommodation at reasonable rates is what you are looking for, Emerald Isle Motor Inn presents the ideal choice.

Emerald Isle Motor Inn is just 5 minutes away from the Victoria International Airport and other terminals and ports, such as BC Ferries, US Ferry Terminal, and Swartz Bay, making it an ideal choice if you want to be at the heart of all the action.

It is also a short ride from all other tourist attractions such as, Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, Butchart Gardens, the Butterfly Gardens, Centre of the Universe Observatory, Church & State Winery and so much more.

You will find all guest rooms well appointed and spacious, and comes with all the modern conveniences that will ensure a comfortable stay. Among the highly favored facilities and amenities include: fitness centre, bubbling hot tub, dry cedar sauna and so much more. If you are traveling for business, the hotel can easily cater to your needs as it features a conference centre and meeting room so you can transact your business with ease while away from the office.

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.

The Victoria Butterfly Gardens with some 3,000 specimens from over 50 species of free-flying butterflies is close to the famed Butchart Gardens and Sidney, BC on Vancouver Island.
The Gardens are a 1,100 sq m (12,000 sq ft) simulated rainforest that is aply described as a tropical jungle, with the numerous plants, exotic butterflies and more – all indoors in a warm and fragrant environment.  There is a waterfall that flows into a meandering stream.

A lot more than Butterflies

The Victoria Butterfly Gardens go well beyond butterflies and moths.  The Gardens are home to:

• Butterflies – some 75 different species with an overall population of 4,000
• Moths
• Over 200 species of orchids and tropical plants - some even that are the carnivorous variety
• Exquisite Caribbean flamingos and rare tropical birds: parrot, turaco, parakeets, finches and canaries.
• Sulcata and Red Footed Tortoises
• Large Koi swimming in the pond and stream
• Tropical ducks that chirp instead of quacking
• Tree frogs and poison dart frogs
• Chameleons

Nursery Window at Victoria Butterfly Gardens

The Gardens have a nursery window where you can watch the development of butterflies from the larva stage to beautiful specimens – around 500 per week. The wide selection butterflies come from butterfly farms in Costa Rica, Malaysia and London.

The Gardens

The gardens are more of a picturesque rain forest with trees, vines and bushes all nicely placed to house the butterflies and birds. The gardens also serve as a source of food and breading areas. There are daily tours included in the price of the ticket.

Contact Info

Open all week but they have seasonal hours when they are open, so check in advance. Children under 14 years need to be accompanied by an adult. Children under 5 years are admitted free. They have season passes and group rates.

Victoria Butterfly Gardens

1461 Benvenuto Ave., Brentwood Bay, BC
Toll free 1.877.722.0272   Tel 250.652.3822   info@butterflygardens.com
www.butterflygardens.com

Getting to the Victoria Butterfly Gardens

From Victoria – Travel north on Highway #17 (Patricia Bay); take exit 18 going west – Keating Cross Road which becomes Benvenuto Avenue (same road as Butchart Gardens) - 1461 Benvenuto Ave.
From Sidney, BC Ferries terminal or Airport - Travel south on Highway #17 (Patricia Bay); exit  right at McTavish Road, left on West Saanich Road which becomes Benvenuto Avenue (same road as Butchart Gardens) - 1461 Benvenuto Ave.

Sidney Accommodations:

There are a number of hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts to pick from including our sponsors, Best Western:

The BEST WESTERN PLUS Emerald Isle Motor Inn is a charming hotel located just minutes from the Victoria International Airport in Sidney, British Columbia. This hotel is near the Centre of the Universe Observatory, the Butterfly Gardens and the Saanichton Fairgrounds.

The BEST WESTERN PLUS Emerald Isle Hotel and the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre have joined forces to provide guests with the best deals possible. Bring the whole family. Stay at the BEST WESTERN PLUS Emerald Isle Hotel and receive free Discovery Centre admittance for one child (up to 17 years old) with the purchase of one adult entry ticket.

The Sidney hotel offers spaciously-appointed guest rooms and suites, microwave, refrigerator, and cable satellite television and free wireless high-speed Internet access. Additional amenities include a fitness center, dry cedar sauna, hot tub, full business services and the Mary Winspear Conference Centre. Pets are welcome with restrictions.

Contact info:
Best Western Emerald Isle Motor Inn, 2306 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, British Columbia V8L 1X2,
Canada Toll Free: (800) 315-3377 Phone: (250) 656-4441  Fax: (250) 655-1351
Email: frontdesk@bwemeraldisle.com

Come and enjoy Sidney on Vancouver Island and please tell your friends about us.

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.