Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
toryandculture.Theresultwasoutstanding. In1983thetownreceived afirst-place award
at a downtown revitalization competition held in New York.
Follow the signs to Chemainus from Highway 1 and park at
Waterwheel Park,
central to local activities and eateries, and a pleasant downhill walk to the waterfront.
Also at the park is
Chemainus Visitor Centre
(9758 Chemainus Rd., 250/246-3944,
www.chemainus.bc.ca
,
9am-5pm daily May-Sept.), where you'll see the first enormous
mural—a street scene. From there you can explore the rest of Chemainus on foot, fol-
lowing the yellow footprints into town. Behind the main street is shaded
Heritage Park,
which includes a working replica of the waterwheel that powered the original 1862 saw-
mill and a detailed map of the town.
The
Chemainus Theatre Festival
(9737 Chemainus Rd., 250/246-9820 or 800/
565-7738,
www.chemainustheatrefestival.ca
) is a year-round production of international
musical hits. It runs Wednesday-Saturday with ticket prices ranging $38-50 ($58-70 with
buffet dinner).
Chemainus Tours
(250/246-5055, adult $12.50, child $5) operates horse-
drawn carriage rides around town, passing all of the murals along the route. The rides de-
part from Waterwheel Park every half hour.
One of many inviting downtown cafés is
Owl's Nest Bakery Bistro
(9752 Willow St.,
250/324-8286, 8am-6pm daily, lunches $8-12). Their coffee is the best in town, and the
wraps, salads, seafood chowder, and grilled paninis are all healthy and delicious.
Ladysmith
The trim little village of Ladysmith, on a high point of land immediately west of the high-
way, has a couple of claims to fame. The first is its location straddling the 49th paral-
lel, the invisible line separating Canada from the United States. After much bargaining
for the 1846 Oregon Treaty, Canada got to keep all of Vancouver Island despite the 49th
parallel chopping the island in two. The second claim is a little less historically import-
ant—Ladysmith was the birthplace of actress Pamela Anderson.
ThebustlingseasidetownofSidney(pop.12,000)liesontheeastsideoftheSaanichPen-
insula, just east of Victoria International Airport and south of the ferry terminal at Swartz
Bay. As well as being the departure point for ferries to the San Juan Islands (Washington),
Sidney has a charming waterfront precinct anchored by the impressive Sidney Pier Hotel
