Comox Things To Do

Air & Land Activities:

You haven't experienced the best of the Comox Valley until you've spent some time out of doors. The scenery is superb just about everywhere and you can take it in during leisurely strolls on paved riverside and heritage-neighbourhood walkways, horseback rides on mountain and valley trails and single or multi-day hikes through regional and provincial parks. The largest of these, Strathcona Provincial Park, also offers a variety of camping and rock climbing experiences. Some things, like the Comox Glacier, are best viewed from the air, on a "flightseeing" or helicopter tour. If you golf, there are seven scenic courses to choose from and, if you cycle, there are numerous trails of varying levels of difficulty around Cumberland and Comox Lake, along the Puntledge River and on Mount Washington.

Architectural & Structural:

There are a number of notable buildings in the Comox Valley. In Cumberland, you can take a self-guided walking tour of buildings erected around the turn of the century, when the community was a thriving coal mining centre. The Native Sons Hall, in Courtenay, was erected slightly later, in 1928, and is the largest free-span log structure in Canada. The eight massive beams that span its ceiling are 68 feet long and 3 feet thick.

Arts, Culture & History:

From fossils to flying machines, there's plenty of interesting history to discover in and around Courtenay and Comox. The Courtenay & District Museum & Palaeontology Centre, for example, exhibits an impressive array of fossils, including that of a complete, 12-m (39-ft) elasmosaur. Sites of historical interest in the nearby Village of Cumberland include Japanese and Chinese miners' cemeteries and the Cumberland Museum. The Comox Air Force & Heritage Air Park contains more aviation memorabilia, artifacts and heritage per square foot than any other military museum in Canada, while the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park provides a glimpse of gracious, early 20th century domestic life and access to 3.6-ha (9-ac) of beautiful gardens laid out along a natural ravine.

It's well known that the Comox Valley has a vibrant arts scene. Of the many fine galleries there, the I-Hos Gallery, on the Comox First Nation band lands, is one of the best. Housed in a distinctive building, its collection of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal art and crafts includes masks, prints, jewellery, carvings and textiles. In August, you can attend the Filberg Festival, which is held on the grounds of the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park. It always features a wide selection of high-quality, locally produced art and crafts.

Attractions:

Courtenay is the heart of the Comox Valley's cultural scene and a number of arts and culture attractions are clustered inside its downtown: the Courtenay Museum & Palaeontology Centre, three art galleries, a performing arts centre, a full-service library and an Art Deco movie theatre. You'll also find many unique shops and services there. The 9.7-ha (24-ac) Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens, located very near Courtenay, will delight garden enthusiasts, artists, birders and nature lovers in general.

The Comox Velley hosts a Farmers' Market every Saturday from Easter to Christmas. Between Easter and Thanksgiving, it's held outside, on the Exhibition Fairgrounds. After that, it's held indoors, at the Native Sons Hall. In either venue, you can shop for farm-fresh produce, eggs, meats and cheeses, as well as baked goods, flowers and plants, while you listen to music performed by talented locals. If seafood is what you're after, head to the Comox Marina Park, where you can buy it fresh off the boat. The park has a boardwalk with a great view of Comox Glacier, a playground and a large green space that is the site of many summer festivals.

Entertainment:

You'll find lots to entertain you in downtown Courtenay: the Courtenay & District Museum & Palaeontology Centre, the Comox Valley Art Gallery, the Comox Valley Community Arts Council / Muir Gallery, a full-service library and an Art Deco movie theatre. You'll also find shops with unique offerings like hand-made chocolates or locally made woodwork, glasswork or pottery. Live music and theatrical performances are presented year-round in a wide range of venues in both Courtenay and Comox. The year's biggest musical event is the Vancouver Island Music Fest, which is held in Courtenay, at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds.

Natural Sights, Parks & Wildlife:

Strathcona Provincial Park, just 30 minutes from Courtenay, is Vancouver Island's largest park at 200,000 ha (500,000 ac). It's also the oldest provincial park in BC. Use it for single or multi-day hiking excursions, camping, canoeing and wildlife viewing. Another great place for hiking and wildlife viewing - and mountain biking also - is Seal Bay Regional Nature Park. Most of the trails there are wooded and fairly level. One path leads to a rocky beach that is known to be a good vantage point for spotting seals, sea lions and bald eagles. If you have a particular interest in birds, head for the Courtenay River Estuary. It's a prime location for viewing Canada Geese, Trumpeter Swans and other marine birds. As it's adjacent to the Courtenay Airpark, you'll also see lots of small planes landing and taking off.

Rest & Relaxation:

The Comox Valley has a number of spa facilities offering an array of luxurious treatments designed to relax, rejuvenate and beautify travel-weary clients. At the Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa, for example, you can indulge in "marine' therapies like sea salt exfoliation, marine algae hydrotherapy baths and seaweed body wraps.

Tours:

Guided tours in the Comox Valley area include Zodiac tours, "flightseeing" tours and helicopter tours. Zodiac tours depart from the Comox Marina and explore the waters around Denman, Hornby and Chrome Islands. You're likely to see seals, sea lions and porpoises in the water and eagles overhead. Flightseeing and helicopter tours fly over Comox Glacier. Drive up Mount Washington in Strathcona Park and you'll enjoy sweeping views of the valley and, at points, the community of Powell River across the Strait of Georgia, the Comox Glacier and the Beaufort Mountains.

Water Activities:

An extensive network of lakes, rivers and streams and miles of sparkling coastline make the Comox Valley a standout location for water-based fun. In fact, it's said that Jacques Cousteau rated the area's waters some of the world's best for cold-water diving. Certainly it's one of the few places in the world where you can see six gill sharks. If you like to swim, the top freshwater sites are Comox Lake, Nymph Falls and Stotan Falls. Superb saltwater swims can be had from sandy coastal beaches too numerous to name.

If you'd rather be on the water than in it, you can explore local waters by canoe, kayak, motorboat, Zodiac or sailboat. Canoeing or kayaking in the Courtenay River Estuary is always rewarding because so many birds and animals make use of it. The historic Royston Wrecks and the unique ecosystems of Tree Island are also reliably interesting places to paddle. If you're a novice, you should head for the calm waters of Baynes Sound. The Strait of Georgia is ideal for boating and sailing in summer. Zodiac tours in the strait depart from the Comox Marina and focus on the waters around Denman, Hornby and Chrome Islands. Watch for seals, sea lions, porpoises and eagles on those tours.

Winter Activities:

Mount Washington Alpine Resort, just 30 minutes from Courtenay, is the largest downhill skiing and snowboarding facility on Vancouver Island. It also offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, luging, snowtubing and tobogganing.