Surrounded by rolling mountains, lush forests and gorgeous beaches—not to mention parks galore—the Comox Valley is the perfect place for outdoor recreation activities and kicking back.
Feel like ziplining through the trees at Mt. Washington? You can. Rather keep your feet on the ground with a trip to a museum, fish hatchery or aquarium? You’ve come to the right place!
Cool Off at Rotary Water Park. This is a great way to cool down! Nearby features include the outdoor pool, wading pool and playground area at Lewis Park.
Splish at Comox Valley Marina’s Splash Park. Splash around in Comox Valley’s splash park complete with a pirate ship. The park is a popular destination for families taking in the warm weather while visiting Marina Park. There are food trucks, playgrounds, washrooms and a boat launch nearby.
Filmore Park Petting Zoo. Walk, grunt, squeak and squawk with the animals! Hands On Farm is Comox’s very own petting zoo for animal lovers of all ages and it is located in Filberg Heritage Park. filberg.com
Peruse the Courtenay Museum & Palaeontology Centre. Find out why the Comox Valley, past and present, is one of the most plentiful places on Earth. Take a fossil tour and travel 80 million years back in time; browse the galleries to delve into the stories that make our history come alive. courtenaymuseum.ca
See the Standing in the Gap Exhibit. The museum collection comprises fascinating ethnographic, historic, archaeological and archival material of the northern Vancouver Island area. crmuseum.ca
Wonder About Whales. Look up at the Whale Interpretive Centre in Telegraph Cove and you’ll see the almost 60-foot skeleton of a fin whale hanging from the ceiling. Walk between the jawbones of a blue whale or check out the skull of a sperm whale with giant teeth. Housed in an old freight shed, the interactive museum’s goal is to increase public awareness about whales and other local marine mammals and the threats they face. killerwhalecentre.org
Catch a Fish. Cast a line from Discovery Pier and see what you catch. Or pack a picnic and sit at one of the tables on the pier for dining al fresco. There’s a concession stand nearby that sells ice cream and rents fishing rods in the summer. campbellriver.travel
Zip-a-Dee-Do-Dah. Unfold your wings and fly on Mt. Washington’s “Eagle’s Flight” ZipTour. This dual-line, four-span zip line offers an adrenaline-filled and scenic adventure down the terrain of the Mt. Washington Alpine Resort. The total tour length is 2.32 kilometres with a vertical drop of 1,364 feet! Or skip the zip and take a chairlift ride to the summit to see breathtaking mountain and ocean views. mountwashington.ca
Go Go-Carting. The Saratoga Speedway provides family-friendly entertainment and activities. Get a ride in a monster truck, race a go-cart or watch the action at a Crash to Pass race, featuring everything from travel trailers to boats! For a current racing schedule, visit saratogaracing.ca.
Sway on the Suspension Bridge. Elk Falls Suspension Bridge gives a bird’s eye view of Elk Falls, cascading 209 feet to the canyon below. The high-wire sides mean you can relax and enjoy the view without worrying about climbing kids. campbellriver.travel
Discover Local Marine Species. The Discovery Passage Aquarium features local marine species and habitats from the Discovery Passage. The aquarium offers education and fun hands-on experiences that are suitable for all ages. With a focus on conservation and education, the aquarium will open this summer with the species that are collected in the spring being released in the fall. discoverypassageaquarium.ca
Make a Quick Stop at the Quinsam. As one of Canada’s largest salmon rearing facilities, the Quinsam River Hatchery plays a vital role in restoring natural spawning runs to the Campbell and Quinsam Rivers during the fall. Check out the fish floor inside the hatchery’s interpretive centre, a glass floor covering a re-creation of the nearby rivers with salmon, trout and other native aquatic species. pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
