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Comox Valley
Friday, July 25th, 2008 by GetawayBC.com
Comox Valley
The Comox Valley is a gorgeous year-round playground of snowy mountains and sandy shores, pristine lakes and lush forests. Stunning scenery, top-notch amenities and a huge variety of activities come together in one of the Island’s most popular vacation destinations.
Mount Washington Alpine Resort is a hot spot for skiers and snowboarders in the winter and hikers and mountain bikers in warmer weather. Ride the chairlifts for panoramic summer views of the Comox Glacier and the Strait of Georgia or hike into the 250,445-hectare spectacular wilderness of Strathcona Provincial Park.
Down the mountain, golfers tee off on six year-round courses (plus one seasonal), while paddlers venture out in canoes and kayaks. Diving, boating and fishing round out the list of marine activities, while a network of biking trails thrills cyclists. Agri-tourism is growing strong with several farms, nurseries, dairies, and orchards offering tours. From Natural Pastures artisan cheese to Fanny Bay oysters, the Valley produces incredible food – and a fantastic farmer’s market! Gardeners shouldn’t miss Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park in Comox, home to more than 100 varieties of trees and a multitude of flowers and shrubs, or the vast collection of rhododendrons at the Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens just north of Courtenay.
In summer, the Comox Valley becomes the Valley of Festivals, with jazz and classical music, professional theatre and one of the best music festivals in Western Canada.
Between activities, catch your breath with a peek into the area’s vibrant communities. Courtenay is the commercial centre and a hub for arts and culture. Downtown Courtenay features excellent art galleries and artisan studios that welcome visitors, as well as charming boutiques, theatres and restaurants.
Cumberland celebrates its history as a former coal-mining town – learn about its incredible past at the Cumberland Museum and Archives. Nearby is Comox Lake, a crystal clear, glacier-fed paradise perfect for swimming, boating and fishing. Here you’ll also find a full-service campground, picnic area, boat ramp and hiking trails.
Excellent marina facilities and a quaint downtown make Comox a popular base for visitors. Attractions include the Comox Air Force Museum and Heritage Airpark and the historic Filberg Lodge and Park, where annual events include August’s Filberg Festival, one of the finest arts and crafts festivals in the province.
Explore the Comox Valley with a Heritage Experience Driving Tour, enjoying significant heritage sites, stories and images that define this “Land of Plenty.” From the coal mines of Cumberland and the shipwrecks of Royston to the Comox Marina and the alpine heights of Mt. Washington, the tour explores, through 16 stunning story boards, the region’s rich industrial, social and cultural heritage. Pick up a tour brochure at the Visitor Centres.
The BC Ferries terminal that connects the Comox Valley with Powell River on British Columbia’s mainland is located minutes outside of Comox. Also centrally located, the Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) is an easy gateway to the Valley and Vancouver Island with daily flights from locations across Canada.
Just offshore and accessible from Buckley Bay south of Courtenay, Denman and Hornby Islands offer more outdoor adventure, including hiking, cycling, diving and kayaking and a wealth of local arts and crafts studios and galleries.
For details, call the Comox Valley Visitor Centre at 1-888-357-4471 or 334-3234, or visit the Visitor Centre at 2040 Cliffe Ave in Courtenay.