Comox Valley – a Great Place to Staycation!
According to Wikipedia - Staycation is a newly coined term for "a period of time in which an individual or family stays at home and relaxes at home or takes day trips from their home to area attractions".
With company arriving on your doorstep, summer is a great time to take the time to play host, be a tourist in your own town, and see the Valley a whole new way.
Got a minute? Got an hour? Got a day?
Explore these ideas for getting out and about in your community…
Got a minute?
- Take up plane-spotting at the Courtenay Airpark.
- Feel the sand between your toes, the wind in your hair, and smell the salt in the air at Goose Spit in Comox.
- Buy a variety of fresh seafood right off the fishing boats at the Comox Wharf.
- Enjoy the view of the Comox Glacier from 5th Street in Courtenay.
Got an hour?
- Tour the Comox Air Force Museum, where permanent exhibits display the heritage of CFB Comox.
- See the forest for the trees and explore one of many parks in the Regional District…Seal Bay, Nymph Falls, Lazo Wildlife Park, One Spot Trail, or Wildwood Interpretive Forest to name a few.
- Enjoy live theatre and music at the Sid Williams Civic Theatre.
- Take in the free summer music concerts at Simms Millennium Park in Courtenay or Filberg Park in Comox.
- Have a campfire and roast marshmallows on the beach at Goose Spit.
- Take the "Two Pubs Walk" through the woods and along the beach in Oyster River.
- Visit the Comox Valley Farmers' Market, Wednesday or Saturday mornings, or create your own tour of the Valley’s many farm stands and producers...don’t forget to bring your picnic basket!
- Enjoy lunch at the waterfront Teahouse in Filberg Park, a jewel of the Comox Valley.
- Explore the forests around Cumberland on bike or on foot - easy to advanced mountain bike trails await.
Got a day?
- Spend a summer day enjoying all that Mount Washington has to offer - including scenic chairlift rides, mountainbiking, disc and mini golf, and Bungy trampoline.
- Go on a self-guided tour of Denman and Hornby Island pottery shops and artists studios….and be sure to include a walk along the bluffs at Helliwell Park and a stop at Tribune Bay (BC’s “Little Hawaii”).
- Go on a guided fossil digging tour with the Courtenay Museum and learn about our prehistoric past.
- Explore the history of the Comox Valley with the Heritage Experience self-guided tours. 2 driving routes explore all areas of the Valley while 4 walking tours delve into the history of the community cores of Comox, Courtenay, and Cumberland. Tour brochures are available at local Visitor Centres, museums, and downloadable online at www.discovercomoxvalley.com/culture.
- Freshwater refreshment awaits…go for an energizing dip at Nymph Falls, dip into the cool, glacier-fed pools of Stotan Falls…or relax on the beach at Comox Lake
- Experience life from above by taking a helicopter or scenic flight tour of the Comox Valley.
- Treat yourself and rejuvenate the body and mind at one of our local resort spas
- Rent a kayak or canoe and enjoy the views from the water as you paddle along the coastline, visit the Royston Wrecks, or over to Tree Island.
- Did you know that the Valley is home to 7 golf courses? Challenge yourself to experience them all by the end of the summer!
- Explore the backcountry of Strathcona Provincial Park or hike through the picturesque alpine slopes of Paradise Meadows, stopping for a picnic by one of several lakes along the way. Start your journey from Raven Lodge @ Mount Washington.
And don’t forget about all the festivals and special events the Comox Valley plays host to in the summer months. There’s something happening every weekend – get out and enjoy!
Summer Highlights include:
Canada Day Festivities -July 01
Comox Valley Youth Music Center - Performances galore through the month of July
10th Annual Beer Fest - July 10
Vancouver Island Music Fest - July 10 to 12, 2009
Local Colours Festival - July 15 to 18, 2009
Downtown Courtenay Market Day - July 17
Coal Hills BMX Racing-Black Gold Nationals - July 24 to 25, 2009
Classic Cruisers Parade & Car Show - July 25 to 26, 2009
Artists of the Comox Valley Studio Tour - July 25 to 26, 2009
Hornby Festival - July 30 to Aug 8
Filberg Festival - July 31 to Aug 3, 2009
Comox Nautical Days Festival - Aug 01 to 03, 2009
Alpine Wine Festival - Aug 07
Originals Only Art Show - Aug 08 to 09
Big Time Out - Aug 15
Comox Valley Exhibition Fall Fair - Aug 29 to 30
Alpine Food Festival - Sept 4 to 6
Take a Break in the Comox Valley!
Need to get out of the house for an overnight stay? Or do have company coming but don’t have the room for them? Check yourself and/or your family into one of the Valley’s welcoming accommodations and let them do the work.
Hotels and Resorts
Best Western, The Westerly Hotel (www.thewesterlyhotel.com),
Coastal Trek Resort (www.coastaltrekresort.com)
Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community (www.crownisle.com)
Holiday Inn Express & Suites (www.hiexpress.com)
Kingfisher Oceanside Resort and Spa (www.kingfisherspa.com)
Old House Village Hotel & Spa (www.oldhousevillage.com)
Mount Washington Alpine Resort (www.mountwashington.ca)
Motels
Anco Motel (www.ancomotelbc.com)
Comox Valley Inn & Suites (www.comoxvalleyinn.com)
Port Augusta Inn & Suites (www.portaugustainn.com)
Travelodge Courtenay (www.travelodgecourtenay.com)
Bed & Breakfasts
Comox Valley Bed & Breakfast Association (www.comoxvalleybb.com)
Check out the Valley’s complete list of area accommodations including Vacation Rentals, Hostels, and Campgrounds – visit www.discovercomoxvalley.com.
Destination Marketing Opportunities
FMI: Donal Black, (604) 473-0328, dblack@canadawide.com
British Columbia Magazine - Fall
FMI: Jim Griffin, (250) 477-4429, jim.victoria@shaw.ca
Tourism Vancouver Island Vacation Guide
FMI: Jim Griffin, (250) 477-4429, jim.victoria@shaw.ca