Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or lucky enough to call the Comox Valley home, this region is packed with things to see, do, and explore. From swimming holes and suspension bridges to beaches, breweries, golf courses, and great food, there’s something here for everyone — kids, adults, locals, and visitors alike. We’ve pulled together some of the best spots and activities, ranging from well-known destinations to local favourites. Use this list to plan your next adventure and discover why the Comox Valley is one of Vancouver Island’s true gems.
Places of Interest and Cool Activities
- Comox Lake – Cumberland, great for kids, lotsa fun stuff going on there, low level bridge jumping on one side
- Courtenay Outdoor Swimming Pool – Free admission, water park adjacent check pool schedule
- CV Indoor Playground – 3080 Kilpatrick Courtenay, good for those days when you want them to be out of the sun and still burn off energy
- Comox Waterpark – at the Marina, good for kids under 10, great food trucks
Swimming Holes
- Nymph Falls, a MUST see if you haven’t been there. About an easy 10 minute walk in, lots of swimming holes, pick your private swimming pool
- Top Bridge Park Near Parksville, easy immediate access for all levels of mobility
- Oyster River pools – up HWY 19, off the road, minor amount of somewhat challenging walking to access, stunning place
- Browns River Falls – 10 minute hike in, small challenge at the end, but good for kids, fantastic swimming holes right under the falls
- Trent River Falls – right off highway 19, just a short distance from Courtenay towards Nanaimo, challenging walk in and out but incredible swimming holes right under the falls, good for kids and fit adults
- Medicine Bowls, road in very challenging, good for fit adults
- Maple Pool Campground – beautiful swimming right at the campground. Connects to Puntledge River for excellent rafting
Suspension Bridges:
- Elk River Falls in Campbell River – 15 minute walk in, spectacular viewing
- Englishman River Falls and suspension bridge Parksville
- Little Qualicum Falls – 15-20 minute hike in, beautiful
Caving:
- Horne Lake Caves, Kids over 10, fit adults with no claustrophobia, bring your own flashlights, the ones they provide are awful
Nice Hikes
- Seal Bay Park, both sides of the road, one leads to the beach one is a pastoral loop
- Strathcona Park – Paradise Meadows, spectacular views on Mount Washington
Touristy places
- Parksville Sandsculptures, world class exhibition on a gorgeous beach
- Goats on Roof Coombs – Excellent restaurants, Ice cream, candy, sculptures, amazing groceries from all over the world, fun cheap kids craft supplies, butterfly museum
- Cathedral Grove – old growth forest, easy walk, biggest trees in the world
Beaches:
- Goose Spit, in Comox, easy access, depending on tides cobble walk or sand walk
- Point Holmes in Comox – another vantage point to view the mountains and ocean
- Air Force Beach, Might have to pay a $10 fee there, but so worth it. Miles of sand beach, shallow warm water, excellent food kiosk with ice cream and famous Poutine and burgers
- Saratoga beach, north on 19 A through Merville and Black Creek, lots of beautiful beaches in this area
- Pacific Playground – Campground on the beach has its own pool
- Miracle Beach – in the same area
Golfing
- Crown Isle, pricey but beautiful, right in Courtenay
- Comox Golf Course in Comox pretty but smaller
- Mulligans on 19A short distance out of town, par 3 I think
- Sunny Dale on 19A short distance out of tow, next to Mulligans
- Glacier Greens – on Airport Property, open to everyone
- The Park, on Anderton, par 3 really cute
- Lake Trail – Disc golf, havent heard anything about this one
Activities
- Stand up Paddle boarding and kayaking at the Courtenay airport, rent equipment there
- Dinosaur fossil hunting our friend Russell Ball is a certified fossil hunter and provide pick axes and safety glasses and takes you and the kids to places guaranteed to find a fossil. See him on Facebook, or arrange with me to contact him
- Zip Line – 2 kilometer zip line on Mount Washington, chose one two or three rides
- Chair Lift on Mount Washington for gorgeous 360 degree views
- Fishing recommend Island Pursuit with Steve Velosa out of the Comox Harbour
- Indoor Rock Climbing – WIP, kids over 5, fit adults
- Whale Watching – book a tour out of Campbell River
- Grizzly Bear Tours – book a boat tour out of Campbell River
Wineries
- 40 Knots, world class facility with excellent sparkling and white wines, MUST see!
- Beaufort Winery Excellent Reds
- Ravens Moon fabulous cidery but good fruit wines
- Hundreds more down the island
Breweries
- Land & Sea Comox
- Rad Comox Mall
- Gladstones – downtown Courtenay, our favourite, excellent burgers and fries, kids and lots of dogs all the time, live music
- Ace off Cliff avenue in Courtenay, excellent menu (pub style) and brew.
- Church Street – Comox, fabulous menu, excellent beer selection rockin place
- Cumberland brewery excellent fun and funky place, great beer and good food
Distilleries
- Shelter Point, up highway 10 between Courtenay and Campbell River, award winning scotch and vodkas
- Wayward Distillery, in Courtenay, honey based spirits, excellent rum, worth the tasting room
Bakeries:
- Honey Grove Tin Town in Courtenay, excellent breads and croissants, etc. cookies
- Hot Chocolates – excellent bakery and chocolaterie downtown Courtenay
- Church Street Bakery, next to pub, world famous doughnuts
- Big Foot Donut – donuts on steroids. Bring your defibrillator
- Franki Joes, tiny excellent bakery and small sandwich and tea place downtown Courtenay
- Freyja – downtown Courtenay, croissants on steroids, seriously over the top
- Roots Rising just outside of town on 19A towards Campbell River, honour system surprisingly huge and interesting selection for the Gluten Free crowd.
- OMG – Comox, best EVER macarons, mostly GF offerings, fabulous
Groceries:
- Thrifty’s – Safeway style
- Superstore – everyone knows this one
- Edible island – downtown Courtenay for everything organic
- Goodes Groceries, small but mighty asian and Phillipino groceries
- Sabzimandi Supermarket – everything in the world for east Indian cooking
Liquor Stores
( although I cannot imagine anyone in my friend and family circle would have trouble finding a store, lol)
- Cascadia – excellent selection
- Thrifty’s Liquor store on 19 th street, good wine selection
- Government liquor stores
- Liquor Express, behind the Payless gas n go on Dyke road, best prices I have found