Beautiful Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, BC
The Comox Valley is a region on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada and stretches from the towns of Courtenay and Comox up to the town of Campbell River, including the unincorporated villages of Royston, Union Bay, Black Creek and Merville. The communities of Denman Island and Hornby Island are also considered part of the Comox Valley.
The Comox Valley’s natural beauty makes it a draw for tourists the world over. Outdoor enthusiasts flock to the valley to ski, walk, hike, bird-watch, fish and kayak. The combination of quiet beaches, old growth forest, pastoral meadows, and mountain views makes this area visually stunning.
Each season has it’s charm, whether you come to enjoy the summer music festivals, the autumn harvest, or the winter sking, the Comox Valley has something for everyone. Winter visitors can enjoy the vast depths of the all-natural snow at Mount Washington, which offers some of BC’s best skiing, snowboarding and nordic sports, not to mention the breathtaking ocean view. In the summer season, Mount Washington Resort is a hiking and mountain biking haven and a great central base from which to explore the North Central Region of Vancouver Island and all that it has to offer.
Food Culture
The Comox Valley’s fertile soil and excellent growing season has spawned a thriving farming community and subsequent food culture. The valley produces, everything from organically grown and ethically raised meats, to artisan cheeses, wines, fruits and vegetables. The local chefs are spoiled for choice. The farmer’s markets are year round and always abundant. The close proximity to the sea also brings in a bounty of fresh and delicious seafood.
Walks, Beaches & Mountains
Walks
There are a variety of walks starting from your Cottage door. These can be leisurely or strenuous, short or long and generally take you through mature second generation forest. You can also walk on the well signposted alpine meadows of Mt Washington. After the snows melt the spring flowers start in May a go on to July. There are also some good shore walks close-by.
If you’re a bird watching enthusiast you could add to the Cottage bird list by watching from the deck or see how many kinds of woodpecker you can spot along the logging trails.
Beaches
We are blessed with some of the most beautiful and safe beaches on the eastern shores of the Island. Try Miracle Beach with it’s forest walk and shallow, sandy beach; good for sunbathing and safe for children. Keep your eyes open for the seals and the wide range of shore birds at low tide. Here you will also find a dog-friendly section of beach.
You can go further afield and try Qualicum Beach famed for its wonderful panoramas with views across the Straits of Georgia to the mountains of mainland British Columbia.
Mountains
Mt Washington is an award-winning alpine playground open for business 365 days of the year. The Strathcona Highway takes you there in just 25 minutes door to door and it is maintained throughout the year. Mt Washington caters for all tastes with nursery slopes to high-octane black runs. It has eight ski lifts and all the usual Alpine Resort amenities. There are regular skiing, snowboarding and snowshoe competitions for the active winter sports enthusiast. The 40 kms Nordic ski trails are very popular and for the sheer thrill of it try the night-lit toboggan run.
If you like to enjoy the snow but prefer to be out of the hurly-burley our Cottage is just the snug place to be in the evenings. The web cams give you a view of the weather on the mountain from the comfort of your armchair.