| The
Comox Valley lies between the Beaufort Mountains and the Strait of Georgia, on
the edge of some of the most stunning wilderness settings on the East Side of
Vancouver Island. You can ski, golf and fish all in the same day. You can be knee-deep
in snow and then within half an hour be dusting the snow off your boots on a green
golf course, or kayaking through clear blue waters, or catching fat trout. It
is a collection of rolling mountains, alpine meadows, rushing rivers, lakes, forests,
farmland and more than 40 green parks and has some of the best hiking trails on
Vancouver Island. The lush, temperate rainforest is perfect for hiking, mountain
biking and horseback riding. The Mount Washington Alpine
Resort is a 30-minute drive from Courtenay and has one of the highest snowfalls
of any ski hill in North America. Winter activities include downhill and cross-country
skiing, snowboarding, snow shoeing, snow tubing, tobogganing and luge. The resort
offers 55-kilometers of cross-country trails and downhill skiers have more than
50 trails and eight chairlifts. The resort has an internationally recognized snow
school program. The Comox Valley has many sandy beach
ideal for swimming in the summer and beachcombing year round. The summer westerly
winds and sheltered waters of the Strait of Georgia make ideal conditions for
boating and sailing. Salt and fresh water sport fishing is one of the valleys
biggest attractions. The well-stocked lakes, countless rivers and protected waters
contain salmon, red snapper and halibut, as well as cutthroat trout and steelhead.
Jacques Cousteau rated the waters near the Comox Valley
as the second best cold water diving destination in the world. It is also a thriving
centre for arts and culture with four major museums, live theatre, and an active
artists community. It is one of the most diverse recreation destinations in BC.
The valley stretches approximately 50-km along the coast
from Fanny Bay to Saratoga Beach. It is home to deer and black bears, cougars,
Roosevelt Elk and wolves. The ocean waters support a large population of seals
and sea lions. Bird life is prolific; bald eagles, Blue herons, hawks, Trumpeter
swans, owls, and countless song and marine birds inhabit or visit the areas marshes,
fields, forests and waterways.
The Comox Valley is one of BCs top year-round
travel destinations,
famous for its stunning scenery. The region is renowned
for its prehistoric fossils and the Courtenay and District Museum is a major centre
of paleontology in British Columbia.Comox Valley is known as the Valley of Festivals,
with more than 50 festivals taking place each year. | 
bravenet.com
