VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 258

Comox Valley
The K'omoks people lived in the Comox Valley for thousands of years before the first
Europeans arrived in the 1860s to set up farms and mine coal. Today, the three communities
of Courtenay, Cumberland, and Comox are nestled between the Strait of Georgia and
high mountains of the Vancouver Island Ranges to the west. The valley lies almost halfway
up the island, 220 kilometers (137 miles) from Victoria. The three towns merge into one, but
each has its own personality: Courtenay, the staid town with a compact downtown core and
all the visitor services you need; Cumberland, away from the water but historically charm-
ing nonetheless; and Comox, a sprawl of retiree housing developments and golf courses that
extends across a wide peninsula to the ocean.
COURTENAY
The valley's largest town and a commercial center for local farming, logging, fishing, and
retirement communities, Courtenay (pop. 55,000) extends around the head of Comox Har-
bour. It's not particularly scenic, but has a few interesting sights and plenty of highway ac-
commodations.
Sights
The main attraction downtown is Courtenay Museum and Paleontology Centre (207 4th
St., 250/334-0686, 10am-5pm Mon.-Sat. and noon-4am Sun. May-Aug., 10am-5pm Tues.-
Sat. Sept.-Apr., donation). The highlight is a full-size replica of an elasmosaur. The original
reptile fossil—12 meters (39 feet) long and 80 million years old—was found at the nearby
Puntledge River. Daily in July and August and Saturday only April-June and September, the
museum leads tours out to the site, on which you have the chance to dig for your very own
fossil (adult $30, senior $25, child $20). Other museum exhibits include a series of realistic
dioramas and a replica of a bighouse containing many First Nations artifacts and items.
Kayaking
Comox Valley Kayaks (2020 Cliffe Ave., 250/334-2628 or 888/545-5595) offers guided
tours for around $50, three-hour sea-kayaking lessons for $80 per person, and full-day
guided trips from $115. Or rent a kayak ($50-80 for 24 hours) for some exploration by your-
self around the local waterways or out on nearby Denman and Hornby Islands.