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Top Things to Do in Courtenay This Season

Courtenay has a rhythm that changes with the seasons, and right now is a perfect time to get out and experience what makes this Vancouver Island city worth your time. Whether you’re a long-time resident rediscovering familiar corners or travelling through the Comox Valley, there’s genuine substance here beyond the obvious. I’ve spent enough time exploring our neighbourhoods to know where locals actually spend their time, and I’d like to share that with you.

Outdoor Activities and Parks

With 55 parks across Courtenay, you could spend weeks exploring without repeating yourself. The season right now is ideal for getting outside—the weather is cooperative, and the trails aren’t overwhelmed.

Comox Lake is the centrepiece of outdoor life here, and for good reason. The water levels are right for kayaking and canoeing, and the surrounding trails offer everything from easy waterside walks to more challenging loops. If you’re driving out that way, bring binoculars—the eagle watching is genuine, not seasonal marketing.

For something closer to downtown, the various neighbourhood parks are where you’ll find locals actually gathering. They’re functional spaces with playgrounds, open fields, and river access rather than manicured showpieces. That authenticity is worth appreciating. Check our map to locate the ones nearest your route through the city.

Museums and Cultural Attractions

Courtenay has a legitimate story to tell, and the museums here are where you’ll hear it properly. The Courtenay & District Museum & Palaeontology Centre in Old Orchard isn’t just a local history repository—it’s built around real dinosaur discoveries from the Comox Valley. This is working palaeontology, not just display cases. The museum staff know their material, and if you’re curious about what lived here millions of years ago, this is where you get actual answers.

If visual art is your interest, I-Hos Gallery offers work from local and regional artists. The approach is selective rather than overwhelming, which means you’re seeing pieces chosen with intention.

The Comox Air Force Museum at Wallace Gardens is another attraction worth your time if you’re interested in aviation history or the military heritage that shaped this region. It’s specific enough that you’ll learn something rather than just move through it.

Dining and Coffee Culture

Courtenay’s food scene has matured considerably. With 58 restaurants and 36 cafés across the city, you’re not lacking for places to eat. The variety reflects both tourist traffic and residents who’ve developed actual standards about where they spend their time and money.

The café culture is particularly developed. If you’re working remotely or just need a solid coffee before heading into your day, there are quality options throughout the downtown core and in surrounding neighbourhoods. These aren’t chains—they’re the kind of places where the staff actually know the regulars.

For dinner, the range is genuine. Whether you’re looking for something casual or more involved, you’ll find restaurants that take their work seriously. The diversity reflects Courtenay’s actual demographic and the different approaches people take to cooking and eating.

Shopping and Local Businesses

Downtown Courtenay and the surrounding neighbourhoods support 46 shops worth visiting. This isn’t a mall environment—it’s the kind of shopping where you’re actually supporting people who’ve decided to run businesses in Courtenay because they wanted to live here.

Spirits of the West Coast is worth checking out if you’re interested in spirits and what local producers are creating. The selection reflects both what’s available regionally and what the shop owners believe is worth stocking.

Beyond individual shops, there’s value in simply walking through different neighbourhoods. You’ll find independent businesses clustered in areas that have developed their own character. The downtown area, in particular, has enough variety that an afternoon of browsing is time well spent rather than something done just to pass time.

Creative Spaces and Studios

If you’re interested in what people are actually making in the Comox Valley, Tiny Pencil Studios in nearby Cumberland is worth a visit. It’s the kind of space where creative work happens rather than just being displayed. You get to see practice in action rather than just the finished pieces.

This represents a broader creative community throughout Courtenay and the surrounding region. It’s not large enough to be famous, but it’s substantial enough that genuine creative work is happening here.

Planning Your Season in Courtenay

The real advantage to exploring Courtenay right now is that it’s not rushed. You can move through the city at a pace that lets you actually notice things. The weather cooperates, the parks are accessible, and the people running businesses are present and engaged.

Start with our map to get oriented with where things actually are, then pick a neighbourhood to explore on foot. Walk into restaurants and shops without a plan. Visit the museums because the work happening there is real. Spend time in the parks rather than just driving past them.

Courtenay reveals itself to people who spend time here rather than just pass through. Start exploring this week, and you’ll understand why people choose to stay.

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