Peruse the Courtenay Museum & Palaeontology Centre
The Courtenay Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am–4pm. Find out why the Comox Valley, past and present, is one of the most plentiful places on earth. Take a fossil tour and travel 80 million years back in time; browse the galleries to delve into the stories that make our history come alive. courtenaymuseum.ca
See the Standing in the Gap Exhibit
Campbell River Museum’s Cecil Dawson: Standing in the Gap exhibit explores the impacts of colonization through the experiences of one family, and one artist, Kwakwaka’wakw artist and Hereditary Chief Gixkastallasame-gi, or Cecil Dawson. His artworks interpret this hurtful history and its continuing impact upon our society. Open daily during the summer from 10am–5pm. crmuseum.ca
Wonder About Whales
Look up at the Whale Interpretive Centre in Telegraph Cove and you’ll see the 18-metre skeleton of a fin whale hanging from the ceiling. Walk between the jawbones of a blue whale or check out the skull of a sperm whale with giant teeth. Housed in an old freight shed, the interactive museum’s goal is to increase public awareness about whales and other local marine mammals and the threats they face. killerwhalecentre.org
Catch a Fish
Cast a line from Discovery Pier and see what you catch. Or pack a picnic and sit at one of the tables on the pier for dining al fresco. There’s a concession stand nearby that sells ice cream and rents fishing rods in the summer. campbellriver.travel/attractions/discovery-pier
Zip-pidy Do Da
Unfold your wings and fly on Mt. Washington’s “Eagle’s Flight” ZipTour. This dual-line, four-span zip line offers an adrenaline-filled and scenic adventure down the terrain of the Mt. Washington Alpine Resort. The total tour length is 1.44-mile-long with a vertical drop of 1,364 feet! Or skip the zip and take a chairlift ride to the summit to see breathtaking mountain and ocean views. Open weekends, book in advance at mountwashington.ca.
Go Go-Carting
The Saratoga Speedway provides family-friendly entertainment and activities. Get a ride in a monster truck, race a go-cart or watch the action at a Crash to Pass race featuring everything from travel trailers to boats! For a current racing, schedule visit saratogaracing.ca.
Sway on the Suspension Bridge
Just a 30-minute walk from the parking lot, Elk Falls Suspension Bridge gives a bird’s eye view of Elk Falls, cascading 64 metres to the canyon below. The high wire sides mean you can relax and enjoy the view without worrying about any climbing kids. The area is well signed. bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/elk_falls
Discover Local Marine Species
Discovery Passage Aquarium features local marine species and habitats from Discovery Passage. The Aquarium offers education and fun hands-on experiences suitable for all ages. With a focus on conservation and education, the Aquarium will re-open this summer with species that are collected in the spring being released in the fall.
Make a Quick Stop at the Quinsam
As one of Canada’s largest salmon rearing facilities, the Quinsam River Hatchery plays a vital role in restoring natural spawning runs to the Campbell and Quinsam Rivers during the fall. Check out the fish floor inside the hatchery’s interpretive centre, a glass floor covering a re-creation of the nearby rivers with salmon, trout and other native aquatic species. Check for re-opening and hours. pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sep-pmvs/hatcheries- ecloseries/quinsam-eng.html
Celebrate the Return of Islands Folk Festival
Islands Folk Festival resumes live performances at Providence Farm in Duncan on Saturday, July 23. With on-site camping, a ‘Wee Folks’ kid zone, shuttle service, beverage garden and food and craft vendors, this family-friendly event will feature great music and performers, craft vendors and family fun. For a full list of performers visit islandsfolkfestival.ca.
