Discover Comox: Coast, Nature and Heritage

Comox brings together coastal scenery, leafy trails, a harbor and a distinctive heritage site. If you enjoy combining time by the sea with nature and culture on vacation, you’ll find plenty to explore here: trails in Mack Laing Nature Park wind through the forest, follow a stream and reach the sea. Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park, meanwhile, combines park-like grounds with the history of a property that later became a municipal heritage site. Events at Marina Park round out the picture, including the annual Comox Nautical Days Festival.

Forest, stream and sea at Mack Laing Nature Park

Mack Laing Nature Park covers 8.3 acres of natural coastal landscape. Its trails wind through the forest, follow a stream and reach the sea. The scenery changes as you make your way through the park: the forest and watercourse are just as much a part of the nature experience as the coast. If you like to include walks in natural surroundings when choosing a vacation destination, this park is a good reason to take a closer look at Comox. The different sections of trail can each be enjoyed as a nature experience in their own right; they do not define a particular loop or walking time.

The coastal landscape offers a different focus from a stay centered primarily on events or heritage. You can consider what kind of outing matters most to your trip: trails through forest, alongside a stream and by the sea; a glimpse into Filberg’s history; or a festival at Marina Park. These different interests can help you decide whether Comox suits the vacation you have in mind, without needing to combine every experience into a single itinerary.

Filberg Lodge and its park-like grounds

Filberg Lodge and its nine acres of park-like grounds sit by the harbor, near the end of Comox Avenue. The lodge and park are among the town’s most notable heritage attractions: Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park later became a municipal heritage site. Filberg is therefore notable both for the property’s historical significance and its park-like grounds.

For travelers who value culture and local history as well as nature on vacation, Filberg is another reason to consider Comox. The character of the property offers a different focus from the trails at Mack Laing Nature Park. Families can decide together whether they’re more interested in nature experiences, heritage or events. These places represent different sides of Comox, rather than a prescribed itinerary.

Marina Park: Play areas and events

Marina Park is in the heart of Comox. Its amenities include a seasonal Comox Rotary Splash Park, children’s play areas, a boat launch, washroom and changing facilities, and a covered picnic area. The park serves a range of purposes: it has areas for children, amenities for spending time outdoors and a boat launch.

Marina Park also hosts the free Comox Nautical Days Festival each year during the BC Day long weekend. If you’re considering a visit at that time, the festival offers another way to experience Comox. The Filberg Festival offers a different cultural experience: held in Comox each year, it is a three-day forum where hundreds of artists and performers present their work and perform. The festivals therefore differ in their format: one is a free festival during the BC Day long weekend, and the other is a three-day forum featuring artists and performers.

Which vacation rental suits your travel plans?

If you’re traveling with children, you can consider whether the play areas at Marina Park are among your vacation priorities when choosing a vacation rental.

More destinations: Quathiaski Cove, Gold River, Denman Island, Hornby Island, Cumberland, Fanny Bay, Zeballos and Courtenay.

For the broader travel overview: Comox-Strathcona.