Rainy Day Roundup
The Lost Faucet Sauna House
Tin Town Cafe
Lazo Marsh Northeast Nature Trails
Surrounded by lush green rainforest, misty mountainscapes and views of stormy grey skies over the Salish Sea, the Comox Valley might be especially beautiful on a rainy day. And with the clamour of the summer season at a close, the quieter months of fall and winter may be your new favourite time to visit. Besides, there are plenty of things to do and places to explore with or without risking soggy shoes. We hope with this list you’ll feel more than ready to brave the rain - inside or out!
Indoor Play
Don't spend the day cooped up in your room - especially with these indoor play options perfect to unleash your inner child (or actual children!). Burn off excess energy, challenge the mind and have some fun.
WIP Climbing. Kids as young as two are welcome to climb at this climbing facility, with 10 levels of climbing routes and grades to challenge everyone in the family. Drop in family rates available and rentals for harnesses and climbing shoes.
Comox Valley Aquatic Centre. Whether you’ve got toddlers, teens, or grandparents in tow, the local pool makes for the ultimate energy-burning indoor activity. With affordable drop in and family rates available open early until 9:30 pm on weekdays and 6:00 pm on weekends.
Codes Country Lanes. Put your bowling skills to the test, or make it a party with cosmic bowling! Call ahead to reserve your spot.
Crypt-Tic Escape Room. With multiple themes, there’s a fun and interactive escape room for all ages and difficulty levels. Search for clues and solve the puzzle as a group (of up to 8 people, minimum 4) and challenge your brain. Call ahead to book.
Comox Valley Kids Playhouse. Enjoy indoor play with your kids! From thrilling slides to our large play structures, our facility is thoughtfully designed to provide a safe and engaging environment for kids to explore, learn, and make lasting memories.
Dabble in the Arts
A rainy day is a wonderful time to slow down, get introspective and take the time to connect with the cultural offerings in the community.
Sid Williams Theatre. With upcoming live performances such as a Fleetwood Mac tribute show, Matthew Good solo acoustic performance, Ballet Victoria’s Broadway on Point, Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams tribute show, check out the action-packed schedule on their website.
Old Church Theatre Society. Not just a photo opp, the iconic old vine-covered church also plays host to many lovely live shows. Check their website for upcoming events.
I-Hos Gallery. Enjoy a stunning collection of masks, prints, gold and silver jewelry, wood carvings and more, featuring works from over 50 talented First Nation artists.
Lupine Art Studio. A community art studio in downtown Courtenay, check their website for upcoming afternoon classes like traditional twill and twine weaving.
Art Galleries & Museums
Shake out your umbrella and slip into one of the region’s acclaimed art galleries for a peaceful afternoon learning about local history, industry and Indigenous Peoples.
Courtenay & District Museum. With incredibly diverse exhibits, our local museum is an especially exciting stop for any budding paleontologists with the featured natural history and fossil tours.
Comox Valley Art Gallery. A public gallery featuring art by regional, national and international artists. Check their website for special events, film screenings and more.
Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery: A wonderful collection of original Pacific Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork, including masks, carvings, jewelry, sculptures, and so much more.
Cumberland Museum. After extensive renovation, the museum and archives are open featuring new exhibits and galleries.
Comox Air Force Museum. Whether you’re a history buff or have a teenage “Top Gun” fan, the whole family will enjoy this by donation experience to learn the history of the Canadian Air Force while exploring many types of aircraft.
Artful: The Gallery. Browse the huge array of works done by BC artists who show and sell their pieces in this little gallery.
Exhibit at the Comox Valley Visitor Centre. The Centre offers a fun and interactive introduction to Vancouver Island from ocean to alpine! Touch a live oyster, identify local trees or explore the region through a touch table of Vancouver Island images.
Wildlife
Like us, the local wildlife often takes shelter on a rainy day. Get the rare chance to glimpse some of the region’s most fascinating animals at both of these local spots - which also offer just the right amount of (human) shelter to make for a wonderful outdoor-ish activity without getting too drenched.
MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre. Visitors have the chance to see and learn about the rescue, rehabilitation and release of wild animals such as eagles, albino crows, hawks, owls, and more - complete with a gift shop and both indoor and outdoor exhibits.
Puntledge River Hatchery. An educational experience for visitors of all ages, the hatchery gives you a “fish-eye-view” of the salmon while learning about their fascinating lifecycle. Stroller and wheelchair accessible.
Saunas & Spas
Enjoy a different kind of restorative precipitation with a relaxing day at the spa. After a day at any one of these top-notch spots, you’ll be right as... rain.
The Lost Faucet. Enjoy this Eastern European/ Nordic spa tradition with a self-directed sauna experience.
Smith Lake Farm Sauna. Tour the neighbouring farm and bee yard while waiting for your private sauna to heat up.
Oh Spa (at Old House Hotel) with a la carte spa treatments, couples massage and a chromotherapy tub on offer - you might be here awhile!
Pacific Mist Spa (at Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa). Take your misty adventure indoors at this unique spa with a mineral massage pool, steam cave, tidal baths, river walk and more.
Flow State Float & Wholeness. Introducing Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (R.E.S.T), the Flow State Float centre offers state-of-the-art sensory deprivation floatation chambers, designed to deliver a transformative and rejuventating experience.
Sip & Savour
Sometimes the best way to enjoy the rain is to watch it fall from inside a cozy restaurant. Here are our top picks to soothe the soul and satisfy your tummy on the wettest days.
Martine’s Bistro for a warm bowl of pasta plus wine pairing.
Blackfin Pub for a bowl of chowder and waterfront views of the storm clouds.
The Curry Cottage - Tap & Grill what’s cozier than curry on a cold, wet day? Gluten-free and vegan options are available.
Plates Eatery for a friendly diner-style meal, serving up breakfast and lunch daily and open later to serve the dinner crowd on Thursdays and Fridays.
Nikkei Ramen-ya for world class ramen with homemade, refillable noodles (drool!).
Riders Pizza for a hot slice that’ll stick to your ribs after a rainy ride!
And when the only thing you want to whet is your whistle, try one of the region’s many wineries, breweries and pubs. Go ahead and treat yourself, you can blame it on the rain.
40 Knots Winery for a glass of the Gamay or Carambolage - two reds with enough tannins to warm you up from the inside out.
Griffin Pub for a pint with military veterans (if you’re lucky!) at this local hotspot.
High Tide Public House for one of their signature martinis or handcrafted cocktails with names like Tidal Wave, Castaway, and Poseidon.
Hit the Trails!
Don’t let the rain dampen your outdoor adventures. Grab your rain gear and head outside to enjoy the lush forests and waterfalls in their true elements.
Seal Bay Nature Park has many access points that weave you through forested loops, while some trails lead down to the ocean's edge.
Nymph Falls Nature Park is an excellent hike choice for the waterfall enthusiast! Both parks have wheelchair-accessible routes, with good signage pointing the way.
The riding season lasts pretty much all year, with wet and muddy conditions throughout fall into spring and a chance of snow on the higher trails through winter. Visit United Riders of Cumberland’s (or UROC’s) website for tips on responsible trail selection and usage for any season.
Shop
If you didn’t pack for precipitation, stop in at one of these local stores to get geared up to stay warm and dry on your drizzly day adventures.
Visit the Everything Wet Store in Courtenay, Coast Surf Shop in Comox or The Little Village Store in Cumberland.
The valley makes up for inclement weather days with tasty food stops, arts and culture, and even gorgeous terrain to explore - for those willing to brave the elements!
Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery
WIP Climbing Gym