OpenRoad Driver Volume 14 Issue 1 | Page 38

38 » OpenRoad Driver O N E TA N K W O N D E R Valley Lullaby THE COMOX VALLEY Words and photos by Lauren Kramer » Victoria, Tofino, Parksville. If there are spotlight stealers on Vancouver Island, it’s this trio that garners all the attention. For road warriors who love to venture off the beaten track, this bodes well for the Comox Valley. On a summery weekend visit to Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland, we learned this verdant coastal region is an undiscovered treasure chest brimming with fun activities. Rich in history, the valley is a modest place devoid of the sense of entitlement that often settles on tourism-heavy destinations. What you see is what you get in the Comox Valley – and what meets the eye is unforgettable natural beauty, charming downtown cores, an emphasis on local, homegrown cuisine and soft adventures through which you can taste, feel and touch the island’s bounty.