Guidebook for Merville
Parks & Nature
Great camping and trails, but also a beautiful beach and they have washrooms and picnic tables so it's great for kids.
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Miracle Beach Provincial Park
1720 Miracle Beach DrGreat camping and trails, but also a beautiful beach and they have washrooms and picnic tables so it's great for kids.
If you go into Courtenay you will see the plateau, but it's worth driving along Back Road or the estuary on Comox Ave to see it. You can also drive up Plateau Rd to explore the area and the Puntlege and Brown's River valleys, see Nymph Falls and get up close to the Plateau itself.
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Forbidden Plateau
8010 Forbidden Plateau RdIf you go into Courtenay you will see the plateau, but it's worth driving along Back Road or the estuary on Comox Ave to see it. You can also drive up Plateau Rd to explore the area and the Puntlege and Brown's River valleys, see Nymph Falls and get up close to the Plateau itself.
Nymph Falls Nature Park
4481 Forbidden Plateau RdIt's a great drive up and a lovely place.
A rare undisturbed rocky foreshore with forest trails leading to it. The trail to the ocean is lovely, and the loop trails on the other side of the road are also fantastic.
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Seal Bay Natuurpark
Bates RoadA rare undisturbed rocky foreshore with forest trails leading to it. The trail to the ocean is lovely, and the loop trails on the other side of the road are also fantastic.
Shopping
This is the gift shop at the local K'omoks First Nation. Amazing local and BC First Nations art, souvenirs, and a great view! There is also a new cultural centre being built, should be interesting.
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I-Hos Gallery
3310 Comox RdThis is the gift shop at the local K'omoks First Nation. Amazing local and BC First Nations art, souvenirs, and a great view! There is also a new cultural centre being built, should be interesting.
Cooperatively run by local potters, you can find amazing local pottery in there without doing a huge pottery tour. Which would also be fun...
Potter's Place
180B 5th StCooperatively run by local potters, you can find amazing local pottery in there without doing a huge pottery tour. Which would also be fun...
All BC made clothes, locally owned. My go-to place for dresses and dress-casual.
Be Clothing Boutique
214 5th StAll BC made clothes, locally owned. My go-to place for dresses and dress-casual.
Valhalla Pure Outfitters
2885 Cliffe AveIf you need camping gear, this is the place.
Essentials
The Merville General Store. It's close. Actually, the diner is pretty good, there's cold beer & wine, convenience store, post office and gas, fuel, ice etc.
Centex Gas Station
6635 N Island HwyThe Merville General Store. It's close. Actually, the diner is pretty good, there's cold beer & wine, convenience store, post office and gas, fuel, ice etc.
Convenience store and gas station, with beer, wine and spirits, a good ice cream selection, and a decent diner.
GAS N GO
8268 W N Island HwyConvenience store and gas station, with beer, wine and spirits, a good ice cream selection, and a decent diner.
This is the closest grocery store. They have some take away food and the meat selection is actually not bad, they source local stuff.
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Courtenay Country Market
5352 N Island HwyThis is the closest grocery store. They have some take away food and the meat selection is actually not bad, they source local stuff.
The best (and only) health food store in town. Who needs another? They have it all.
20 locals raden deze aan
Edible Island Whole Foods Market
477 6th StThe best (and only) health food store in town. Who needs another? They have it all.
There is a well stocked convenience store on Coleman Rd, at the 3-way corner at Bates Rd.
Coleman Road
Coleman RoadThere is a well stocked convenience store on Coleman Rd, at the 3-way corner at Bates Rd.
Quality Foods is an Island chain, we like to support them. They have everything you'll need. There is another outlet at the Driftwood Mall on Cliffe Ave in Courtenay.
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Quality Foods Comox
2275 Guthrie RdQuality Foods is an Island chain, we like to support them. They have everything you'll need. There is another outlet at the Driftwood Mall on Cliffe Ave in Courtenay.
Local BC chain for pharmacy, electronics, housewares, cosmetics and more. They have 1 hour photo finishing, you can even upload digital photos online and pick up. This is in the Driftwood Mall, same site as the other Quality Foods, there's a Canadian Tire and many other stores.
London Drugs
2751 Cliffe AveLocal BC chain for pharmacy, electronics, housewares, cosmetics and more. They have 1 hour photo finishing, you can even upload digital photos online and pick up. This is in the Driftwood Mall, same site as the other Quality Foods, there's a Canadian Tire and many other stores.
I know it says it's a pharmacy, but it's also a huge grocery store and it's set in a plaza, so it's a good spot to get everything. There is also a good liquor store, Cascadia, which has a good selection of local wines and more.
6 locals raden deze aan
Thrifty Foods Pharmacy
444 Lerwick RdI know it says it's a pharmacy, but it's also a huge grocery store and it's set in a plaza, so it's a good spot to get everything. There is also a good liquor store, Cascadia, which has a good selection of local wines and more.
If you're going north, this is the nearest grocery store. There's also the Forbidden pizza place, a liquor store, and a walk-in medical clinic.
10 locals raden deze aan
Discovery Foods Oyster River
2207 Glenmore RdIf you're going north, this is the nearest grocery store. There's also the Forbidden pizza place, a liquor store, and a walk-in medical clinic.
Food Scene
Locals Restaurant
1760 Riverside LnSo good!
Great for a coffee and a snack to go or a full lunch.
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Rhodos Coffee and Bistro
364 8th StGreat for a coffee and a snack to go or a full lunch.
Excellent, and not too expensive. This place has been in business for 20 years + for a reason!
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Atlas Cafe
250 6th StExcellent, and not too expensive. This place has been in business for 20 years + for a reason!
Rawthentic Eatery
407 5th StTop notch healthy fare.
The food is good, coffee and tea is good, and you can't beat the location if you're downtown!
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Cornerstone Taphouse
208 5th StThe food is good, coffee and tea is good, and you can't beat the location if you're downtown!
This is the site of the summer farmers' market. Check out the Comox Valley Farmers' Market Association website for current locations, they offer a Saturday Market 50 weeks of the year and Wednesday markets in season.
Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds
4839 Headquarters RdThis is the site of the summer farmers' market. Check out the Comox Valley Farmers' Market Association website for current locations, they offer a Saturday Market 50 weeks of the year and Wednesday markets in season.
Great pizza including gluten free and dairy free options (really!), and a cafe.
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Forbidden Zone PIZZA & Espresso Bar
2207D Glenmore RdGreat pizza including gluten free and dairy free options (really!), and a cafe.
This is the site for the Wednesday farmers' Market, the grocery store is now closed. Check the Comox Valley Farmers' Market Association website for details.
46 locals raden deze aan
Thrifty Foods
1551 Cliffe AveThis is the site for the Wednesday farmers' Market, the grocery store is now closed. Check the Comox Valley Farmers' Market Association website for details.
Coastal Black Estate Winery
2186 Endall RdWinery tour? Start here.
Winery not to be missed. The Ortega is excellent!
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Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery
5854 Pickering RdWinery not to be missed. The Ortega is excellent!
Organic blueberry farm turned winery, these guys have a great destination! Fruit wines and ciders.
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Blue Moon Farm, Winery and Ciderworx
4905 Darcy RdOrganic blueberry farm turned winery, these guys have a great destination! Fruit wines and ciders.
Drinks & Nightlife
They also have great pizza (so I hear, I don't eat wheat but it sure looks good!), great beer, and great snacks and tapas. The patio is perfect!
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Gladstone Brewing Co.
244 4th StThey also have great pizza (so I hear, I don't eat wheat but it sure looks good!), great beer, and great snacks and tapas. The patio is perfect!
Great local food and great beer on tap. You'd think it'd be loud, but the patio is right on the Courtenay River and it's actually a peaceful view.
20 locals raden deze aan
The White Whale Restaurant
975 Comox RdGreat local food and great beer on tap. You'd think it'd be loud, but the patio is right on the Courtenay River and it's actually a peaceful view.
The Flying Canoe West Coast Pub
1590 Cliffe AveGreat beer, and nice snacks. And, a liquor store right there!
It's a bar, but mostly we go for the live shows. Always a good time.
43 locals raden deze aan
Waverley Hotel
2692 Dunsmuir AveIt's a bar, but mostly we go for the live shows. Always a good time.
Cumberland Brewing Co.
2732 Dunsmuir AveGreat brews, and you can take it to go!
This is just a placeholder to say that if you've come all this way and the sky is clear, be sure to check out the night sky. We have a very good and very rare dark sky here, with almost no light pollution. You can find info on meteor shower schedules and more at Earthsky.org and https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/skyreport.
Williams Beach
This is just a placeholder to say that if you've come all this way and the sky is clear, be sure to check out the night sky. We have a very good and very rare dark sky here, with almost no light pollution. You can find info on meteor shower schedules and more at Earthsky.org and https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/skyreport.
Sightseeing
Filberg Park
61 Filberg RdPetting zoo and beautiful view.
Comox Avenue
Comox AvenueThere's a view point along the estuary, great for bird watchers.
Paradise Meadows is a beautiful spot, and a rare opportunity to go for a hike in the Vancouver Island alpine without having to hike up to it. Amazing wildflowers in the summer, great snowshoeing or x-country skiing terrain in the winter.
7 locals raden deze aan
Paradise Meadows- Strathcona Provincial Park
Paradise Meadows is a beautiful spot, and a rare opportunity to go for a hike in the Vancouver Island alpine without having to hike up to it. Amazing wildflowers in the summer, great snowshoeing or x-country skiing terrain in the winter.
Arts & Culture
Cool dinosaur exhibit and local history.
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Courtenay & District Museum & Paleontology Centre
207 4th StCool dinosaur exhibit and local history.
Cumberland Museum & Archives
2680 Dunsmuir AveGreat coalmining history and fun for kids.
They have neat exhibits of local art and a good gift shop.
11 locals raden deze aan
Comox Valley Art Gallery
580 Duncan AveThey have neat exhibits of local art and a good gift shop.