When you wake up early, the kiddos are going stir crazy and you just need to get out of the house on a Sunday morning, there are walks that make all of that chaos fade away.

Taking the winding drive out to Seal Bay Nature Park is relaxing all on its own – with its fields of flowers and horses and, if you go the way of Anderton Road, a stop at Becky’s Country Bakery for a slice of homemade bread or a yummy wheat-free cookie.

But, once you get to this fairy forest, you know all of your stress is about to get hiked away.

There’s many a route to take. But, one path tops the charts for us when a beach run is not on the schedule – The Swamp Loop.

The trail starts across Bates Road from the main parking area. You’ll see right away why your tiny people will have to be on foot on in a backpack. While it is wide, level and well-groomed, the trail head is designed to keep mountain bikers and horse out – which means strollers aren’t an option either.

So, once you’ve got everyone rounded up and ready for the roughly 2K hike (made much longer by taking trail offshoots if you prefer a longer day), head down the path and take a left at the Swamp Loop sign. This route leads you through some great swampy areas that are right now full of blooming skunk cabbage, old twisted swamp trees and a huge old tree stump that is not only gorgeous but fun.

Follow the loop around and you’ll come to a clearing that opens up onto a lovely, serene “swamp” of sorts although there is plenty of water running in and out of it. I love the mix of pine trees and lily pads along with ducks and mergansers dropping by.

The walk from there leads over a bridge which ends up to be THE perfect spot to stop and spend a bit chatting about life while the kiddos pitch rocks and sticks into the creek below.

And, it winds up right where you started. There’s a bathroom at the trail head for the Main Beach Trail at the Bates Road parking lot. So no worries about having to pee in the woods.

You get to Seal Bay Nature Park from Courtenay by heading up the Old Island Highway, make a right on Coleman Road and then a slight right onto Bates. From Comox, take Anderton Road and make sure you turn left instead of heading to the ferry. Then follow the signs out to the park.

After a rain, this trail can be mildly mucky, and it’s important to remember your cougar and bear safety as this is a busy time of year for those guys.

Otherwise, this quiet trail with a whole lot to look at makes Sunday morning sparkle.

If the kiddos slipped their wellies on for the first time this season and realized they are a wee bit smaller than last year, make a stop over at Everything Wet in downtown Courtenay for some new boots and take those old ones out to the garden.

It’s time to plant some gum boot flowers.

We first got this idea after a visit to the children’s garden at Milner Gardens and Woodland in Qualicum Beach.

We rip through boots around here, and I hate throwing them away. The tiny person will literally wear them to the holes and I was entirely stumped as to how to keep them out of the landfill.

Gum boot planters are the winner.

This is another easy project that just takes a few supplies and some willingness to dig in the dirt (wahooo!)

Here’s what you need:

- Old gum boots,
- Potting soil,
- Plants, and
- Scissors.

Directions:

1. Cut some drainage holes near the bottom of the boots.

2. Fill the boots with dirt.

3. Plant a flower or other plant in the top. (we planted forget-me-nots)

4. Water them thoroughly.

Now you have a super cute addition to your garden, have reused those worn-out wellies and gotten a great walk in too.

Enjoy your Sunday!