On those sunny days when the wind is warm and a day digging in the sand is in order, starting your morning out at Kin Beach Provincial Park is the way to go.

This tucked away spot, just down the hill off of Kilmarnack Road in Comox, is the perfect combination of quaint picnic/cookout locale, beach goodness and playground that will keep the whole family entertained.

So, make a store run, stock up on grill food, bust out the potato salad and in the midst of this gorgeous weather, head out to explore.

Kin Beach isn’t a challenging hike in the woods, more a leisurely wander from the BBQ pit to the rocky waterfront and back. A stroll along the beach checking out some of Kin’s unusual foliage and wildflowers makes for some excellent exploring while the kiddos test drive the ancient, funky playground equipment that may make you cringe a bit in the safety universe. But, totally gives you 70s elementary school flashbacks (whoa, did I ever just date myself).

The main parking area also doubles as the camping/BBQ spot and a flat, well-maintained path leads you out to the beach. You can walk in both directions for a fair bit, particularly at lower tides with snails and crabs dominating the tide pools.

There is PLENTY of grassy open space just above the beach for running, touch football or all kinds of fun with a big covered picnic area if a cold lunch is more your style. The quaint treat is the Kin Beach Store, where you can pick up a few snacks and chat up the friendly folks there.

My biggest tips for this locale are to dress for changing weather and bring lunch, maybe even a tent. You’ll be charmed into spending the better half of a sunny day there. You get there from Courtenay by taking Ryan Road out to Comox 19 and making a left onto Military Row. Make a right on Kilmarnack Road and at the fork in the road, go down the hill to the left and into the park. From Comox, head out to Military Row past Comox 19 and follow the directions from there.

One of the treats of this spot are the birds – from the seemingly ever-present bald eagles, crows and seagulls to the robins, hummingbirds and chickadees who linger around the old cherry trees. The grassy park space draws in some of the more charming chirpers and make Kin Beach a great spot for some serious bird watching.

After some good binocular-wielding times, you can head on home and to make the whole family a set of bird badges in honour of their field studies.

This is a great craft from the book Look and Make with Paper (available through VIRL) that you could even do at the picnic table while on a break from the beach or the BBQ.

Here’s what you need:

- Red, green and yellow construction paper
- Scissors
- Google eyes
- Pompoms
- Craft glue
- Medium-sized paper clips
- Tape

Directions:

1. First, cut out a body, beak, leg and two wings (there’s a great template in the book) and glue them together.

2. Take a paper clip, open up one end and slide a piece of tape over the unstraightened end.

3. Tape to the back of the bird and put a pompom on the sharp end of the paper clip to keep it from poking someone.

4. Wear and enjoy.