We did a heck of a lot of discovering of new outdoor spaces last year – friends clued us in to not-so-secret spots that we’d just never gotten the scoop on before and we made our way out to some cool locales that became serious favourites.

The tiny person and I clued in to the amazing changes of each season and that a space which seems quiet and sleepy one part of the year is the hottest spot in town three months later.

Our Big Earth’s NeighbourWood Walks program brought many of those spaces to a huge crew of Valley families (we met over 100 kids with their moms and dads on walks last year). But, we definitely had our favourites.

Here are a few of the hottest family-friendly spots in the Comox Valley:

1. It is no secret, the tiny person and I totally dig the Lazo Marsh just outside of Comox. While it’s lovely all year long, our favourite seasons are Winter (bird feeding) and Spring (rare flower blooms). This short, sweet walk is a great place for any family to start.

2. Not far behind is our Spring and Summertime beach haunt, the Pt. Holmes Reef in Lazo. From the March herring spawn right through until the rising Fall tides cover up the amazing tide pools out there, this beach is spectacular at low tide.

3. One of our favourite discoveries last Summer was George Sawchuk’s Enchanted Forest in Fanny Bay. Fiercely focused on human rights and justice, Sawchuk has turned the forest around his home into an incredible, provocative public art walk. We love it and return over and over again.

4. The whole family fell in love with the lovely, easygoing combination of farm, forest and beach at Oyster River Nature Park in Black Creek. This charming space, known well by Black Creek locals, is a gorgeous spot for a day out any time of year.

5. A quiet fave for us last year was Kin Beach out past CFB 19 Wing in Comox. This cozy spot opens up to spectacular views, a fun beach and a great place to set up the BBQ. Plenty of space to run.

6. Fall would not have been complete without the TOTALLY AMAZING trip we took to the Puntledge River Fish Hatchery on Powerhouse Road in Courtenay. Salmon are such incredible creatures and the science of it all is fascinating. Looking forward to a Spring visit too with all of the smolts ready for release.

7. No list of outdoor family gems is complete in the Comox Valley without Paradise Meadows. Incredible in the Summer, spectacular in the Winter, it is a breathtaking adventure.

8. Way up there on our ultimate family nature spots hit list is Merville’s quiet, quaint Williams Beach and our very favourite family farm stop Seaview Game Farm. A day at the beach matched with a trip to Seaviews incredible petting farm and picnic area is just absolute family-tacular. We love it.

9. It is a tie for tops when it comes to the Swamp Loop and the Main Beach Trail at Seal Bay Nature Park north of Courtenay. The swam loop is perfect for a low-key, longish exploration of a watery forest while the main beach trail takes you for a bit more of a hike, down to one of the most sheltered and spectacular beaches in the Comox Valley. Either one is a complete gem.

10. Hands down, our favourite nature spot of 2008 was MacDonald Wood Nature Park and its ever changing Croteau Beach. With every season, we found ourselves discovering something new and fantastic down there, our perfect escape from the preschool crazies, the perfect spot for a dose of sunshine, perfect, perfect, perfect.

I can’t wait for this year to discover even more amazing locales and find our 2009 hangout. Go see what’s out there!!!