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Fanny
Bay
Fanny Bay is located 30 km (19 miles) north of Parksville
and 24 km (15 miles) south of Courtenay
on Hwy 19A. Fanny Bay is well known on Vancouver Island for world-famous
oysters and the infamous Fanny Bay Inn.
F.B.I.
Entering Fanny Bay from the south on Hwy 19A, you'll arrive at a
historic pub called the Fanny Bay Inn. Fondly called the F.B.I.,
the inn was established before the change in pub legislation in
the 1970's. The F.B.I. was one of a handful of roadside inns located
in the province of British Columbia with an authentic British pub
feel to it. Most of the other pubs have long disappeared.
Ideal
Retirement Community
The rest of the community is quite small and is situated right on
Hwy 19A. At one time, before Hwy 19 was built, Fanny Bay tended
to be quite busy with the large volume of traffic travelling up
and down the island. Today the community is a little more quiet
and mellower, making it an ideal retirement community.
Mac's
or Fanny Bay Oysters
If you happen to enjoy fresh oysters, try visiting Mac's or Fanny
Bay Oysters for the very best. Both companies have been in operation
for many years bringing the very best shellfish product into the
market place from the rich and productive waters of Baynes' Sound.
The
Brico
Another landmark as you drive through Fanny Bay Inn on Hwy 19A is
the Brico. Once a cable-laying ship, the Brico, was beached on shore,
later to serve as a restaurant. Today it sits on the shores of Fanny
Bay as a friendly reminder of days gone past. Next door to the Brico
is another landmark, Mac's Oysters, with its familiar piles of oyster
shells along the waters' edge.
Ships
Point
Help forming Fanny Bay on the south end of the community is the
Ship Peninsula that projects out towards Denman Island in Baynes
Sound. Here you can find a beautiful housing subdivision that was
developed in the 1970's.
Ships
Point Regional Park
On the south side, there is Ships Point Regional Park that features
a gravel beach full of small tidal pools that are teeming with various
forms of sea life. Ships Point Regional Park is also a popular spot
where the locals go windsurfing.
Wildlife
Watching
Other exploring on Ships Point includes some of the tidal flats
along the oceanfront. The marshes and beach area found here are
an abundant source of nutrients for the large number of bird species
and wildlife that make Fanny Bay their home. The trail to the marsh
through the area starts near the parking at the end of Tazer Road.
Denman
and Hornby Island
Fanny Bay sits right across the Baynes Sound from Denman
Island. With boat launches located either from Deep Bay or Fanny
Bay, you have the opportunity to visit some of British Columbia's
best scuba dive and beach areas. One of these is the sandy beach
at Tribune Bay on Hornby
Island which is just across from Denman Island. On Denman Island,
go to Sandy Island Provincial Marine Park.
BC
Ferries
If you don't have a boat but would like to visit Denman or Hornby
Islands there is a BC Ferries terminal situated just north of Fanny
Bay at Buckley Bay. Located only 5 km (3 miles) north, you will
have to take two ferries to get to Hornby Island.
Accommodation
There are a number of Bed and Breakfast establishments in the Fanny
Bay area, especially along Ships Point. For provincial parks, the
nearest one is at Rosewall
Creek Provincial Park just south of Fanny Bay but, unfortunately,
there is no campground.
Information
on Fanny Bay
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