Savouring the Flavours of a Fairwinds Getaway
With the earthy, fruity taste of a rich Chianti still on her tongue, author, editor, and nature-enthusiast Susan Lundy recalled sitting with her husband on a cushiony outdoor couch, watching the flame of a fire table dance in the dimming light. Cards and a crib board sat untouched between them, and a brewing conversation about the stunning weekend here in Nanoose Bay remained unspoken. For now, they sat silenced, captivated by the drama of the darkening sky and the activity of the Fairwinds Marina below.
The couple’s accommodation was a thoughtfully curated suite in the lower level of Fairwinds Residences, complete with a full kitchen, spacious sitting area, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Yet Lundy said it was the deck that became their sanctuary. “Here, we found our happy place, watching dogwalkers, anglers, and boaters traverse the dock, while otters played in the water below them. The only sound was the soft metallic clang of halyards bouncing against masts in the marina. It was mesmerizing.”
Fairwinds Residences offers everything guests need right at their doorstep, but it is also the perfect jumping-off spot to explore Vancouver Island’s Oceanside region. Between Nanaimo and Parksville, Nanoose Bay revealed itself as an unexpected haven of rural farmland, parks, forested trails, and the expansive Fairwinds development, which includes upscale homes, a sprawling golf course, two restaurants, and a wellness centre.
“We delved into the culinary side of a Fairwinds stay, as well as exploring the 10 Amazing Places Project,” she said. Over three days, they discovered waterfalls at Qualicum and Englishman rivers, strolled historic Milner Gardens, and wandered beneath tall trees at Heritage Forest and
Cathedral Grove.
Food experiences were a highlight. Located street level in the Fairwinds Residences building is the family-run Nanoose Bay Café with its award-winning BC-focused Wine List and where Chef Todd Bright serves top-notch, Asian-influenced food. The evening included tangy marinated bean curd salad, a “divinely flavoured Surf and Surf” with seared albacore tuna and tiger prawns, and Bruce’s seafood-stuffed gnocchi. During dinner, they met owner Eli Brennan (Water Street Café, Nanoose Bay Café, Deez Bar & Grill), whom Lundy described as “a true BC food-industry mover and shaker with the Nanoose Bay Café and the newly opened Greenview Taphouse, the latest additions to his restaurant collection.”
As their final evening meal unfolded at Greenview Taphouse, they sat on the multi-levelled patio facing the lush golf course, watching a deer family grazing on the greens. Reflecting on their stay, Lundy remarked: “We spent our last evening here on our peaceful, marina-facing patio, satiated and invigorated—but ultimately relaxed. We took another sip of our Chianti and toasted the end of a spectacular trip.”