North Vancouver, BC Outdoor Activities

Hundreds of marine vendors and yacht brokers set up temporary homes on floating platforms at Mosquito Creek Marina for the Boat Show at the Creek. Along with family-friendly events during each of the fest’s days, guests can attend daily boating seminars aboard the Celebration on Water, a refurbished BC ferry. A beer garden and food court are open every day, and guests are welcome to arrive by boat, bring their canine companions, or have the family dog drive the boat before hanging out in the beer garden.

Vancouver Water Adventures equips maritime adventurers with wet suits, life jackets, and personal watercraft for exploring the waterways of False Creek and English Bay. The staff stocks a fleet of jet skis, paddleboards, and water bikes, which riders can pedal along inlets without having to worry about the confusion associated with bike lanes or passive-aggressive hand signals. In addition to soaking up scenic ocean views and spying on local wildlife, guests can accompany skilled guides on tours to the area's most impressive sights. Those operating machines must have a valid driver's licence, and all passengers must be at least 6 years old without factoring in alternate theories of relativity.

Creekside Kayaks supplies guests with a sleek fleet of rental kayaks canoes for voyages that traverse the scenic areas flanking False Creek. Solo or duo seafarers can fit snugly within a Necky Manitou II, whose adjustable seat accommodates two adults; single paddlers can also nestle into the roomy cockpit of the Necky Looksha 14. Certified instructors walk uninitiated visitors through kayaking basics during three-hour introductory courses that cover fundamental paddling skills, rescue techniques, water safety, and how easily kayaks transform into giants' kazoos.

Outdoor adventurers must take a 20-minute ferry ride in order to get to Bowen Island Sea Kayaking's home base, where a professional crew sets boats floating through the area’s wildlife and natural scenery. The complimentary ferry, known as the Queen of Capilano, eases out of Horseshoe Bay and motors into Howe Sound, possibly passing trios of cresting orcas on its way to Snug Cove.

The staff furnishes rentals as well as slates tours during prime viewing hours, such as when the moon rises above Hollyburn Mountain. Seasoned instructors lead all levels of paddlers through lessons in well-maintained, fully outfitted vessels, granting views of seals, eagles, and white-sided dolphins darting over and under the sea’s surface and through hoops held up by clownfish. Bowen Island Sea Kayaking’s location also affords oarsmen refreshment options, including a pub and burger and taco stands.

From the views of snow-capped mountains and the cascading Granite Falls of Indian Arm to the bustling public market of Granville Island, the Vancouver area overflows with seafaring escapes. Realizing the abundance of sandy beaches meeting lush green forests, diverse wildlife, totem poles, and charming seaside villages, the owners of Coal Harbour and Lonsdale Boat Rentals decided they needed to give locals and visitors easy access to the region's splendour. To accomplish this, they offer rentals of Hourston Glascrafts, Bayliners, and fishing boats to licensed boaters. They also create customizable sightseeing tours piloted by experienced captains who ferry passengers to Bowen Island for a coffee or to Deep Cove for dinner at a seaside restaurant. To accommodate groups, the team can charter 40- to 80-foot boats, allowing corporate outings, private parties, or the Brady Bunch's family reunion to take place in a scenic setting.

Skipper Sergei Rovensky, the mariner at the heart of Bowen Sailing Charters, and other skippers saddle up the 55-foot Valhalla for smooth, recreational jaunts through the neighbouring waters of Bowen Island. The beloved luxury yacht is one of only 250 in the Vagabond series created by English shipbuilder Ernest Chamberlain, whose handiwork was recently updated in 2011 when Captain Sergei gave the vessel a makeover. The renovation preserved the yacht's timeless sailboat elements, such as polished-brass hardware, a classic silhouette, and a porthole eye patch. The Valhalla grants charter groups the thrill of a modern-day sea adventure, sailing to the Octopus Islands and other scenic locales as passengers enjoy the ship's many amenities, such as a flat-screen television, an elegant rosewood dining table, and WiFi. The same teak wood that trims the cabin's interior makes up Valhalla's 47-foot deck, where passengers can cast salmon-seeking fishing lines or leap off into the waves for snorkeling.