Rabbit
Kayaking is a water activity I've always wanted to try. Every time I see travel photos of Canada — that blue sky with white clouds, the crystal-clear water, and people gracefully paddling their kayaks across the surface — it makes me itch to be the girl in the picture!
The very first stop has to be the much-recommended Deep Cove Kayak Centre.
This North Vancouver spot is a hugely popular summer destination — you can hike, paddle the lake, and even grab what might be the best doughnuts in all of Vancouver. As you can imagine, tickets sell out fast!
Because of the headcount, I ended up paddling solo (sigh~ an odd number, nothing I could do XD).
After chatting with friends we decided two hours would be about right (since we didn't plan to paddle too far).Two days before, I checked the forecast, saw the holiday would be perfectly sunny, and quickly called to book!
After arriving we checked in on site. A staff member walked us through the gear and how to handle the kayak, and reassured us there’s no need to fear capsizing — the waves here are small, so the chances of tipping over are very low. Once everyone understood, they slowly pushed our boats into the lake.
A kayak is simple and intuitive to operate, though there’s a small difference between the single and double versions. In the single, besides paddling you also have to steer the rear rudder with your feet, whereas in a double you can split those two jobs. Even though it was my first time, I got the hang of it quickly — and once I had the knack down, off I happily went!
Along both sides were lush rows of trees and villas. I saw bikini-clad women sunbathing on their balconies, sipping tea and chatting, then jumping into the lake for a swim whenever they got hot; plenty of people were throwing parties on private yachts, too. You could really feel that easygoing, relaxed Canadian way of life.
As my paddle gently pushed against the water, the beauty of the deep-blue lake filled my eyes. The surface was clean and clear, and the magnificent mountain ranges stood out vividly as I paddled — a real release for someone like me who’d been stuck at home for months. The sun beamed down so warmly that I had to squint, and its gentle light felt wonderful on my skin.
By the time I reached the middle, the little rolling waves made me a bit seasick, so I stopped everything and let myself rest for a moment. I tilted my head back at the bright blue sky and let the waves carry me wherever they pleased — so comfortable, so free, as if time had paused right at that instant; my heart felt calm for a long while.
We’d originally planned to hike afterwards, but because of the pandemic — even though it was still open to visitors — we decided not to head up, so we’ll have to come back another time! Mountains or sea, take your pick. It’s only about a 40-minute drive from downtown and the bus goes there too — convenient and fun. I genuinely recommend this place; it’s well worth several visits. Click here for the kayak booking website
Rabbit's four things to note
1. Since it's a popular spot, it's better to book online a few days ahead! That said, the website sometimes updates slowly, so it's best to call directly to get the most accurate boat info. 2. Even though your belongings go inside the hull, they may still get wet, so bring as little as possible or make sure it's well waterproofed. 3. About 90% of the time your bottom will get wet while paddling, so shorts and sandals — light and quick-drying — are the way to go. 4. Arriving half an hour early is ideal, in case it gets crowded and the boat briefing pushes back your departure time.5. After booking, the website emails you a liability waiver — fill it in online beforehand so you don't waste time on site.
