Granville Island is the center of action for paddlers, and the calm waters of adjacent False Creek make the perfect place to practice your skills. For the widest choice of equipment, head to Adventure Fitness (1510 Duranleau St., 604/687-1528) or Ecomarine Ocean Kayak Centre (1668 Duranleau St., 604/689-7575). Both rent single sea kayaks from $36 for two hours or $58 for 24 hours, and double sea kayaks and canoes from $48 for two hours or $72 for 24 hours. Both companies also teach kayaking.

The Indian Arm of Burrard Inlet allows for a real wilderness experience, right on the city’s back doorstep. This 22-kilometer (13.7-mile) long fjord cuts deeply into the North Shore Range; the only development is at its southern end, where the suburb of Deep Cove provides a takeoff point for the waterway.

Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Centre (2156 Banbury Rd., Deep Cove, 604/929-2268) rents canoes and kayaks for $38 for two hours for a single kayak.

If you’d prefer to take a tour, contact Lotus Land Tours (604/684-4922 or 800/528-3531), which charges $180 per person for a full-day tour, including downtown hotel pickups, a salmon barbecue on an uninhabited island, and instruction.