Vancouver is one of the great cities for sailing and boating. A sea port city on the coast of British Columbia, Vancouver is appreciated as a destination location for yachters, boaters, sailors, and other people who appreciate the open water.

Vancouver has many marinas and docks where you are able to make port, such as Granville Island, where boaters can enjoy some of Vancouver's culture, along with great shopping and food. If you are traveling north from Seattle, Vancouver's marinas offer respite for eager sea travelers.

If you are interested in sailing, kayaking, fishing, or sightseeing, there are many opportunities to charter a boat, where well-trained professionals can offer their services by the hour or by the day, teaching you the nuances of sailing in Vancouver's harbour, riding the waves from Lion's Gate bridge to Point Atkinson, and even beyond to Horshoe Bay or Bowen Island.

Kayaking fun can be had from Deep Cove in North Vancouver, where enthusiastic paddlers can explore parts of the Indian Arm, and enjoy the beautiful scenery that Burrard Inlet has to offer. Professional kayakers can offer lessons on kayaking and water safety, allowing beginners to appreciate and understand the basics of kayaking.

Even if you're not a big fan of small boats, you can ride one of the British Columbia ferries to Vancouver Island, stopping in Nanaimo or Victoria. The one-and-a-half hour voyage takes you across Georgia Strait, where you can witness seafaring delights, perhaps spotting a whale or dolphin in the process.

Even a small trip from Vancouver to Granville Island from the tiny but efficient Aquabuses can give you a taste of some of the Pacific's maritime fun. It doesn't matter if you've got your sealegs or not, because you'll be on the other side in no time at all.

Powerboating, jetskiing, canoeing, and other water activities are also available to you, whether in the ocean, or in one of B.C.'s many recreation lakes. So if you plan on visiting Vancouver anytime soon, and watersports is what you're after, then the world's your oyster when you come to stay in beautiful British Columbia.