Kayaking, doughnuts highlight Deep Cove visit
DEEP COVE — About halfway through a kayaking tour on the waters of Indian Arm, expect the Deep Cove Kayak instructor to whip out a bag of the area’s famous doughnuts for a snack while taking in the view of the fiord and likely spotting some wildlife.
Kayaking in North Vancouver’s Deep Cove area offers breathtaking scenery and an abundance of wildlife.
The village is a short trip from Vancouver and visitors can enjoy many other outdoor activities in the area, including hiking, if they wish to stay longer.
Deep Cove is close to Vancouver and the waters are calm, making it a great kayaking spot for locals and tourists, said Joel Viehweger, 23, who has worked as a kayak instructor at Deep Cove Kayak for three seasons.
“There’s a bunch of other neat stuff to do,” he said, highlighting the area’s eateries and nature.
The most popular tour is a three-hour exploration of the area that Viehweger says runs three times a day during the high season months.
Participants receive a quick demonstration on land, teaching them how to paddle effectively and get in and out of the boats. Once on the water, instructors discuss the area’s flora, fauna and history.
As paddlers pass through the small, scattered islands they’ll learn about the folklore of Jug Island. Some say the island was a drop-off spot for bootleggers during prohibition.
At some point during the journey, instructors will treat the guests to doughnuts from Honey’s Doughnuts & Goodies, which has been a fixture on Deep Cove’s main shopping drag for decades.
“That’s the tradition,” Viehweger said.
The café, known mostly for its decadent doughnuts, hit a new level of fame when actor Kate Winslet raved about the treats during an interview at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.
“I pine for Honey’s doughnuts,” she said, before repeating herself, heavy emphasis on the word “pine.”
The bakers make the preservative-free, high-quality ingredient doughnuts fresh, said co-owner Ashak Saferali, and sometimes customers have to wait for a new batch.
It helps the business when Hollywood celebrities like Winslet call attention to the café, Saferali said, adding she’s not the only actor to have dropped by the store.
He also believes the tranquillity of Deep Cove helps bring patrons to the restaurant.
“The area is really beautiful ... It’s like going into a small village.”