I did a lot of canoeing as a kid through boy scouts and I really enjoyed it. However, in college I paddled my first kayak and have not looked back since. Yes, canoes are great because you can load them up with hundreds of pounds of gear and still make it to your destination...but an appropriately sized touring kayak can hold upwards of 100 pounds of gear too. Plus, the smaller storage size (and true dry storage) forces you to make concessions on the more "frilly" creature comforts and lets you commune more with nature (i.e. leaving the solar powered tv at home).

When I go on multi-day paddling trips, I usually only bring the gear I would take on backpacking trips (plus a fishing pole). Of course, a flask and a cigar are considered "necessary survival gear"...the drawback of the touring kayak is that it is primarily a 1-seater so everyone in your group needs their own boat. However, kayaks are more conducive for solo trips, IMHO.

Happy paddling!