Jay was a terrific guide. Very knowledgeable and adapted the tour to our specific needs/wants.
Private tour in Halifax Jay W
5.0
(11) reviews
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Jay W.
5.0
Guide rating
298
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I'm a retired academic who is passionate about the natural and cultural assets of my native province. I've conducted curated guided tours in Halifax since 2012, and also work with Road Scholar as a lecturer and guide. Nova Scotia has spectacular scenery, friendly people, and a surprisingly complex past. Prepare to be informed and entertained by Bluenose culture! Availability: Tours are offered year-round -- please check my calendar. September and October are busiest months for cruise ship visits, so book early. I can accommodate groups of up to six in my Town & Country minivan. Qualifications: PhD in Canadian History. Taught university history courses in Ontario, Nova Scotia and Washington State. Tourism Experience: Onboard historian with Clipper Cruise Line, Cruise West and Haimark, 2000-2015. Travel Experience: North America: all 10 Canadian provinces and 3 territories; U.S.A. East Coast, Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes. Europe: UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Czech Republic. I am a native Haligonian and Nova Scotia has been my home since 1998. Nova Scotia Class 4 (Taxi) driver's licence, Commercial General Liability insured, Nova Scotia UARB registered and licensed.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Jay W.
Lunenburg was founded by German and Swiss Protestant settlers in 1753 when Nova Scotia was contested territory between Great Britain and France. Over 70% of the town's architecture predates 1900, making it one of the most authentic colonial settlements in North America. A mecca for visitors, Lunenburg possesses a superb fisheries museum, a very walkable historic district, and is home port to Nova Scotia's iconic tall ship, Bluenose II. UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town may be visited year-round, however some venues are closed during the off-season (November to May). I can accommodate small groups of up to six persons in a 2015 Town & Country minivan.
Jay was a terrific guide. Very knowledgeable and adapted the tour to our specific needs/wants.
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Nova Scotia made much better by our time spent with Jay exploring the area around Halifax. Especially our introduction to Lunenburg and the addition of a side trip to Oak Island to see where our favorite treasure hunting show on History Channel is filmed. Jay is a font of knowledge about the local and history and took pains to give us a maximum of opportunities to get pictures to document our travels. He was especially attentive to insuring my wife was comfortable despite a day of cool temps and rain showers. Goes with the territory in NS. We did a second day with Jay to Peggy’s Cove which was also very enjoyable and informative.
We had the best experience of our entire 9 day cruise with Jay visiting Halifax. Skip the Royal Caribbean excursions and travel with Jay through Tours by Locals! We saw the Titanic exhibit & more in the Museum of the Atlantic. Cemetery where Titanic victims were laid to rest. Traveled to Lunensburg, on the way stopping@ the Oak Island causeway@ memorial stone. If u travel that route u might try stopping@ the Mug&Anchor (Closed on Wed) located in Mahone Bay. It is a popular spot where the Oak Island team sometimes film. All & all Jay gave us the perfect trip giving us informative details of the area. Thanks Jay from our group of 6!!! Kate
Jay was a terrific guide, extremely knowledgeable and personable. He shared many relevant stories of the area. The stops at Lunenberg Academy, St. John's Church, and Lunenberg's Museum were very interesting. We saw the Blue Nose II come in and went aboard. Our lunch stop at Rebecca's was delicious and included Digby scallops. During the drive we conversed about many topics easily. Well done and thank you so much Jay! Dave and Cindy from St Louis
Jay was a knowledgeable and charming tour guide. We enjoyed our time with him immensely, and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to tour the Halifax area. His specialty is military history, but his general historical knowledge is impressive, and we learned so much from him.
We had a great day with Jay. He was super knowledgeable about the area and answered all of the many questions we came up with. He tailored the tour to our interests, was on time, and very pleasant to spend the day with.
- Lunenburg Academy - St. John's Anglican Church - Bandstand and War Memorial - King Street - Montague Street - Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic (optional) - Bluenose II (seasonal) - scenic drive to Mahone Bay The tour may be customized, subject to time constraints.
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
2015 Town & Country minivan. Please note that for maximum comfort, five passengers is recommended.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: For arrivals by cruise ship, meeting location is in the parking lot across from terminal exit. Look for a big yellow sign with your surname on it. Please specify the name of your vessel when booking the tour.
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a 20% deposit!
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