The Almost Free Family Fun in Halifax, Nova ScotiaDIY Cruise Ship Excursion

Halifax Harbour is the second largest natural harbour in the world - Sydney Australia is the largest. Halifax is the closest large harbour to Europe and is ice-free year round. This is home to Blue Diamond Tours and to our The Almost Free Family Fun in Halifax, Nova ScotiaDIY Cruise Ship Excursion

Lately, we've had all kinds of fun " showing off --- Halifax " to many differing groups -- the Kovacic entended " family" from California -- the Ziemer's of Philadelphia - Slattery's of Arizona - the Securtek folks from western Canada -- and numerous Princess Cruise Lines passengers from as they say " all over ". And a fun time is what we try to do --- mix a little fibbin' with some history and facts and keep a light humorous touch on it all . . . and no exams at the end.
With our small groups, we can avoid most of the cruise ships tour groups - get there when they ain't - we strive to have you see " the site " - as pure and natural as is possible -- the other day with the Kovacics we were able to arrive at Peggy's Cove when most of the big ship's tours had left ( between the morning and afternoon ship's Peggy's Cove tours ) - and the same thing applied to the Ziemer family/group when we visited the Titanic Cemetery -- no other " large " group was there, just four people.
We have made lunch reservations for groups wishing to experience dining at Peggy's Cove but have "re-discovered " - great lunches at both Tea and Treasures at Indian Harbour, outside Peggy's Cove and the Trellis Cafe at Hubbards - on Saint Margaret's Bay. These two mentioned are not very large - so the ship's tours can not experience the " real food -- that is real and good food to be had " at smaller establishments - another advantage of The Almost Free Family Fun in Halifax, Nova Scotia DIY Cruise Ship Excursion . .
With our smaller groups we tend to " show off --- areas of Halifax that are very very seldom shown - more residential areas - especially in south end Halifax and generally two exceptional residential places of unique design - we at www.BlueDiamondTours.com call this the plus factor with our Shore Excursions - Halifax we just plain add more into your tour of our home town -- we like to boast -- we know Halifax best.
When seeking information on Halifax Shore Excursions -- try as best you can
· know what you'd like to do
· know your physical limits
· tell how much time -- sometimes I find folks looking at their watches -- they've had enough
· know what your fellows in your group want too
· want lunch - or just a snack or just coffee - tell us - we will work it in to the itinerary
· have a budget ( be aware smaller groups have to spread fixed costs over a fewer number )
· the cheapest is generally not the best ( they have to cut corners ( costs ) somewhere )
As I told the Kovacic group -- no tour is the same even if it covers the same general areas -- you and your group is unique -- we tailor our tours - to you and yours.
And, yes we do indeed love showing off --- Halifax --- I truly do !
Till next time
Bob
PS Look for our latest Travelogues on our web-site www.BlueDiamondTours.com

The Great Scarecrow Festival & Antique Fair

{Another "Almost Free Family Fun in Halifax, Nova Scotia" and "DIY Cruise Ship Excursion"}

Saturday October 4. Our grandson Justin (age 6) wanted some Free Family Fun in Halifax with his Nana and "Bobbob" (that's me!). Ann said Scarecrows was the answer.
More specifically “The Great Scarecrow Festival & Antique Fair” held from October 3 – 5 in Mahone Bay. It’s their most famous Fall festival, now in its 12th year.

After getting Justin at his home, we drove directly to Mahone Bay via Route 103. The quickest and most direct route to Mahone Bay. The day was great! Sunshine a few clouds and quite mild (warm is not the exact term). Mahone Bay was crowded with cars, motorcycles, motorhomes and lots of people enjoying this festival.

We found a parking spot off the main drag. We enjoyed hot-dogs from the Lion's Club and then we walked and walked and walked some more up and down the streets of Mahone Bay. Justin told me he could walk 195 miles.

The type, quality and subject of the scarecrows varied greatly. You could tell many people and organizations spend a great deal of time, effort and money to turn-out first-class works of art we spent about 2.5 hours exploring the festival. We didn’t walk 195 miles. Justin was more than content to rest with Nana while I took time to get some shots of a site showing the Great Canadian Political Debate - called the Spin Debate!!

Halifax Shore Excursions

Inquiries continue to come in daily, the cruise ship " season " is at it's mid-point, one day Thursday October 2, saw four ships in Halifax, and our tourism shore providers were overwhelmed. But, in truth, it is all part of what we like to call The Almost Free Family Fun in Halifax, Nova Scotia - DIY Cruise Ship Excursion.

At Blue Diamond Tours we were busy showing off Halifax to a variety of different groups of people - the Arline-Slattery Group from Arizona - a group of Catholics from the USA the Baluyut Family Group (thank you Suxanne Borte of Europeexpress.com) - a family group from the New York City region and Joyce Austin's JA Friendship Group from Troy, Alabama plus four separate groups from the Princess Cruise Lines (for Atlantic Cruise Ship Services and TayMac Tours both of Halifax), many of these visitors were from either Australia or Europe.

On Thursday and Friday (October 2 and 3) we had the distinct pleasure of again showing off -- Halifax, including Peggy's Cove to the dealer convention of Securtek.com (a SaskTel company) many attendees were from western Canada and were first time visitors to Halifax.

Again on Friday, October 2, Blue Diamond Tours was at it again showing off Halifax to Mary & Bob Ziemer and friends from Philidelphia - I called it the best of Halifax & Peggy's in 5.5 hours. It was a very good time to show off Halifax. Kyle, the so-called hurricane plus an un-named storm, kicked up the surf at Peggy's Cove for Joyce Austin's tour, Zeimer folks and Securtek group as well. They took some great photos and all also saw Peggy's Cove Swimmin' Hole. No surf or waves there - just a pure, natural, off the ocean, pool of wave-free swimmin' water.

To help with those thinking about a private Halifax Shore Excursion and those seeking quotes from Shore Excursion providers contact Blue Diamond Tours. To help you make the most from your time in Halifax always keep in mind our famous DO IT YOURSELF Cruise Ship Excursion but IF NOT then it is very helpful if you have a good idea of what you and yours:

• would like to see while in port - places - sites - things you would like to do


• the amount of time you wish to " tour "


• the number in your group (any disabilities people have - the need to eat at certain specific times)


• and if possible your budget


• Our mini- van seats six persons comfortably and seven " in a pinch " - really good friends


• For groups of eight to thirteen - we use a full sized 15 passenger van supplying both driver and guide


• For groups 14 to 22 persons we use a mini-bus seating a maximum of 24 - driver and guide


• for more than 22 persons we charter a motorcoach - seating 45 to 54 depending on the number in your group

As group size increases, the cost of a vehicle increases as well. You should note that Blue Diamond Tours uses a combination of a driver PLUS a guide on all its Halifax Shore Excursions except for its mini-van series. Be aware - not all companies do this!

• Historic Core Halifax and Peggy's Cove - generally will take about 4 to 5 hours to complete


• Full Halifax and Peggy's Cove - generally will take more than six hours - depending on just what is included


• to Lunenburg/ Mahone Bay - Halifax drive-thro - approximately 5.5 to 6.5 hours - depends on route taken, traffic and amount of time spent in Mahone Bay and Lunenburg.


• include Peggy's Cove in the above and time could be 7 hours


• Halifax, Peggy's & St Margaret's Bay to Hubbards (and having lunch) - generally will take up to six hours


• Halifax to Fundy Tidal area - will take up to six hours
  
  

The Gold Coast

Hello!

On Saturday, September 20, 2008 and that last Saturday of summer, Ann & I decided to explore part of the Gold Coast of Nova Scotia - at least, we call it the Gold Coast but really is either the Eastern Shore or The Marine Drive by Tourism Nova Scotia --- all part of our The Almost Free Family Fun in Halifax, Nova ScotiaDIY Cruise Ship Excursion.

We left our home in Clayton Park in west-end Halifax and crossed the MacKay Bridge and made out way to Martinique Beach -- following along the road for East Petpeswick ( the tidal flats are extremely well known for clamming - great clams come from here. We did a number of snapshots of this great beach - at 3 miles long it is Nova Scotia's longest sand beach --- our snap-shots show what we call Little Martinique and others showing "Big Martinique.

Back-tracking we made our way to the Jeddore/Oyster Pond area ( Route 7 ) crossing the Salmon River Bridge -- more about this spot in a minute, arriving at the Fisherman's Life Museum and more snap-shots for The Almost Free Family Fun in Halifax, Nova Scotia DIY Cruise Ship Excursion.

Following our time at the Fisherman's Life Museum we started our return journey to home. We had to stop for snaps-shots of all the fun taking place at the Pirates of Jeddore Festival at Salmon River Bridge ( http://www.novascotiapirates.ca/ ).

Our last snap-shot shoot was of the Musquodoboit River --- from Highway # 7's bridge across the river --- yes it is a good fishing river.

Our time was short, the weather was sunny for the most part and as Ann remarked it was " warm enough " and there was a mild breeze. The scenery was great - few cars on the roads -- and people were enjoying - "the last days of summer ".

Look for the snap-shots on the web.

Til next time
Bob