Shore Excursion E: The Gold Coast

Dartmouth

E begins with a tour of historic Halifax before heading to Dartmouth via the Angus L. MacDonald Bridge which opened in 1955 and is the older of the two harbour bridges.  We’ll have a quick drive through the city of Dartmouth which was founded in 1750,

Route 207

Before heading for Route 207,‘a road less travelled’ which twists and bends past great ocean views, white-sand beaches, extensive salt marshes, and tiny Acadian fishing villages.  We’ll stop for a brief photo opportunity at one of the great surfing beaches.  Along the way, we’ll hear stories of the people who have made their living out on the wild Atlantic and along this rugged shoreline since the 1700's.  We’ll stop on the dock at a working fishing village for photos and perhaps a chance to chat with local fishermen. 

Fisherman's Life Museum

Later, we’ll visit a typical fishing family’s homestead circa 1900 where we’ll learn firsthand just how difficult it was (and still is) to earn a living from the sea and raise a family, in this case, a family of 13 daughters. 

Memory Lane Heritage Village 

Afterwards, we’ll have an extended visit to a pre-WWII community where we’ll get the chance to see (and maybe for some of us, remember) how life was lived more than 70 years ago.  Adding to the nostalgia and giving us a brief and wistful glimpse into days gone by, we’ll see some very familiar household and garden products that, while once common domestic items, are no longer part of family living today.   For our meal (which is included), we’ll enjoy a typical family lunch made from scratch with seasonally-available produce and using traditional, local family recipes.  Our return to dockside will be mainly via a different route and will include a trip across the MacKay Bridge which opened in 1971 and is the second harbour bridge.  

This Private Pre-BookeD excursion tour is fully narrated by your guide and will take an estimated 5.5 to 6.5 hours to complete.