Tour #2 – Aspotogan Peninsula, St Margret’s Bay, and Peggy’s Cove
This Coast Line Drive, as we like to call it, boasts stunning landscapes for those Nature lovers out there. The tour winds its way along this part of Nova Scotia’s coast taking in dozens of coves, beaches and fishing villages in and around St. Margarets Bay. You are welcome to stop as often as you wish for photos or to walk along the shoreline and/or beaches.
The tour starts at exit 7 in East River and winds along the coastal road back to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Route 329 circles the peninsula along the coast while Trunk 3 and Highway 103 pass to the north. The coast of the Aspotogan Peninsula is dotted with a number of small communities; East River.
Deep Cove, Upper Blandford, Blandford. New Harbour, Bayswater, Aspotogan, Southwest Cove, Northwest Cove, The Lodge, Birchy Head, Mill Cove, Fox Point, and the largest community in the area, Hubbards, possibly stopping at the Trellis Cafe.
The Aspotogan Peninsula is in the eastern part of Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, separating St. Margarets Bay in the east from Mahone Bay in the west. The peninsula was originally settled by second generation French immigrants on the east (St. Margarets Bay) side and by second generation German immigrants on the west (Mahone Bay) side. Traditionally fishing was a major industry for communities throughout the peninsula, however other primary industries such as farming and forestry were historically important as well. Shipping and shipbuilding were secondary and tertiary industries that also came into prominence during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
From Hubbards we pass Queensland Beach and travel along the Head of St. Margarets Bay, turning towards Peggy’s Cove in Upper Tantallon, and stopping at the Acadian Maple Products outlet, where maple sugar products are made on site. Free samples of maple sugar candy, maple sugar cookies, maple sugar brittle, and you can taste test the different grades of the maple sugar, light, medium, amber and dark. Browse the gift shop, have your questions answered about the products by friendly helpful staff, and learn the history of how Maple Sugar is made. Clean washrooms are on site for your use as well.
Proceeding on towards Peggy’s Cove, we will take you out Indian Point Road to see some beautiful vistas of St. Margarets Bay and if we are fortunate, see some local wildlife. Your driver/tour guide would be only too glad to stop at the Peggy’s Cove Museum, where local artist, author and painter, Ivan Fraser will give you a tour. Afterwards we will travel to Indian Harbour if you are interested in a lobster, mussels or oyster lunch, Ryer Retail Lobster pound is a casual picnic bench venue on a deck, close by is fisherman’s wharf with the sea coast ten feet away.
Lobster right out of ocean to your plate or choose from several other restaurants with shell fish and seafood dishes, chowders, soups, and other North American dishes. From diners, to upscale licensed restaurants, the food is always fresh, and tastes great. Your driver/tour guide can provide a menu for the restaurants in the local area, and make a reservation at most of them for you if you wish.
After lunch, the village of Peggy’s Cove is next. If you remembered to bring your passport with you, you can have it stamped with the Peggy’s Cove Light House postage stamp at the Sou’Wester Gift Shop, on the second floor. With a year round population of just 62 people, this small, quaint fishing village is a picture perfect stop. Tour the Iconic lighthouse, coastline, shops and rock sculpture done by well known artist and painter, DeGarthe. See fishing boats, shacks and meet the local fishermen.
Be careful on the wet dark rocks, they are very slippery and more than one person has fallen into the ocean. There is a strong under tow and many people have lost their lives, despite the many warning signs. After your tour of Peggy’s Cove we will travel back to Halifax through some small fishing village’s coves and bays.
Once in Halifax, as long as time permits, your driver/tour guide can take you to Citadel Hill, an 18th century fortress, The Halifax Public Gardens, one of the oldest Victorian style garden in North America, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. You might have time for an Alexander Keiths Brewery tour, or the Museum of Natural History, and the Maritime Museum on Lower Water Street is less than 10 minute walk along the Harbour Boardwalk to the new Seaport Farmers Market, a microbrewery, and Pier 21, Canada’s Immigration Centre from 1928 until 1961. Close by is the cruise ship pier where your ship is docked.
Aspotogan Peninsula + St. Margaret’s Bay + Peggy’s Cove Tour Price
$75 CAD per hour / per vehicle (taxes included) (4 Passenger Sedan)
$75 CAD per hour / per vehicle (taxes included) (6 Passenger Minivan)
$150 CAD per hour / per vehicle (taxes included) (8 Passenger Stretch Limo)
*These are the maximum number of passengers that each vehicle can accommodate legally. Comfort level depends on the number and size of passengers traveling in each vehicle. For the viewing pleasure of our guests and to ensure everyone is comfortable, we recommend the following:
Sedan: Up to 3 passengers, everyone has a side window view.
Minivan: Up to 5 passengers, everyone has a side window view.
SUV: Up to 5 passengers, everyone has a side window view, 6 to 7 passengers if you wish.
Stretch Limo: Up to 8 passengers, everyone has a window view.
Do to provincial motor vehicle laws, we cannot take more passengers that each vehicle has seat belts for. Everyone must wear a seat belt and infants and toddlers must be in proper child seats (we do not supply).
Included: Aspotogan Peninsula, St. Margaret’s Bay, and Peggy’s Cove (Minimum 6 Hour Tour). Tour prices does not include meals, museum or Park entrance fees. Please allow extra time if you wish to stop for a meal.
HALIFAX TOUR GUYS – Booking Form
-
Your Needs: Customers should dress for the weather. Please make sure to tell us if you need any of the following items before booking your tour. Baby Seats, Step-ups, Walker, Portable Wheel Chair (must supply own walker or wheel chair).
-
Last Minute Changes: All tours will begin at 8 am unless prior arrangements have been made with the office. All tours can be changed with the driver upon arrival. All group tours or multi-vehicle tours must contact office. Cell phone must be kept on when ship arrives in port in case of early or late arrivals.
-
Questions: If you have any questions before or after making your booking, please contact us – contact@halifaxcruiseshipshoretours.com or phone 1-902-406-6314
*Disclaimer: The purpose of the credit card information is to hold your booked tour with us. Once we receive your credit card information either with your booking form or by calling our office at 1-902-406-6314, we will email your Tour Confirmation within 48 hours to you. Your credit card will not be charged for your tour, and will only be charged for the following two reasons. If you fail to cancel your tour with us 72 hours before you Cruise Ship is scheduled to dock in Halifax, and/or fail to show up for your booked tour after your Cruise Ship has started to disembark passengers in the Port of Halifax. Your credit card will the be charged a fee of $150.00 per vehicle ordered. This charge is to cover your driver/tour guides time, associated office, and credit card fees.
Your driver/tour guide will gladly accept payment in Canadian Cash only. Tour prices do not cover meals, entrance fees to museums, parks, attractions, buggy rides, wine tasting, winery tours or boat fees. Driver gratuities are also not in the price structure.
