We joined Kolby, one of the Good Time Girls, for the Sin and Gin tour in downtown Bellingham. It…read morewas a beautiful sunny day, and Kolby found all the shady spots for us to stand in while she shared her obviously well-researched stories about the fun local people have been getting up to since Whatcom was first founded. Kolby is an articulate, engaging weaver of tales, and her vintage costume added to the ambiance. She was armed with old photos of the buildings we discussed in our 1.5, one-ish mile tour. The photos were fascinating, because many of the buildings no longer exist, and the rest of them have been altered in the meantime. This was my second tour with Kolby, the first being a virtual tour of the Bayview Cemetery during Covid. My goal is to join all the tours at some point. The cost is well worth the value given, and it's a great thing to do when guests visit. Birthday present, anyone?

Cursing? Check. Cleavage? Check…read more Most people might expect a non-G-rated version of "Bellinghistory" from the Good Time Girls' Sin and Gin tours, especially when the tour description includes "explore the history of vice." But still, co-owner and guide Wren Urbigkit felt compelled to tell us that cursing and cleavage are key components of the tours. Because some people have missed that memo. Those who see Bellingham as a politically-correct college town may experience strong reactions when they hear how the town came to be. Without sharing too many of the tour's secrets, here are a few insights: Working girls were seen as a necessary evil by some wives, to keep bearded, flannel-sporting young men away from their daughters. And their bosses, madams, were seen by colleagues of many male entrepreneurs. And for those who think Bellingham is experiencing crazy growth now, wait until you hear about the late 1800s! The tour wraps up with adult beverages at Stones Throw Brewery, which has a parking spot dedicated to one of the afore-mentioned madams, Miss Annie.

My one (forced) day off, I couldn't have chosen a more diverse, fun, laughter filled, oh! (and…read moreadventurous) Skagit Valley tour. Marissa with the Crossing Guide Tours is FULL of ideas, suggestions and spontaneity! She made me feel like I was was in good hands, with her safe driving and knowledge of the area. I may sound like a commercial, but being a ham, I would do a testimonial commercial for Marissa anyday! Looking forward to the Whatcom County Tour next!

From the owner: Find the hidden treasures of Whatcom and Skagit County!…read more As locals, we know all of the great spots to shop, stroll, eat and drink. Sit back and relax in our spacious, comfortable, wide-windowed vans as our experts show you all the treasures that Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan and Island counties have to offer. Wonderful for visiting friends, clients or yourself - we will customize your trip to fit your needs. Whether you appreciate a brewery tour, historical tours, bird watching, arts, shopping, or food - it's our pleasure to show you the best our area has to offer. We have something for everyone! All tours leave from Bellingham and are set at a maximum of 8 people. Both day and overnight trips are available.

I have been eyeing San Juan Cruises for at least two years and this year my oldest son wanted to…read morecelebrate his birthday exploring by boat. Booking our adventure was extremely easy via the San Juan Cruises website. I greatly appreciate how detailed the reservation information was, and most importantly how courteous the entire team was throughout our time aboard. The team went into great detail about our journey, history on each island we passed, and insights on the protected wildlife we could possibly encounter during our voyage. The vessel was extremely accommodating for all of us on board, ample seating, viewing opportunities, and two restrooms. The team makes an excellent warm lunch was provided; while snacks and beverages were available throughout the entire duration of the voyage (grab a cup of coffee Blue Herron coffee beans based out of Bow, WA makes a great cup!) We managed to encounter eagles, seals, walruses, dolphins, a gray whale, and two different orca pods. Each sighting was absolutely breathtaking and majestic! I could not ever imagine going to a theme park to view these magnificent animals. The voyage takes between 5-6 hours plan, you'll be surprised at how quickly that time goes by. Helpful tip for parents bringing children feel free to pack coloring books, board games, binoculars, and snacks for your littles the San Juan Cruise team welcomes it for the little voyagers. My parents have already had planned to book an excursion during their visit next month, and I highly recommend for anyone who lives in or visiting the area to do so as well!

My boyfriend and I booked the afternoon whale watching cruise at San Juan Cruises not knowing what…read moreto expect and it ended up being the highlight of the weekend. The crew was very friendly and I loved that it was guided by the Captain and Naturalist onboard. I learned a lot about islands in the Salish Sea and we saw several species of animals. There are several great viewing spots on the boat and it's easy to see from inside if it gets too windy. I learned so much about the Biggs orcas, sea lions, and harbor seals. It's not promised, but we saw two different groups of the orcas right at the beginning of the trip and surprisingly at the end in Bellingham bay. It was so nice to learn about them and get an up close view (within safe distance). They served a lunch onboard which was included in the cost, however we packed our own. They also have beverages and snacks for sale throughout the ride. I didn't bring binoculars on board, but I did see people with them. My iPhone was enough to get close up videos and pictures of the animals! I would definitely recommend this to family and friends!

Marina was fabulous. They kept a big group fully captivated, safe and left us wanting more. Highly…read morerecommend!

The Gay History Tour is fantastic. I've lived in Vancouver for 30 years and am fairly familiar with…read morethe queer scene and history, but Glenn gave me so much more insight! And I appreciated that he didn't shy away from the harder parts, too. It's all part of the story, and it all matters! Highly recommend.

I stopped in this museum with my niece and nephew for a quick visit. It's a 1920s era house owned…read moreby the Trethewey family. The house has been beautifully restored to 1925s era interior. The house has a remarkable history and Sarah, our tour guide was very helpful. If you have some time to kill while visiting Abbotsford, please check this place out and ask for Sarah.

From the owner: Our drop-in tour hours are from 1-4 PM Monday-Friday…read more Trethewey House Heritage Site is operated by Heritage Abbotsford Society, a registered non-profit. Our mission is to collect, record, preserve and share the stories of Abbotsford. We offer a range of programs and experiences including site tours, exhibits, historical Abbotsford walking tours, and more - all by donation. The Heritage Site consists of Trethewey House, Joey's Playhouse, the Upper Sumas Train Station, a Heritage Gallery, and the Sylvia Pincott Heritage Habitat Garden.

Not only can you not lose because this is a FREE tour...but you will gain so much interesting info!…read more I'm sure hopping on and off a bus would be just fine, but for us, with just one short day in this vast city, we were looking for a quick connection, and that's exactly what we got on this recent Sunday. We met our tour guide, Ali at the designated time (11am) at the designated place, and 20 or so of us enjoyed an incredibly interesting walking tour of Chinatown. There is no way we would have gotten the feel for this city had we not taken this tour. Several folks were repeat tour guy visitors, so they must have enjoyed those as well. Our group had folks from several countries. It is a relaxed tour at a pace that is just right...not too fast and not too slow. Seriously, just right! And absolutely everyone in our group was happy to hand over generous thank you tips. Well-deserved. Ali was kind enough at the end of the tour to guide anyone who wanted dining suggestions or directions. For us, he was even kind enough to let us walk along with him since we were heading in the same direction. As a result, we were fortunate enough to get an extended tour, as he remained a wealth of Vancouver info as we went along. Highly recommend!

I love FREE, Culture, history, and having a tour that rolls all 3 together…read more We took the Free Downtown & Chinatown Tour with Alex. She pointed out some places of interest, told us the history of Chinatown, took us to a herbal store, and ended the tour at the Chinese Gardens. The tour was over 2 hours, and she gave suggestions for lunch. I love these type of tours because they are given by people who have lived there for a good amount of time, and who are passionate about what they are presenting. She was no exception.

We had a great experience with Tally-Ho. The tour was fun and relaxing, and the staff were friendly…read moreand easy to talk with. They answered questions without making us feel rushed. I especially appreciated how patient they were with older adults in our group. It was a very pleasant way to see part of Victoria.

We had a great time on our 30 minute carriage ride. Making reservations was very easy, the coach…read moreperson was informative and very friendly. We learned all about our horse Maggie and historical things around town on our ride. I would do it again next time I visit Victoria BC.

I prefer to promote Vancouver businesses rather than write negative reviews. However, here, I break…read moremy rule for Chinatown tour operator Judy Lam Maxwell as her recent performance was so embarrassing that prospective clients need to be aware of the sad reality. I wanted to show three out-of-town guests the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and learn about the rich history of Chinatown with an authoritative guide. I booked a 2.5-hr tour for the four of us at $100 each under the impression that we were a private group but we were joined by three other clients. So, after introductions, we were sent unguided around the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden armed with only the Garden's brochure and Judy's advice that we would find "interesting stones and plants from China". After 30 minutes of wandering it became apparent that Judy knew little about the architecture and symbolism of the Garden despite claiming to have been a docent. We walked on to a contemporary coffee shop where another 30 minutes were spent viewing an iPad presentation on Judy's multicultural family history and Chinatowns of the world. The remainder of the tour was spent walking through Chinatown with Judy relaying the ownership of some buildings, revealing the hidden entrances to two "speakeasy" businesses and assorted restaurants while acquainting us with local politics. Intriguing Chinese medicine shops were passed by with only her comment that the mysterious medicines at the back would be necessary for treatment after eating the enigmatic foodstuffs displayed at the front. Similarly, the cultural and gastronomic backgrounds to the wares of various traditional food retailers were ignored before we were crowded into a Chinese tea shop. Again, no cultural context, nor explanations provided about the teas before moving on to peek inside the interiors of two Chinese Clan Society buildings. Tour over with a group photograph (that was never delivered) and only perfunctory coverage of the Chinese history, the "head tax" and unique architecture of an important gem in the heart of Vancouver. Overall: Judy is personable but displays only superficial knowledge and, in my opinion, is an ineffective ambassador for Chinatown - consequently, a disappointingly lacklustre and expensive experience!

Recently, during my first trip to Vancouver, a trusted colleague / business acquaintance strongly…read morerecommended that I take a morning tour of Vancouver 's Chinatown. But his suggestion was not based on looking at a bunch of noteworthy building from the outside / seat of tour bus. Persuaded to wear the walking shoes and don a hot to avoid the unseasonably sunny skies that have characteristic of the summer, away I went to join group of academics from the Pacific Northwest. We met the company owner (Judy) at a local cafe, which served as the start point for a dynamic, educational and very worthwhile 2 hour whirlwind tour which features a tour of the incredibly narrow building, meeting a 93 year old Vancouver customized tailor who working with cast iron machines and an derailed explanation of Chinatown ' s colorful history. Judy's advanced knowledge of the Chinese interest in BC contributed to my fantastic experience. Thank you Judy for such an exceptional morning, the highlight of my vacation.

Our guide, Alan, was amazing from beginning to end. We booked two tours for 11 people. The…read morerainforest tour was a slight hike in areas two hrs away from the city to Victoria. It was something different. The wine tour was to three different wineries that were all diverse in unique in its own way. We also utilized the shuttle service from the airport as well as to the ferry terminal. Alan's driving is soo smooth that those who have severe lit motion sickness didn't feel a thing in the giant shuttle. Alan was always on time for pick up and flexible for drop offs. I cannot express how easy it was working with this tour company. Also a shout out to Fatih who drove us to the ferry terminal. His driving was smooth and conversation was great! Don't hesitate to book a tour.

Thank you very much to Alan for showing us the beautiful city of Victoria. Alan was very thoughtful…read moreand accommodating to our party. It was our first time in Canada and were overwhelmed by the kindness showed both by Alan and the City. Alan was very knowledgeable and shared the history of Victory with us.

I have gone on this boat tour a couple of times each year, for several years. It is always…read moreenjoyable. Recently, we took the entire Rotary Club on a boat tour and conducted our meeting on the boat. Many of the members had never been on the tour and they were all so impressed. It ended up being one of our best meetings out of the year. If you are looking for something fun to do for your family or friends, this is the answer. The owners, Brett & Terica (and team), always provide a safe, educational and fun tour of Deception Pass. I highly recommend Deception Pass Boat Tours. Alicia D, President of Rotary Club Whidbey Westside

Had a great time on the hour tour. The communication for arrival time and location was very clear.read more