October 2009 - David W (Canada)

Just wanted to say thank you for the great tour on September 24th. Shonna did a super job (we're the ones who gave her the t-shirt).

We only had a day in San Francisco (cruise ship) and were very glad we spent time on your tour. Now, if you can only verify our Golden Gate bridge tour actually took us over the bridge that day (boy, do you get fog)....

September 2008 - Mike and Peg G

On Tuesday, September 16th, my wife and I took your Victorian Home Walk, guided by Shonna.  It was a most enjoyable and informative time and one of the highlights of our stay in San Francisco.  My wife has volunteered as a tour guide here in Wisconsin for 16 years and when she speaks well of a tour guide, it is high praise indeed!  The pace was perfect and we simply cannot say enough about the quality of the experience.  Thank you for offering such an enlightening perspective on this period of San Francisco architecture.

August 2008 - Shirley and Keith G (U.K.)

We recently visited San Francisco and one of the highlights of our visit was the Victorian Tour walk with the commentary given by Shonna Sinclair. We live in a Victorian house in England and how much more colourful and fresh are those of San Francisco. It was fascinating to learn of the different styles of these Victorian houses and to be able to go inside one was the icing on the cake. Thank you for making the tour so interesting and so easy in terms of the amount of walking involved. We could hardly believe we had seen well over 100 Victorian houses in the course of our walk. Shonna was an excellent guide and a fountain of knowledge. We would certainly recommend this tour to any other visitors to San Francisco.

July 2007 - Linda L

I just wanted to express our appreciation for the wonderful tour we had last Sunday while vacationing in San Francisco. You may recall that at the end of the tour my husband, son and I wanted to go to Chinatown to eat lunch. You recommended House of Nan King and it was the best food we had the entire time in SF. The tour was most interesting too. My cousin and a friend are coming for vacation in the fall and I've already told them about your tour.

Feb 2006 - Candice S

You won't remember me but I have never forgotten your wonderful Victorian walk on my last vist to San Francisco. I cannot believe it has been 10 years! In fact, I went to your web site today and I see that my referral/testimony is still posted! That is flattering.

I am returning to SF the last week of March and I will definitely do all I can to take the tour with you again. I see I don't need a reservation this time.

Oct 2005 - Sharon D.

I vacationed in San Francisco recently and participated in the Victorian Walk. Shonna Sinclair was our guide for the trip and it was fantastic!

Shonna's knowledge as well as her enthusiasm made the tour most enjoyable. It certainly was one of the highlights of my vacation.

As I am showing my vacation photos (including photos of the Victorian homes), people are amazed that a tour is available to showcase this beautiful architecture.

Thank you again so much. I am encouraging my friends, family and colleagues to check out the Victorian Walk Tour when they come to San Francisco.

July 2005 - Pat M.

My family and I took your walk on July 4th. My husband and teenage son and daughter were pretty lukewarm on the whole idea, but we all really enjoyed it. This is an area of town we never would have discovered on our own and we learned so much. Thank you!

July 2005 - Jo Ann C.

Just wanted to drop you a line and thank you for a wonderful tour this past Saturday. We really enjoyed the entire tour and the information you provided. It is very apparent that you absolutely enjoy what you do for a living. I noted that you developed this business when you were downsized in the 90's. This is the good news for the rest of us! Thanks for providing a wonderful view of SF.

July 2004 - Carol S.

I recently made my 5th trip to San Fransisco, and because I was alone during the days while my daughter was at a convention, I decided to go on some tours in the city. It turned out to be the best trip I've made yet!

I thoroughly enjoyed your walking tour with Shonna as our guide. Her laid-back style was most relaxing, as she shared with us the the history and architectural highlights of these treasures of the city. It was also nice to hear some personal stories about some of the homeowners, making the tour all that more enjoyable and "real."

While on the tour, I met another "single" tourist, and we continued touring that afternoon with excellent directions from Shonna on how to manage our way around the city on the Muni. It was a great day!

May 2003 - Stanley W.

I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your walk last week (I was on the May 20th walk--the day you were videoed). Your knowledge & enthusiasm were perfect for the tour, and I really enjoyed seeing parts of the city that I have not seen before. Since I'm somewhat "star struck," I enjoyed seeing homes that have been featured in TV or movies, and seeing homes where celebrities lived. I also enjoyed the history lessons that you included ... especially learning about the fire wall along Van Ness during the 1906 earthquake.

April 2003 - C. Ley, SF Convention & Visitors Bureau

I'd like to extend my gratitude and appreciation for the Victorian Home Walk ... the group was fascinated to see the classical, unique Victorian Homes built with the utmost intricate and extraordinary architectural design. Once again, I thank you for the diligent, professional service you provided for the group.

August 1999 - D.A.

We had a great time in July 1999, "Jay Gifford's Victorian Home Walk was a highlight of my trip. Yes, it is worth the money! He is engaging, patient, and a wealth of information. His angle is that he takes you to areas with hidden jewels that are less traveled by "the masses," and he delivers on that promise.

He welcomes questions and seems to relish in sharing his love of the city with others. He points out things that one would not normally notice (the buses that are electric), and he appears to move at his group's pace instead of being a "stopwatch hound."

Before he wrapped up, he took the time to help each person plot the best way to get to their next destination. What most impressed me -- we all reached for our wallets when he arrived, but he deferred; he doesn't collect until the end of the 2-hour walk. A touch of class and a sign that he is truly into to providing a service and not in it just to take your money."

August 1998 - Cheryl C.

Your tour was absolutely fantastic. I enjoyed your tour tremendously. If it works I'll send you a picture I took while on the tour and you may use it to show people what they can see while on you tour. It makes an excellent photography tour as well.

No wonder the songwriter wrote "I left my heart in San Francisco."

July 1998 - Brad and Michele Z.

Seven members of our family and two friends were on your walk this past Saturday and we all had a WONDERFUL time. It was a great eye opener in to the history of the homes and San Francisco.

We have already recommended your tour to friends here in Northern California and will heartily tout it when we return to our home in Southern California.

July 1998 - Paula T.

Jay, my name is Paula T. from San Diego, and recently, my friend, Amari, and I took your tour. I was the one who was interested in John Fogerty's house and have the friend who lives in one of the houses (stick style) on Pine that we viewed.

I have to say that out of the many times I've been to the City, your tour was one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done. It was nice to get an insider's view of the architecture. I certainly learned a lot about Victorian style!

Needless to say, I've recommended your tour to my friends, mainly because you make it so pleasant!

Thanks for being such a great Guide!

August 1998 - Loyce S.

Dear Jay, I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your tour. I found it to be informative and the walk was just right, not too strenuous, but still a good bit of exercise. I am spreading the word to my friends and hopefully they will choose to participate in your tour. Thanks again for a time well spent.

October 2002 - Beth N.

I wanted to write and let you know how much I enjoyed your walking tour. I took the tour with a group from Pricewaterhousecoopers on September 21st. Your love of your city and Victorian homes was very evident. As an East Coast resident and a first time visitor to San Francisco and never having paid much attention to Victorian architecture you made a great impression on me with your passion. Now having viewed your web page I wish we had taken your tour as you run it on a daily basis. Well maybe next time I'll get to experience that tour as well. Thank you for a very enjoyable day viewing your city.

April 2000 - Tricia

My friends and I had a wonderful time on Saturday with Shonna on the Home Walk. We loved the Queen Anne and it was so interesting learning about the history of the Victorian home era and seeing and being able to identify the different styles. And you were right, we did have the neighborhoods to ourselves except for those people who lived there. Shonna did a great job and was very patient with us as we took pictures and dawdled to look at the flowers!!! We are bragging about our adventure to all of our friends!!!! I'm glad you decided to go into this full time. It was worth the drive from Fresno for the day!!!!

January 1998 - A. Dugan

Jay,
Thank you for a lovely tour. We have watched the video I made several times now. The homes still amaze me and you sound wonderful. The following day we wondered into North Beach and had lunch at Rose Pistola, which you had suggested when I found you at your web site.

Again, thank you for enhancing our visit to San Francisco.

October 1997 - Lacy D.

Jay,
Just wanted to thank you again for the lovely walking tour. My mother in law who resides in the Bay area is raving to all her friends about the tour as well. We took your recommendation for the Italian restaurant (the name escapes me). It was also fantastic. If you expand your tour in anyway please keep us posted. You're a great tour leader and we loved your enthusiasm.

June 1996 - Candice S.

Jay,

I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the "Homewalk" on June 19.
My friend and I were impressed with your knowledge and the way the walk was laid out so we DID NOT HAVE TO WALK UP THE HILLS! Thanks for that especially.

I will certainly recommend you to anyone I know who will be traveling to SF.... Again, thanks for making my visit to your beautiful city an enjoyable one.

May 1998 - Moses and Floy T.

My wife and I were on the Saturday, 8/1/98 tour and we enjoyed it immensely.

It was refreshing way to see and learn about a part of San Francisco history and current landscape. We also took advantage of some of Jay's suggestions for follow-up activities and enjoyed those also. The tour was everything it was advertised to be. I will recommend to my friends.