Summer Fun: A Family-Friendly Itinerary
July 15, 2024
How to spend three blissful days at the Tides Inn—and ensure every member of your family has a ball.
Make the most of your vacation at the Tides Inn by experiencing the best of the land and the sea with this three-day itinerary. It provides ample family bonding time while giving everyone space to explore their individual interests too. Feel free to mix-and-match these ideas to build your perfect trip and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Pickleball or Tennis Match
Time to get some energy out: Sign up for a lesson or simply gear up for some friendly competition on the pickleball or tennis courts. (Weather not cooperating? Challenge the kids to a game of Battleship or chess in the View Room.)
Explore Town
Hop on our complimentary bicycles for the short ride into Irvington. Pick up a healthy-or sweet-treat at the Local, a favorite among our staff, before exploring some of the area’s historic sites. At the Steamboat Museum, interactive video stations and models paint a picture of the boats that once plied the Chesapeake Bay’s waters. (The Tides Inn Activities team can arrange a private tour if you’re interested.)
Dinner at Salt & Meadow
Recap the day’s adventures over a rum-forward Stormy Seas (or Ebbtide Lemonade for the younger crew) and local Steamboat Wharf oysters at Salt & Meadow.
Wellness Services or Golf
While the kids are off adventuring, parents can make their own plans. Hoping to unwind? Enjoy one of our wellness services. Looking for something a bit more active? Book a tee time at the 18-hole Golden Eagle Golf Course. Enjoy lunch at the Golden Eagle Grill.
Lawn Games
Build up an appetite for dinner with a round – or three – of bocce ball, cornhole or giant Jenga.
Build-Your-Own S’mores at Fish Hawk
Don’t overstuff yourself on ceviche and tacos at our beachside Fish Hawk Oyster Bar. Why? You’ll want to save room for a visit to the old-fashioned ice cream counter or – our recommendation – build-your-own s’mores over a fire pit on the beach.
Beautiful Swimmers—A Blue Crab Experience
Get to know the icon of the Chesapeake Bay (so-named for the bright color of their claws) during this two-hour experience that’s unique to the Tides Inn. You’ll ride along with our ecologist to set crab pots and scan miniature aquariums on the Watermen’s Pier before learning how to prep and cook the local delicacy.
Play in the Water
Your waterfront fun isn’t over yet. Canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are all complimentary for guests. Select your mode of transportation, pick up a map of Carter’s Creek and a wildlife checklist from the Tides Inn Marina and head out for some self-guided paddling. How many species of birds will you spot – and be able to identify?
Pottery On The Wheel
Get a break from the sun and stretch your right brain in our Maker Space. Our resident artist will help you design and craft your own pottery on a wheel. Each family member can express their own styles through design, texture and decoration (including locally foraged plant pieces). The class is designed for newbies and clay masters alike.