Ecology and Horticulture
All outdoor experiences are offered seasonally. Please check with our Concierge for more details.
Tides Inn Garden Tour
Join our resident horticulturist, Matt Little, for a leisurely bike ride to the Tides Inn Farm to tour our vegetable garden and bee meadow and check out the mushrooms growing along the Forest Trail. Fun fact: Much of the fresh-grown produce you’ll see is destined for Salt & Meadow restaurant.
Chesapeake Gold—An Oyster Experience
Eastern oysters are a keystone species of the Chesapeake Bay that help to purify the water. During this small-group outing, visit an oyster farm, pull up oyster cages and help sort the catch. Back on shore, practice grading oysters for size and quality and learn how to grill them—before digging in yourself.
Beautiful Swimmers—A Blue Crab Experience
Blue crabs are an icon of the Chesapeake Bay (their scientific name translates to “beautiful swimmer”) and critical to maintaining balance in the natural ecosystem. This is your chance to get up-close with the shellfish: Alongside resident ecologist Will Smiley, learn how to set a crab pot while on the water, then get tips for prepping, cooking and, yes, eating the delicious local delicacy.
Bird Exploration
Our on-site expert will lead you through our Forest Trail, Bee Meadow and Shoreline Trail with all the tools you need to learn about our local fowl. This experience is outdoors and includes walking for a significant portion of the tour. Guests should be prepared with proper footwear and clothing suitable for the weather.
Beehive Experience
Explore a day in the life of an apiarist with our beekeeping experience. After a short walk through the Forest Trail to the Bee Meadow, you will meet with our resident beekeeper for a brief introduction on the most vital pollinators, the European honeybee. Opening your eyes to how it feels to be inside an apiary, the beekeeper teaches you about the extraordinary life of the honeybee. This workshop will conclude with a honey tasting of local, raw honey. *This experience is offered seasonally.
Oyster Farm Experience
Whether you're a seafood enthusiast or simply curious about the art of oyster farming, our immersive experience promises an unforgettable journey filled with education, adventure, and delicious rewards. Come join us and discover the world beneath the water.
Shoreline Tour
Join our team for a complimentary walk along our living Shoreline Trail. Our new restoration project will deepen our connection to Carter’s Creek and the greater Chesapeake Bay region. Learn more about the five filters of the Chesapeake Bay and how they are used for landscaping and improving the water quality of our home.
Special Offers and Packages
Voluntourism
The Tides Inn launched a new “voluntourism” program in which guests volunteer while in residence at the resort – in collaboration with our environmental partner, Friends of Rappahannock (FOR). This nonprofit organization was crucial in our shoreline restoration project, which created the Shoreline Trail, oyster reef and new habitats for wildlife.
Guided by a representative from FOR or our resident ecologist, guests may participate in a variety of activities, such as plant trees or wetland grasses in our area’s waterways. This experience, which reduces erosion and increases habitat for wildlife and aquatic life, will begin in April 2023 and is weather dependent.
This experience is $200 per person and includes a picnic lunch and round trip transportation; a portion of proceeds for each voluntourism experience sold will benefit FOR.
To learn more or make a reservation, please contact Jim Guttau.
Meet Our Team
Meet our Resident Ecologist, William
With a Master’s Degree of Education in Sustainability, Will leads immersive experiences on Carter’s Creek and the Rappahannock River – from a “Chesapeake Gold” tour about Eastern oysters to “Beautiful Swimmers,” featuring Blue Crabs. His ultimate goal is to have guests leave the resort with a better sense of stewardship and the desire to improve waterways near their hometowns.
Meet our Resident Horticulturist, Matt
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science and experience in groundskeeping, facility management and commercial landscaping, Matt has created new educational experiences for guests – in the resort’s Forest Trail and Bee Meadow. A master gardener since age 16, Matt states the favorite part of his job is sharing his knowledge of nature with guests.
Have you hear the buzz?
Get up close and personal with our pollinators and learn about their fascinating lives and how they play a vital role in supporting our ecosystem.