Ecology and Horticulture
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.
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.
Ecology on the Shoreline
Discover the shore line in a new light with hands-on learning activities that will pique your curiosity for interconnected roles within the natural world. Catch and identify some of the native critters in the intertidal zone. Become an expert on keystone species, riparian buffers, and the effects of eutrophication.
Kids Ecology Art Adventure
Each child would get to sample native specimens and then observe their behavior. After collection, everyone receives a small notepad and they are encouraged to draw their favorite species that they have collected in the touch tank. The goal is to engage kids in the process and model sustainable sampling methods. As well as introduce them to the important process of observational science.
Ecology Workshop
Investigate the fundamentals of the Tides Inn's local Ecology. Join us in our open discussion on sustainability and restoration efforts throughout the Chesapeake Bay.
Tides Trails Photography Experience
Assistant ecologist Jean Mahon will guide the photography class through the Tides property. Guests will have an opportunity for an immersive photo experience. Capture images of your favorite plants and animals as you learn about each role in their native ecosystem.
Seining & Touch Tank
Explore the Nursery of the sea in our local estuary. Identify and observe a variety of juvenile species that contribute to the Ecology of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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.