Chesapeake Gold

Known as “Chesapeake Gold,” the Eastern oyster was once one of the Chesapeake Bay’s most valuable natural resources. Their vertical reefs were so bountiful that they posed navigational hazards to early explorers  – and their abundance provided a steady source of nutrition for generations of inhabitants. By the early 2000’s the oyster population had withered. Today, oysters are making a splashy comeback. Board an authentic waterman’s boat with the Tides’ resident ecologist, Will, and visit one of our own oyster farms, where you’ll help pull up oyster cages and sort the catch. Along the way, you’ll learn about the remarkable role oysters play in purifying the region’s waters, how oysters are graded for size and quality, and the life of a waterman. The culmination of this “only at the Tides” experience is sampling the oysters you caught, served both raw and grilled, with all of the traditional seasonings.