A Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab

The water is a way of life for the people of Tangier Island. Living in the Chesapeake Bay 12 miles from the Eastern Shore, Tangier Islanders grow up with boats rather than cars, and their lives revolve around the tides, the catch and the markets for the sea’s bounty. Take a glimpse at this uniquely preserved lifestyle and then explore the rest of the Chesapeake Bay region.

Captain Wheatley and crew aboard a deadrise.

Generations of families have worked in commercial fishing and crabbing for the Chesapeake Bay blue crab. Denny Crockett wants to share this way of life through his watermen tours where visitors can board a barcat or deadrise and watch the Captain and crew haul in the daily catch. Who knows? You might be fortunate enough to see a doubler or a buster! Honorary watermen may also tour a crab shanty and purchase frozen soft shell crabs to take home.

Visitors will want to tour the community and enjoy a delicious lunch of fresh crab cakes and oyster fritters at Hilda Crockett’s Chesapeake House. Breathe in a truly unique island that 600 inhabitants call home.

Seafood from Gloucester's Olivia's at the Point.

Virginia's Eastern Shore and Chesapeake Bay provide an escape from the ordinary. You'll go home refreshed and full of seafood! Try the award-winning Encrusted Tuna at Mariah's Restaurant at Tower Hill. Or bring your fresh catch to the chefs of Wachapreague Island House Restaurant; they're more than happy to prepare it and serve it up with their sides of the day.

Virginia offers fresh local ingredients to cook up the devine culinary fares you'll find, but Virginia's seafood and the chefs who prepare it are top-notch! Find more seafood hot spots to sample the best crab cakes, shrimp, flounder, oysters, clams, tuna, crawfish and more!

Splash around at Kiptopeke State Park.

After you're crabbed out, be sure to see these other Bay and Shore sites. The views are spectacular and the wildlife is inspiring.

• Caledon Natural Area and Tayloe Wildlife Refuge are Bald Eagle hot spots!
• Northampton County is home of Kiptopeke State Park.
• Accomack County boasts the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.
• Assateague Lighthouse is a not-to-be-missed historic site.

Chesapeake Bay Marinas | Eastern Shore Marinas