Jul 20 - Jul 25, 2025
Virginia
A Hands-On, Sea-to-Table Extravaganza on Chincoteague Island
Program No. 2344160MEADV-1116-60
Learn about the aquaculture industry of Chincoteague as you harvest clams and catch crab and work with an expert local chef.
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800-454-5768
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6 days
5 nights
13 meals
5B 4L 4D
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation, History
Chincoteague , Va.
2
Boat Cruise, Walking Tour
Chincoteague , Va.
3
Clamming, History Tour, Free evening
Chincoteague , Va.
4
Aquaculture, Crabbing with local experts.
Chincoteague , Va.
5
Beer & Wine tasting, Cooking with the Chef, Seafood Feast
Chincoteague , Va.
6
Program Concludes
Chincoteague , Va.
At a Glance
A new aquaculture industry is emerging in the coastal waters surrounding Chincoteague Island off Virginia’s Atlantic coast as the famous salty oysters known as the “Chincoteague Salts” make a comeback. These local waters also offer excellent grounds for clamming and crabbing, and sea-to-table restaurants abound for enjoying these bountiful harvests. During this hands-on seafood extravaganza, get your feet wet as you join local watermen to hunt for clams, learn about oysters and catch the famous blue crab and work with experienced chefs to make historic and modern Chincoteague dishes. Along the way, learn about the re-emerging aquaculture industry from those who live it, and find out about the challenges faced by those who work on the water.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Harvesting in knee-deep water.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy a hands-on clam-harvesting experience and learn about oysters and aquaculture with local experts.
- Learn about beer and wine during a private tasting event with a local expert.
- Work with an expert local chef to create historic and modern Chincoteague dishes.
General Notes
All rooms at Channel Bass Inn have one bed, and some include a sleeper sofa or space for a rollaway bed. Roommate matching is unavailable for solo travelers on this program. If you do not have anyone to share a room with you must book as a single room option for the additional cost.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Cindy Faith
Cindy Faith has been a Group Leader and lecturer at the Museum of Chincoteague Island’s Road Scholar programs for many years. Raised on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, her knowledge of the region’s natural and local history is encyclopedic. Her expertise runs the gamut from horseshoe crabs and wild ponies to pirates and the Civil War’s impact on the Chincoteague region. Combined with her warm sense of humor, Cindy’s vast knowledge assures Road Scholar participants of an informative and interesting experience.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Cindy Faith
View biography
Cindy Faith has been a Group Leader and lecturer at the Museum of Chincoteague Island’s Road Scholar programs for many years. Raised on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, her knowledge of the region’s natural and local history is encyclopedic. Her expertise runs the gamut from horseshoe crabs and wild ponies to pirates and the Civil War’s impact on the Chincoteague region. Combined with her warm sense of humor, Cindy’s vast knowledge assures Road Scholar participants of an informative and interesting experience.
Hunter Leonard
View biography
Hunter Leonard has extensive knowledge in so many different aspects of Chincoteague. He is one of many generations of Saltwater Cowboys in his family, a member of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, a boat captain, owns a duck hunting business and has a bachelor’s in marine biology and a minor in environmental science from The College of William and Mary. Hunter prides himself in being able to answer any and all questions related to Chincoteague Ponies..
Beth Scheeley
View biography
Beth Scheeley was born and raised on Chincoteague Island. She has many family ties to the island, which makes her a true "teaguer." Beth has an extensive knowledge for Chincoteague's history. Her childhood memories of Chincoteague's past looks, restaurants and people will call for endless conversations and stories during your time with her. Her go-getter personality and friendliness will surely make you feel right at home on Chincoteague Island.
Suggested Reading List
(5 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
A Hands-On, Sea-to-Table Extravaganza on Chincoteague Island
Program Number: 23441
The Watermen and Wild Ponies: A Chincoteague Waterman Remembers Life on Chincoteague and Assateague
Share the experiences of surviving on Chincoteague and Assateague from the people who have lived them.
In 1912, Chincoteague was emerging as a thriving seaside community. It was the only outside contact for the small village on Assateague Island. The watermen were tough and courageous. They worked long days dredging oysters or tonging clams and return to the island to cull their catch for shucking. They labored building large ocean "pound" traps to catch a wide variety of fish from their local waters. The seafood industry was the focal point of the island economy.
Mother Nature played her part in making life hard on the islands. The hurricanes and floods could be brutal. The relentless changing ocean currents and tidal surges threatened the fragile island home of the famous wild ponies.
The great fires of the 1920s were devastating to the community on Chincoteague. Yet the people rebuilt from the ashes each time with new hope. The creation of the causeway to the mainland and the building of the bridge to Assateague Island were massive undertakings for these persevering people. They are what makes Chincoteague and Assateague unique.
This is their story. The isolation, the struggles, their compassion and courage as told by a Chincoteague waterman. Available in the Museum gift shop in person or online at www.chincoteaguemuseum.com
Once Upon an Island: The History of Chincoteague
Settled for more than 300 years, surrounded by waters which have for centuries provided both livelihood and recreation, known for ponies and wildfowl, seafood and seashore, "old salts" and decoys. Chincoteague Island, Virginia is both colorful and storied. And never until now has its complete history been told.
This book chronicles the often surprising story of a place named for Native Americans who never really lived there, settled not by fishermen but by cattlemen, so individual that it refused to follow the rest of the state into the Confederacy during the Civil War. Here is a full account of how the famous pony penning came to be, of the boom and bust of the seafood industry, and of a hardy people who survived fire, flood and isolation to build a community that has now been visited by millions. It is the story not of one island but of several - Chincoteague, Assateague, Wallops, and of their interplay with both the nearby Eastern Shore and with more distant places familiar to islander who "went to sea" at an early age.
Once Upon an Island is both good, sound history and a "fun read" for anyone who is fascinated by colorful, celebrated Chincoteague Island. Available in the Museum gift shop in person or online at www.chincoteaguemuseum.com
Misty of Chincoteague
A Newberry Honor book, for children 8 - 12 years old. This is the story of Paul and Maureen Beebe and their quest to buy the elusive Phantom, a wild Chincoteague pony. On Pony Penning Day, they not only bring in the Phantom, but also her colt, Misty. It is a wonderful heart-warming tale of the efforts of two children to achieve their dream. Available in the Museum gift shop in person or online at www.chincoteaguemuseum.com
Chincoteague and Assateague Islands (MD and VA) (images of America)
This book provides a short pictorial and narrative description of these two barrier islands, their history and relationship. One is a small town community catering to thousands of tourists who come almost year-round to enjoy the beach and view the wildlife on the other. Available in the Museum gift shop in person or online at www.chincoteaguemuseum.com
Slave and Free on Virginia's Eastern Shore
The Eastern Shore of Virginia has been home to English-Speaking people for almost four hundred years, and for more than half that time it was legal for some of its residents to own other residents who live on the peninsula with them, to buy and sell, use and abuse them for their own purposes and profit. What was it like to live in that day when human bondage was accepted, its mindset and practices firmly embedded in the everyday affairs of ordinary people? Solidly researched, Slave and Free is a good place to begin the study that no one wants to talk about. It will be found accessible and readable by both the scholar and the general reader; as well as by all who know and love Virginia's Eastern Shore. Available in the Museum gift shop in person or online at www.chincoteaguemuseum.com
Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Chincoteague , Va.
Program Concludes
Chincoteague , Va.
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
13
| 5B |
4L |
4D |
Activity Level
A new aquaculture industry is emerging in the coastal waters surrounding Chincoteague Island off Virginia’s Atlantic coast as the famous salty oysters known as the “Chincoteague Salts” make a comeback. These local waters also offer excellent grounds for clamming and crabbing, and sea-to-table restaurants abound for enjoying these bountiful harvests. During this hands-on seafood extravaganza, get your feet wet as you join local watermen to hunt for clams, learn about oysters and catch the famous blue crab and work with experienced chefs to make historic and modern Chincoteague dishes. Along the way, learn about the re-emerging aquaculture industry from those who live it, and find out about the challenges faced by those who work on the water.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Enjoy a hands-on clam-harvesting experience and learn about oysters and aquaculture with local experts.
- Learn about beer and wine during a private tasting event with a local expert.
- Work with an expert local chef to create historic and modern Chincoteague dishes.
General Notes
All rooms at Channel Bass Inn have one bed, and some include a sleeper sofa or space for a rollaway bed. Roommate matching is unavailable for solo travelers on this program. If you do not have anyone to share a room with you must book as a single room option for the additional cost.
Featured Expert
Cindy Faith
Cindy Faith has been a Group Leader and lecturer at the Museum of Chincoteague Island’s Road Scholar programs for many years. Raised on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, her knowledge of the region’s natural and local history is encyclopedic. Her expertise runs the gamut from horseshoe crabs and wild ponies to pirates and the Civil War’s impact on the Chincoteague region. Combined with her warm sense of humor, Cindy’s vast knowledge assures Road Scholar participants of an informative and interesting experience.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Harvesting in knee-deep water.
Small Group
(13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(5 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
13 meals | 5B | 4L | 4D |
1 expert-led lecture
7 expert-led field trips
6 hands-on experiences
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation, History
Location:
Chincoteague , Va.
Meals:
D
Stay:
Channel Bass Inn
Activity Note
B&B check-in from 3:00 p.m. Road Scholar check-in 3-4:45 pm. Dinner at 5:00 pm
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:00-4:30 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us in the living room to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive after dinner & Orientation, your packet will be in your room.
Dinner:
At the Inn
Evening:
Orientation: In the B&B dining room, our Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Life and events on Chincoteague Island are governed by the tides: high tide, low tide, and slack tide — the times between high and low tides when there is no perceptible current at all. Therefore, our actual activity times, especially those on the water, may vary somewhat from day to day based on the tides and on the tidal flow. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. To close the evening, we’ll have a brief Meet & Greet to begin getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Boat Cruise, Walking Tour
Location:
Chincoteague , Va.
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Channel Bass Inn
Activity Note
Getting on/off a school bus; driving approximately 7 miles, approximately 20 minutes. Getting on/off a pontoon boat; riding approximately 2 hours. Walking during field trips; generally flat terrain.
Breakfast:
At the Inn
Morning:
We'll hop aboard the bus and ride to the Merritt Harbor, where we will board a pontoon boat and take a cruise of the Assateague Channel.
Lunch:
In a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Departing from the restaurant, we will enjoy a walking tour, learning interesting history as we walk between the stops. As we socialize with new Road Scholar friends, we’ll enjoy several locations in historic downtown Chincoteague.
Dinner:
In a local restaurant
Evening:
at leisure
Day
3
Clamming, History Tour, Free evening
Location:
Chincoteague , Va.
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Channel Bass Inn
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; 1 hour history tour. Walking less than 2 miles throughout the day; mostly level paved path. Getting on/off a pontoon boat. Opportunity to get off the boat to clam in the marsh, which will be muddy, feet & knees will get wet; wear clothes that can get dirty.
Breakfast:
At the Inn.
Morning:
Today we will enjoy two local activities, with times dependent upon the tides. We will hop on our bus and head to the dock. En route, we will stop at the Hill House, the oldest building on Chincoteague Island. Once aboard the pontoon boat, we will visit a clam bed, where we'll have the opportunity to exit the boat and do some clamming in the Assateague channel. We will learn about clamming, the clamming business and the marsh, which is the nursury of the ocean, and also provides edible plants.
Lunch:
At the Inn
Afternoon:
We will hop on our bus for a history tour around Chincoteague Island. We will see historic sites, including the Carnival Grounds, Beebe Ranch, and the Museum of Chincoteague Island. Weather permitting, we will stop and get off the bus at one or two sites. Dependent upon the tides, the activity times are subject to change for this day.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
Aquaculture, Crabbing with local experts.
Location:
Chincoteague , Va.
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Channel Bass Inn
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; short trips. Walking and standing during field trips; generally flat terrain.
Breakfast:
At the Inn.
Morning:
We will hop on our bus and head to the Aquaculture Farm in to learn about growing and harvesting oysters, as well as the local aquaculture. Next we will visit the Farmer's Market, with an opportunity to browse stands with seafood, fruits & vegetables, arts, crafts and souveneirs.
Lunch:
At Memorial Park
Afternoon:
After lunch we’ll hop on the bus and head over Veterans Memorial Park, and go crabbing off the dock with a local expert. Bait, lines, and nets, will be provided as we learn how to catch blue crabs overlooking the Assateague channel.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Beer & Wine tasting, Cooking with the Chef, Seafood Feast
Location:
Chincoteague , Va.
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Channel Bass Inn
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; short drives. Walking and standing during field trips; generally flat terrain.
Breakfast:
At the Inn.
Morning:
We will head over to the museum, where we'll be joined by the owner/curator of a local boutique specializing in wine and specialty beer. We will enjoy a beer and wine tasting. Note: this day's morning and afternoon activities may switch, based on the chef's availability.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant
Afternoon:
We'll have an opportunity to cook with the Chef, where we'll learn about seafood preparation and participate in the making of a seafood dish.
Dinner:
We will hop on the bus and head to the Museum's Legacy Pavilion, where we will enjoy a traditional seafood boil. During dinner, we will learn how to pick a crab! Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We’ll be joined by Salts, seasoned singers/players who present energetic and eclectic performances of Celtic, nautical, traditional, and contemporary music. They will entertain us with witty banter while also teaching about their songs and instruments. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Chincoteague , Va.
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Inn check-out 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the Inn.
Morning:
During breakfast, our Group Leader will conduct a closing round-table talk to review program highlights. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
13 Meals
5 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
4 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Sep 21, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
- Jul 20, 2025 - Jul 25, 2025
- Aug 10, 2025 - Aug 15, 2025
- Aug 24, 2025 - Aug 29, 2025
- Sep 14, 2025 - Sep 19, 2025
- Sep 21, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 14 Reviews
Sort By:
A great program. It is filled with opportunities to learn not only about the people who live on the island but also about the industries and programs that keep it vibrant. Well worth it!
— Review left October 7, 2024
Chincoteague Sea to Table was a wonderful experience! Oysters, clams, and then the wild ponies, what more could you want?
— Review left September 3, 2024
Great time on the Sea to Table in Chincoteague Island. Loved it. Be prepared to eat a lot of wonderful food!!
— Review left September 3, 2024
Below is a link to the YouTube video I created using videos and photos I took on my iPhone during our August 2024 Road Scholar trip in Chincoteague Island Virginia. It can also be viewed by searching for August 2024 Road Scholar on YouTube.com.
https://youtu.be/0QWUDPRD3zg?feature=shared
— Review left August 25, 2024
Great program!
— Review left August 25, 2024
I absolutely loved the Sea to Table program on Chincoteague Island. I learned so much about the history of this little gem of an island, its past and present aquaculture economy, and of course the wild ponies that swim from Assateague every year which is a huge tourism draw. Really interesting and fun experiential activities like clamming, visiting an oyster aquafarm and making a clam chowder with our host chefs. The "table" part was amazing. We ate ourselves silly so if you are a foodie, this trip is for you. The Chincoteague oysters are probably the best you'll ever eat!
— Review left October 7, 2023
This was my first Road Scholar trip and my husband and I had a really good time. The activities were very fun. The food was great and the people on my tour were really fun and added to my enjoyment of the trip.
— Review left September 30, 2023
I travelled solo on this trip and truly enjoyed every aspect! I made new friends, learned new skills and look forward to my next Road Scholar experience!
— Review left September 29, 2023
We combined the Sea to Table program with Kayaking the Eastern Shore which made it an overall great experience.
— Review left September 12, 2023
Our visit to Chincoteague was amazing. The food, the community, and the program presenters were everything I had hoped for.
— Review left September 12, 2023
Would highly recommend this trip. With only 13 participants in my group it was indeed a "small group tour". Got to know everyone. Nice mixture of singles, couples & other family relationships. Didn't feel like odd man out. Instead of a motel we booked an entire wonderful B&B (Chanel Bass Inn)) that had fantastic breakfasts. Enjoyed the many hands on activities.
— Review left August 25, 2023
I would recommend this program. It was fun and educational. Lots to learn and do.
— Review left July 18, 2023
You won't be disappointed in this trip to Chincoteague Island for the "Sea to Table Extravaganza". It was full of amazing vistas, whimsical stories of wild ponies and marauding pirates, villages that flourished and faded, shipwrecks, fires and fishing facts from past to present. The accommodations were a delightful introduction into Chincoteague's genteel past and the food anywhere you went, most especially Channel Inn, never disappointed!
— Review left July 16, 2023
This program was not only very interesting and informative but was a lot of fun also. Chincoteague is a unique place and well worth getting to know, thanks to Road Scholar.
— Review left October 14, 2019
