Sawyer Charters and Tours

(410) 397-3743 - (443) 521-2055 - sawyercharters@yahoo.com

http://www.dorchestercountytours.com

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ABOUT US

DORCHESTER SEAFOOD & WINE TOUR

ISLAND EXPERIENCE TOUR

Welcome to Dorchester County! We are a family-owned and operated business based right here in Dorchester County on Maryland's Eastern Shore. We have offered packaged Dorchester County tours for more than 15 years to bus companies, travel organizations, senior centers, AARP chapters, church groups, and many other groups who are interested in learning about what Dorchester County has to offer!

Oyster Aquaculture Tour

Learn about one of the newest industries in Dorchester County, enjoy a narrated cruise aboard an authentic Chesapeake Bay charter boat, and gorge on a buffet-style meal that provides the full flavor of the Eastern Shore!

Meet your step-on tour guide at the Dorchester County Visitor Center in Cambridge, Maryland and travel through the lush pine forests of Dorchester County on the way to Hoopers Island. Listen to the tour guide narrate about the history of the county and the industries that support the local economy. Keep your eyes open for some of the abundant wildlife in the area, including sika deer, whitetail deer, bald eagles, great blue herons, foxes, and much more.

Arrive at Madhouse Oysters, an oyster aquaculture facility that represents one of the newest industries in Dorchester County. This facility produces farm-raised oysters that start as grain-sized baby spat. See how this facility grows these oysters to a full-size edible state!

Then, hop aboard the "Sawyer," a Chesapeake Bay charter boat, and enjoy a one-hour narrated cruise from Capt. Dave Schauber. Capt. Dave is a lifelong Eastern Shore resident who has fished on the Chesapeake Bay all his life. He'll discuss how the people of Hoopers Island and Dorchester County have made a living with commercial fishing for hundreds of years, and continue to do so today. He'll talk about trot lines, crab pots, and pound nets. He'll tell you everything you ever wanted to know about crabs and how they're harvested on the Chesapeake Bay and its many tributaries.

After the boat ride, get back on the bus and head to Old Salty's Restaurant for an out of this world buffet-style meal that features locally-harvested seafood, such as crab cakes, soft-shelled crabs, fish, and clam strips. The meal also has non-seafood items like chicken, ham, tossed salad, vegetables, baked pineapple casserole, homemade rolls, and much more. An assortment of pie slices are available for dessert. Water and iced tea are standard for drinks.

Wanna know what some people are saying about this tour? Check out these testimonials!

"We enjoyed our Oyster Aquaculture tour with you. Your commentary about the history of Dorchester County and its current efforts to continue the watermen's way of life was very interesting and informative. The cruise and Captain Dave's explanation of how crabbing is done and how to tell the difference between the various types of crabs was very informative - we now have a better understanding of the importance of the seafood industry to your region. At the Madhouse Oyster farm, we got to see and hear about a new way to harvest oysters and how this will add to your seafood industry.

"Of course, another highlight of the tour was our lunch at Old Salty's. We all left full and happy. We learned a lot and had a lot of fun on this tour. Thanks for all of your help with arranging this learning adventure for our group." - Jill Gentry, Lifelong Learning Institute of Manassas, VA

"I wanted to let you know what a great tour you gave us of Dorchester County, Cambridge, the Choptank and tributaries, all the information about history, Harriet Tubman, the lives of watermen and others who live in your great part of the Eastern Shore, crabbing, Blackwater wildlife refuge, oyster farming and more. We all learned so much about your way of life and your wonderful part of Maryland. Our lunch at Old Salty's was superb. I know we will go on another tour with you all. You are a wonderful family business. Thank you so much!" - Suzie Hill, St. Francis of Assisi Sodality, Baltimore, MD

Suggested Itinerary (times are approximate and may be adjusted)

9:30am: Meet step-on tour guide at Dorchester County Visitor Center in Cambridge

10:30am: Arrive at Madhouse Oysters on Hoopers Island

11:30am: One-hour narrated cruise aboard the Sawyer

12:45pm: Buffet-style lunch at Old Salty's Restaurant

2:30-3:00pm: Conclusion of Tour

25-person minimum, 40-person maximum

*If you have a group of more than 40 people, or if you want to do this tour during the winter months, we may be able to do a land-based version of this tour that doesn't include the boat ride. Please call or email us for options and pricing!