Although we’ve travelled a lot in the United States, we haven’t had the opportunity to visit Virginia. More pity us, for by all accounts Virginia is a great destination for oyster lovers.
The state is the largest producer of farm-raised and wild-caught oysters on the east coast of the U.S. When the first colonists arrived in Virginia in 1607, the waters of Chesapeake Bay were teeming with oysters, which they named Crassostrea virginica.
Through disease, hurricanes, and over-fishing, the bottom fell out of the industry and it is estimated that by 2001 only one percent of the historic population of oysters survived.
The introduction of oyster farms in the last few decades has saved the industry and today Virginia oysters are highly prized. There’s an interesting account of the history of Virginia oysters here. Did you know that Crassostrea virginica is the only oyster that it is legal to grow on the U.S. east coast?
The Virginia Oyster Trail features eight distinct regions and wonderful experiences, from Chef’s Table tours on a farm, to historic sites of Chesapeake Bay watermen.
There are hundreds of places to visit on the trail, including restaurants, bike trails, downtown shops, scenic cruises, craft breweries, and dozens of annual events celebrating oysters. A highlight of the festival calendar is the Urbanna Oyster Festival, one of the world’s oldest oyster festivals.
One of the standout experiences on the trail is the Chef’s Table tour at Pleasure House Oysters, where Captain Chris is a wealth of knowledge. Another is the Chesapeake Gold experience at Tides Inn on Chesapeake Bay. Guided by an ecologist, the tour includes a boat outing to an oyster farm, hands-on farming and oyster grading, and of course a tasting.
Virginia is located across the Potomac River from Washington D.C., in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. The Oyster Trail is easily accessible from Washington Dulles International Airport which is located in Chantilly, Virginia.
Learn more about the Virginia Oyster Trail here.
Photos courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation.