Southeast Expeditions
Cape Charles, Chincoteague and Onacock, Virginia
Before Dave Burden founded Southeast Expeditions in 1999, no one else had tapped into the potential of Virginia’s Eastern Shore as a great paddling destination. Today, the company offers guided kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding tours from four locations along the Southeast coast. Participants of all ages will relax and feel like a kid again as they explore and experience nature.
“Our original goal was to connect people with the salt marshes and help them understand what’s so unique about this part of the world,” said Burden.
Along the journey, paddlers may see blue heron, osprey and even wild ponies. Each guide is a trained naturalist and will point out details about the environment, although, according to Burden, “it’s more of a nature experience than a class.”
Southeast Expeditions also founded the first ever winery-kayak tour, called Paddle Your Glass Off, where groups paddle to Chatham Vineyards for a tour and tasting. Once paddlers hit the shore, they stroll past the farm’s 20 acres of grapevines, enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility and wrap up the afternoon with a wine tasting.
The best aspect of the winery-kayak tour is that it motivates people to step outside their comfort zones. Some individuals might be dubious about the physical effort of kayaking; others might consider a wine tasting too highbrow. But the combination encourages people to let their guard down and give it a try.
“It’s great because it’s a gateway to two really interesting activities,” said Burden.
Twin Falls Photography Workshop
Twin Falls State Park, West Virginia
Twin Falls State Park has been leading photography workshops for nearly 30 years; they are offered twice annually, in September and April. The 4,000-acre resort state park is a prime location for aspiring photographers, with 26 miles of hiking trails that feature birds, salamanders, rhododendron, waterfalls and a restored pioneer farm.
“What makes it a special experience is that people can spend one-on-one time with professional photographers who approach it as a passion, not just a job,” said Scott Durham, superintendent at Twin Falls State Park.
Currently supervising the workshop are seasoned professionals Steve Shaluta and Steven Rotsch. Now retired, Shaluta spent more than 30 years working as a staff photographer for the West Virginia Department of Commerce and running a successful freelance photography business. Rotsch is an internationally recognized photographer, with published work in the Associated Press, the Illinois State-Journal and the Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram. He also serves as the personal photographer for West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III.
The weekend retreat begins on Friday evening, when the group convenes in a classroom for an introductory session on basic photography. The next morning, the photographers head out on field trips throughout the park to put their new skills to the test, typically visiting the pioneer farm and local waterfalls.
“We adapt the schedule to the wants and needs of the group,” said Durham, who participates in the workshop each year. “Quite often, we go out for a night excursion as well.”
Saturday afternoon and evening are divided into classroom sessions on more advanced topics, such as night photography, portraits and lighting. Finally, on Sunday morning, participants submit three of their best photos for a class critique.
