Wicomico County
Crab feasts are also big parts of the appeal in Salisbury and surrounding Wicomico County, about 30 miles east of Ocean City. The area features fresh blue crab from March through October, and many local seafood restaurants are only open during this season.
Groups can get their fill of fresh crab, along with a taste of authentic Eastern Shore culture, at the Red Roost in White Haven, about a half-hour’s drive outside of Salisbury.
“It’s housed in a refurbished chicken shack, so there’s definitely some unique character there,” said Kristen Goller, director of marketing and public relations for Wicomico County Recreation, Parks and Tourism. “It’s been in operation for 40 years, and it’s one of the oldest all-you-can-eat crab places here on the shore. You’re almost stepping back into history when you go to that town, and you get to experience the authentic Eastern Shore way of life.”
Another way to experience the local lifestyle is to join experienced watermen for a trip to the bay to catch crabs. Chesapeake Tours and Promotions, a receptive tour operator in the area, can connect groups with local fishing vessels and guides who give them a firsthand look at the work that goes into harvesting crabs.
“The operators take you out on the water and show you how to do everything, and you get to catch your dinner for the evening,” Goller said. “You can go out on the water with watermen who have been doing this for years. It’s a really neat experience that you can’t find in many locations.”
Dorchester County
Farther up the shore on the Chesapeake Bay, Dorchester County complements its crab culture with a heaping helping of oysters.
“The Native Americans were eating oysters here hundreds of years ago, and we’re still doing the same today,” said Jill Jasuta, marketing director for Dorchester County Tourism. “In almost every restaurant around here you’ll find local crabmeat and local oysters. It’s an important part of life for both people who live here and visitors.”
Among the culinary highlights of the county is Old Salty’s, a traditional seafood restaurant about 40 miles from Cambridge, the county’s largest city. A trip to Old Salty’s takes travelers through marshland and tiny fishing villages to a down-home restaurant located in an old high school overlooking the bay. All of the seafood served there comes from local waters.
“People come from all over the world to Old Salty’s for the crab cakes,” Jasuta said. “They also do crab balls and soft-shell crab. And they have all kinds of oysters: on the half-shell, roasted or fried. In the wintertime, oyster stew is popular.”
After enjoying the local seafood, groups can take a sail on the Skipjack Nation of Dorchester. This boat is a traditional “oystering” vessel, and the crew demonstrates the process of dredging for oysters and introduces visitors to the marine life that comes up in the nets.
Groups visiting during the second Saturday in August should plan to attend Dorchester’s Seafood Feast-i-val, an American Bus Association Top 100 event. Another celebration, Taste of Cambridge, features crab dishes prepared dozens of different ways by local restaurant chefs.
