New for Summer 2021 – Cottage City Oysters owners, Dan and Greg Martino, are now offering their own oyster farm tours. Over the past couple of years, we have enjoyed doing oyster tours with the brothers, and now they have put their own spin on this memorable adventure – Experience Cottage City Oyster Farm Tours on Martha’s Vineyard.
Dan and Greg have added a new boat to their operation, the Leeward. Their boat is a 31′ open deck oyster tour boat that is Coast Guard approved and can host up to 30 guests.
Experience Cottage City Oyster Farm Tours On Martha’s Vineyard – Heading Out On The Tour
Cottage City Oyster Farm tours begin at the dock near the Island Queen on the Oak Bluffs Harbor which is closer to the end of the harbor, near the jetty. The Leeward is spacious but does not offer much shade, so sunblock and hats and perhaps a sweatshirt may be a good idea.
When on the boat, after introductions and such, Dan begins sharing the story and history of Cottage City Oysters. This educational component to the tour is extremely interesting if you love oysters. We love oysters, so it is always fun to learn new things and see what it takes to grow oysters on Martha’s Vineyard.
Experience Cottage City Oyster Farm Tours On Martha’s Vineyard – Fresh Shucked Oysters
While Dan is talking, there is a lot of interaction with the group. We get the chance to know each other a bit, and don’t be surprised if you continue to talk after the tour back on land. We definitely had some laughs during the tour.
The tour is about 1.5 hours, and is BYOB. As you are sailing around East Chop and learning about oysters, there are also Cottage City Oysters being shucked for you to enjoy. They are freshly harvested and just taste so much better eaten on the water.
Experience Cottage City Oyster Farm Tours On Martha’s Vineyard – Enjoying The Vineyard Waters
The Leeward takes you to the Martino brother’s oyster farm which is off Eastville Beach in Oak Bluffs. Cottage City Oysters are the only oysters on the Vineyard that are grown in the open ocean water. This means that they tend to have a saltier brine and also are less likely to get too warm over the summer months.
You also get a cruise around Vineyard Haven Harbor which is always nice. The tour is an experience unlike any other — being on the water, with the farmers, enjoying a different side of Martha’s Vineyard, eating fresh oysters. It’s all so much fun! Cottage City Oysters Farm Tours are one part education and one part floating raw bar.
Experience Cottage City Oyster Farm Tours On Martha’s Vineyard – Cottage City Oyster Taste Profile
A bounty of Cottage City Oysters is provided as part of the tour. These are some of my all-time favorite oysters. They are smaller (hand-shaped by Dan and Greg) and have a saltier brine than many other oysters.
I went on this tour with my friend Leah. It was her first oyster farm tour and she absolutely loved it! She had lots of questions! We ate lots of oysters and drank some bubbly, and agreed that it was a perfect way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon! We had a lot of fun and laughs.
If you like oysters, then this is a must for you to try. There really is something special about learning about the process of farming oysters from the farmers, and eating the oysters in the water they were harvested from. Add the boat ride, hopefully the sunshine, a bevy, and a fun group and you have a truly memorable Vineyard Experience.
To learn more about Cottage City Oysters or to inquire about a tour or a private tour, click here.
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