I came away with a real appreciation for a waterman's life. And women of the water too.

Many thanks to Charlie, Tim, Chris, Kathy, and Janice!!! My first Roads Scholar trip. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot about the "watermen" (and women) and the Chesapeake Bay. Loved the boat rides to Tangier and Smith Islands and all the great sea food. :-)

WOW!! Thank you Charlie, Tim, Chris and Kathy.
And Thank You Road Scholar for this fabulous learning experience.

So much new information for me, presented in a delightful manner.

Best of the Bay-Crisfield,Md. Had my eye on this program for 10 years and was not disappointed-it was first class!

Great leaders, speakers, and participants. Disappointed not to have hard shell crabs.

Very enjoyable !

It was fascinating to learn how a community can fight to survive in changing times. People who are attempting to maintain a lifestyle through good and bad economic times. How the effect of government regulations can affect their way of life.

This program was very informative on the seafood industry and we really learned from the locals on the islands and the mainland about their lives and what they experience daily doing the hard work they do. All of the leaders were wonderful and fun!! The food was plentious (as always)and very good. As usual, we ate all that was offered and are having to leave our pants unbuttoned, having to fast a few days and step up the exercise to get rid of the pounds I am sure we have put on...I'm not even going to step on a scale! This was a fun time!!

This was our second Road Scholar program. It was very enjoyable and allowed participants to see a segment of society they might not otherwise be able to appreciate in the same manner. The trips to Tangier Island and Smith Island, which are the highlights of the trip, were enjoyable although it might have been helpful if our stays on the islands had been somewhat longer. One of the principal reasons this program is so popular and successful is the program coordinator, Charley Petrocci. Although he is not from the area, he has lived there for many years and has managed the program for at least 21 years. He knows the area and its history well and is knowledgeable in many areas, including the islanders, the wildlife, and all aspects of a waterman’s life. And his great and ever present sense of humor both keeps the program on schedule as well as keeps one’s spirits from flagging at the end of a long day. He is ably assisted at times by Tim Howard, the curator at the Crisfield Museum, which serves as the home base for the program. Tim is also very knowledgeable about the history of the area, comes from a family that has been in Crisfield for generations and has owned a seafood processing plant. Other presenters were also quite informative. As far as accommodations, the Captain Tyler Paddle Wheel motel is pretty much barebones and shows signs of age, like much of Crisfield, but is clean and was suitable for our stay. It would have been nice if coffee had been available in the rooms or lobby but at least there was a mini-frig and microwave. Best of the Bay is a very worthwhile and informative program and we recommend it highly.

The program totally exceded our expectations. Made crabs, oysters, and a waterman's way of life absolutely interesting. We learned so much and enjoyed the beauty of the Bay and its islands.

(Please use any or all of my evaluation completed today for an online review) Donna Petersen

We participated in our first Road Scholar trip entitled The Best of the Chesapeake Bay. It was only a three hour road trip to the Eastern Shore and a very gentle drive. The fact that we could get there by auto was a real attraction for us. The program was exceptional and we thank all who made it happen. Our team leader, Charlie Petrocci, kept us informed and entertained. We give Best of the Chesapeake Bay ten stars. Thank you, Road Scholar. Pat and Bill Dougherty Arlington, Virginia

If you want to be immersed in the Crisfield area, great food and the life of a waterman, this is your program. Program leader is very informative and funny too.

The Program "Best of the Chesapeake Bay" is one of the best available in all of whole Road Scholar program. We enjoyed every aspect of the well planned program!! Charlie Petrocci is the outstanding coordinator and he has recruited very experienced leaders to assist.

If you really want to know all about the crabbing industry and enjoy terrific food, this is the program for you. And Charlie, our leader, is a perfect combination of humor and knowledge!

Excellent location, staff & program well worth it !!!

This was an interesting and informative program about the crabbing and oystering industry in a small and historic town. Trips to outlying islands were very eye-opening and pleasurable. The quality of instruction was excellent and guest speakers were super. We learned a great deal about the history of the area and how people live there.

There is no question that this is a five-star program. Each day is a new adventure from boat trips to bus tours to cooking demonstrations to eating, eating, eating tons of seafood and other delicacies. Charlie, the coordinator is part host, part comedian,and one of the most knowledgable people I have ever met. He has selected superb speakers who are all local residents and who exude pride and excitement in the way they live. The short boat trips to Tangier and Smith Islands opened our eyes to a totally different way of life---very rustic in many ways but endorsed highly by the few residents. I came away with great admiration for the watermen and the hard life they live in order to provide for their families. It was an inspiring week all around but one filled with fun and comraderie. Peg from Raleigh, NC

This program was very well organized and presented the history of Crisfield, MD ("the crab capital of the world") in an interesting format. The afternoon trips to the two nearby islands were wonderful; we saw first-hand the quiet, happy lives of these inhabitants. All of the speakers throughout the week were very knowledgeable and entertaining. Our group asked many questions and there was much sharing. The menu was heavy on seafood and the meals were well received. The leader, Charlie, was a quick wit, very knowledgeable, and loved by all. This program is a good value!