When I saw on Taste Tidewater's Facebook post that there were only 3 spots left for their Oyster &…read moreWine tour, I reserved the same day! It is also my birthday month and have had my eye on this tour for awhile. It was fate! Not knowing what to expect, I jumped the gun and paid immediately. When Rex, the owner, sent the itinerary, I saw 3 local restaurants, Catch 31, Rockefeller's, & Tautogs. My first thoughts were, "I hope this isn't lame...", "I could go to these places myself..." The group met at Virginia Aquarium for an optional tour inside for the first 30mins. I arrived late. Now, I wish I made it on time to hear more about oysters. Rex tried finding the group for me & we walked all around the museum. It was way too crowded, I was late, & didn't mind waiting. Perhaps walkie talkies as a communication tool for the husband & wife team. Not just for late arrivals. :) Could be distracting too but, just a suggestion. The aquarium attendants had no idea who or where the group was. I did appreciate the effort. Not many would help me catch up with group especially, since I was late. Our first stop was Catch 31. Table was set and ready to go. We had three chefs(one including one of our guides, Chef Patrick Evans-Hylton) and the sommelier at our table. They educated us about the oysters & wine. They walked us through the various types of oysters & wine, regions, how to eat, & how to taste. We were served 4 oysters each from one of the 7 regions & two wine tastings. There were condiments and crackers on the table. I thought this was definitely the most informative restaurant out of the three. Next stop was Rockefeller's. Again, tables were set & wine was poured! No menu w/ descriptions. We had 2 raw oysters and 2 oysters rockefeller. Then, we were served hush puppies w/ pimento cheese which were amazing. Last, was coconut cake! This restaurant had more food offerings which was good because after several glasses of wine, I was hungry & others were too!! Last stop was Tautog's. They sat us outside & setup was more buffet style. Glasses of wine were on a table for us to pick up as we walked in. The presentation was beautifully prepared. They had 3 of their house sauces which were delicious! I thought the sauces were needed with these oysters. Others agreed. Didn't taste as fresh as the previous restaurants. I believe they were Lynnhaven and I've had Lynnhaven oysters before. So, not a reflection on the tour. There was also fresh cut fruit on the oyster platters. Only because TT asked, my recommendations would be: * Posting sample itineraries on social media * Clearer description of what to expect with regards to food so people know whether or not they should eat prior to the tour or pack a snack/sandwich. * Website shows they would be "happy to provide water and light snacks." None were offered. * Market/advertise the 10% off Yelp Check-in offer * Advise up front the 10% off Yelp Check-in is NOT valid for the Oyster & Wine tour. A portion of proceeds go towards non-profit which I totally understand & appreciate, just set the expectation. Overall, this was a lovely experience that one can comfortably do solo! I did and I truly enjoyed! Hands down. I am so happy to see a company like this on the East Coast and executing with such class. Please don't think this is a drunken wild party bus. It is a tasteful informative experience with subject matter experts who also enjoy partaking in libations while sharing their knowledge! :) I hope to see more food tours added to their current list. Rex, Lisa, & Chef Patrick were cordial, knowledgable, fun, and professional. Thank you so much for a memorable experience!

I went on the vineyard tour for a bachelorette party!! It was a fabulous time! Lisa, our tour…read moreguide, was knowledgeable, informative, and very hospitable!! Looking forward to the opportunity the either do a brewery tour or a different vineyard tour in the near future!!

This is a nice and exciting "sight seeing" excursion. The wife and I really enjoyed our ride.read more

Had a great time out in the boat, pretty cool seeing a navy seal boat which was used in prior…read moremissions ! Saw tons of dolphins and the ocean front as well ! We were lucky enough to see a beautiful wedding on the beach ! The owner runs the company through a big truck parked by the marina and he was very nice! I would bring my family there if we go back just for the experience

I did the haunted walk tour with a group on 9/12. The tour guide was boring. The explanations were…read morevery brief so there was more walking than learning. I, along with a few others left about halfway through.

I did the ghost tour last night 9/12 with a large group. I am sorry to say I was very disappointed…read more I have done several ghost walks and this was the worst. The stories were mediocre, the tour guide was subpar. I was counting the minutes till it concluded. Don't waste 25 dollars for this tour.

Perfect weather! An amazing time had by all. Pro tip request Kurt he's super friendly,…read moreknowledgeable, and a real cutie.

While visiting friends in Norfolk for my birthday, we took a boat ride with Electrified Marina. We…read morewent out for happy hour and watched the sunset. We brought our own wine and cheese tray, were able to relax, visit and enjoy the evening. The best part was the fact that since the boat is electric we didn't have to yell over a loud motor. A perfect way to end the day. Thank you!! Geri Thomas San Diego, CA

Everything about our trip was amazing. The bus was super clean and very modern. Of all, having…read moreWanda as our driver made it even more special. She was very careful when driving and super energetic and polite. Love everything about the trip.... Definitely recommend it

I had lost my wallet and a wonderful bus driver named Ms.Wanda helped me find it and her words are…read moreso soft spoken i will forever be thankful for her helping me.

I went on a sunset cruise for a work networking/tour event. We had an educational tour of the…read moreharbor. While onboard we had some drinks and hors d'oeuvres. All of the staff were very friendly and kind!

A group of eight of us enjoyed a fun and relaxing lunch cruise on the Spirit of Norfolk. The buffet…read morelunch was good and plentiful. It included three types of salads, rolls with butter, chicken, pulled pork, and salmon entrees, potatoes, Mac and Cheese, plantains, squash, and street corn. Plus a large selection of desserts. Iced tea and water came with the meal too. They also have a full bar and reasonable prices for beer and wine. Service is cheerful and efficient. The entire crew was accommodating and helpful. After lunch, you can go out on their decks and enjoy the view or stay inside to dance to tunes played by a DJ. Tip and tax is included on the cruise fee, though not on the separate drinks you order on board. They'll serve you drinks at your table or on the outside decks. We boarded at 11:30 am, and the buffet opened around that time too. We then sail shortly after 12 pm. We disembarked at 2 pm. Parking is available a block away in the Town Point Garage. I believe they usually have handicap parking close to the ship, but that area was occupied by a festival when we were there. They give a military discount. Sometimes you'll see a discount on their website too.

I found this tour on groupon and I called Deanna to get tickets for me and my friend. She was super…read morenice and I was super excited to go on this tour. The tour comes with complimentary breakfast and lunch. We got picked up at the little station behind Freedom Car Wash and Wawa. The bus was brand new and very comfortable. They had a selection of apple cinnamon muffins, sweet potato pastries, grapes, and strawberries with blueberries for breakfast. The muffins and sweet potato pastries made by a contestant on Master Chef Junior and the muffins were great. I didn't have the pastries because I don't like sweet potatoes. We were offered a bag with water and a granola bar with brochures for wineries and some for the ones we were going to. The was also a scent bag with soy candle samples from Pink Zebra. They smelled great. Next on the list was gathering the rest of the group for the trip from Norfolk. Once we got everyone, we were offered mimosas; candor l cranberry or orange. We chose orange. Deanna introduced herself, daughter, and granddaughter. She also introduced those who she knew who were on the trip. She provided some great historic facts like the origin of witchduck. She discussed the history of Virginia wine and information about Virginia Born presidents. Our first stop was New Kent Winery and our host was great and very polite. The tasting was very informative and fun. Their wines were fantastic and the Vineyard was amazing. It wasn't on the itinerary, but Deanna put it on there. Next was Michie Tavern. We had lunch there and the buffet was great. The wine tasting, not so much. Third stop was Baubersville and the wine was ok. We weren't really a fan of the environment because I felt out of place even though I was dressed pretty nicely. Last stop was Horton and our host was amazing! We had so much fun! We will definitely do this tour again in the fall because it was great and it was so much fun! Happy to have been part of the inaugural trip!

I've been on two wine tours, as well as a wine tasting at a friend's house. I had so much fun that…read moreI recently hosted a wine tasting of my own. My friends raved! The Virginia wines were excellent, and everyone loved the history lesson. Now I have another group of friends who are jealous and want me to host a wine tasting for them. I also love the fact that it's a local business. Deanna's (the owner's) friends and family love to help with her tours, and they are the nicest people. I plan on continuing to support Fruits and Roots Wine Tours, and I'd recommend them to EVERYONE!

A twilight Norfolk Cenetery tour was fun at Elmwood. The subject was death, disease and surgery in…read morethe Victorian period. I could not resist the topic since I'm in healthcare. The eight stones visited had all different causes of death from syphilis, epilepsy, surgery and even teething. One had a corner report listing cause of death as "ate too much ice". The Norfolk Society for Cemetery's typically offer the tours on Friday and Sunday's throughout the year for $5 with different topics. The trio of cemeteries utilized, Elmwood, Cedar Grove and West Point off Princess Anne Road in Norfolk are the oldest in the city. I have visited all three in the past with curiosity. For those interested go to the Norfolk Society website. Also they will host an annual 5k run From Here to Eternity. "Silent Guardians of Forgotten Tales". October 11th.

We took this tour around Halloween but it would be fun any time. Our guide was in a full costume…read morefrom centuries ago and brought both wit and history as he explained who the souls were buried underneath our feet. Norfolk is an old historic town with much to learn about the people who once inhabited it. The $5 donation goes towards preserving the grounds and headstones so your visit makes a difference in preserving history. Wear shoes comfortable for uneven ground and have fun!

A fantastic tour. We arrived early for the tour and Rachel…read morechecked us in. We had a short wait before the captain said we could board. Rachel made us feel comfortable. We talked with her while we waited for others to check in. Captain Charlie let us board on time. No surprises or delays. Bev and I used the walkers to get down the ramp. Captain Charlie with the whole crew greeted every passenger at the bottom of the ramp. They helped us over the step onto the tour boat. Adam assisted the captain in getting us on our way. He wore his life vest as he was out front on the boat. We were indoors. Bev and I sat down on a table right in the front. Most passengers went upstairs to the next level. We did not think we could manage so many steps so we sat in the room we came in. Hudson also assisted throughout the event. He answered many questions we had about the trip. Captain Charlie's voice came over the speakers and shared many facts about the area. We were looking left right and front. Captain Charlie is so friendly and naturally funny. Bev and I enjoyed his commentary. Bev had questions about specific things as she lived in this area for 23 years. Hudson answered all of them. He is very knowledgeable about the area. Adam took our order for drinks so we did not have to go upstairs to the bar. He kindly brought them to us. We also asked for snacks. Cookies and chips to go with our drinks. I gave him my credit card and he returned with everything. Adam checked on us often. He is so friendly, kind and has a great sense of humor. Bev and Adam would banter back and forth. Both have a quick wit. We were taking everything in. It was such a beautiful sunny day with a slight breeze coming across the Chesapeake Bay. On the way back to the dock we saw so many dolphins. They were swimming and jumping out of the water. So beautiful and exciting. I'm sure the joy in my heart was seen through the smile in my eyes. Once we docked Rachel was right there to welcome us home. Time flew by so fast with so much to see. Rachel was joined by Captain Charlie, Adam and Hudson to see us safely to shore. We loved this trip don't just take our word come check it out for yourself. Thank you Willie n Bev.

The boat was clean and comfortable and the commentary was interesting. Several years ago I…read morepurchased the Hampton Sea to Stars combination ticket. We were saving, the cruise, the best for last. The first Miss Hampton operator retired, so there was a three-year delay from when I purchased to when we could do the cruise. We appreciated the new owners who were gracious and honored our Sea to Stars Combination ticket. The staff was friendly and helpful. It was a very hot day. The staff recommended that we would probably be the most comfortable at the bow of the boat where there was a cool spray and a nice breeze.

We searched online for a boat rental company for the Hot Springs Area and Great White Rentals was…read morethe first site to come up. We read the reviews and assumed since they were all so good and their website looked good they were a legit company. We called and talked to a nice lady on the phone a week prior to us coming to visit for a week long vacation with 6 of our grandkids. Let her know we had a pontoon and would like to rent a nice boat to spend 2-3 days on the lake tubing, skiing, and riding around while we were here. I asked about the two nicer boats on the website and she said they had some really clean boats and she could get us 8 in one no problem. So reserved the premium one over the phone. When we arrived the next week they called the day before and requested to be paid the of the amount in cash. I thought this was strange for a company, but agreed and went to back to get cash for the next morning. (First red flag) When they arrived with the boat it was a 22 year old tri-toon, very weathered, and let's just say, well used. (Second red flag) Seats ripped, awning held together with bungee cords and straps, rear ladder was bungee strapped up, horn was broken, so we have a whistle, interior lights broken lenses, radio didn't work, the anchor was an 8 pound mushroom anchor you would use for a johnboat, would certainly not hold a 24' pontoon. The life vest they provided were just as old as the boat. We only had 4 we could use old of the 10 they sent. There's no tow bar to pull from, so the drivers says yeah you will have to tie onto one of the toons, really??? I expressed my frustration with the delivery driver, which went no where, I called the office and talked to a lady who said she had only been answering phones for a few months and had never actually seen the boats. (Third red flag). I asked at this point was this a company or was this just individuals renting out their boats and cabins? She answered just individuals, they don't have an actual office. She advised she would get with the owner of the boat to see if they can do anything but they didn't have any other boats available. By now I'm frustrated but I have 6 grandkids ages 13-8 looking at me excited to go boating and waiting to get on the boat. They could care less what it looks like or if it's going to leave us stranded, they just want to go. lol I go ahead and take the boat and make the best of what we have throughout the day. When they pick up the boat I was expecting a little humility and at least an half ass excuse, but all I get was "sorry this wasn't what you expected, thank for re ring with us though". We check on other rentals in the area the next morning and found that they actually have newer boats and are quite a bit less expensive. I also went back and reviewed their website to see if I missed anything and over reacted. What I found was a couple of the reviews were from the delivery guys family, the delivery driver is actually in the pictures. So I wonder if the 23 reviews are actually real at this point. Moral of the story, don't stop doing research when you find a good website or good reviews. Keep checking around, we paid 730 dollars for a 22 year old worn out boat and motor for 8 hours and could have gotten a 2 year old boat with a bigger motor, for 520 dollars at 2 other rental places right down the road. If you're renting your own equipment that's great, just be upfront about it !

Ok, I wish I had checked HELP before my visit. I was prepared to give them a 2nd chance, it the…read morecomments here ring true to my experience. It appears that this is normal for them and not a fluke. Unfortunate. The biggest problem with this organization is communication. When we arrived? 2 men asked us if we had reservations. We said Yes, a d they drove away with us sitting on the parking lot. After 15 minutes they returned, but turned around to drive off again without giving us any information. I had to flag them down. When I did, we were told to go down to the booth to check in. But there was no one to check us in. There was another family waiting who had been there nearly an hour. Fast forward 30 minutes more and we are finally on the jet skis. They get me on 1st, but they didn't have a life jacket for my wife, so she took lo her as they located one. The young man working there began to yell at me that I had to go on out without my wife. "You have to go!" He just kept yelling! It was no use, because no way was I turning my back and motoring out into the Bay while people i don't know are struggling to get my wife prepared. I don't do that. Eventually she was ready. I gave her plenty of space, which from their yelling appeared to be the concern, and we went out. We had 3 more incidents of conflict with this same guy over the course of the ride. Had the day not been perfect and the tons of dolphins not escorted us, he would have ruined our trip with is mouth. So the ride was a 5 but the customer service was a 1. I'll likely go so where else next time.