As I discovered myself splashing by means of the uneven water of the Chincoteague Bay aboard a pontoon boat on a cold spring day in April, I hunkered down into my borrowed fisherman’s slicker, my butt already soaked by means of to the pores and skin from the waves washing over the facet, and thought to myself, “this is how much I love my daughter.”
But who was I kidding? Ever since I learn Misty of Chincoteague as a lady, I too have needed to see the wild ponies of Chincoteague, Virginia. After rereading this traditional kids’s novel with our mother-daughter ebook membership, we added Chincoteague, VA and Assateague, MD to our journey want record. I quickly found that there have been different enjoyable issues to do in Chincoteague VA, making it an awesome cease on our mother-daughter Mid-Atlantic highway journey to Lancaster, Gettysburg, and Ocean City.
Where is Chincoteague, VA and Why is it Famous?
Chincoteague is a small city situated on the japanese shore of Virginia, simply south of the Maryland border. It is located on Chincoteague Island, which is a part of the Assateague Island National Seashore, a protected space that encompasses each the Virginia and Maryland parts of the barrier island.
People go to Chincoteague for its lovely seashores, pure magnificence, and wildlife. The island is most identified for its wild ponies, that are believed to have been delivered to the island by Spanish sailors within the sixteenth century. The ponies are actually protected by the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and are a significant attraction for guests to the world.
In addition to the wild ponies, Chincoteague can be well-known for its oysters and different seafood, that are a preferred native delicacy. The city has a wealthy maritime historical past and is residence to a number of museums and historic websites that showcase the world’s heritage. Visitors additionally take pleasure in out of doors actions together with kayaking and fishing.
What are the Chincoteague Wild Ponies?
For these not aware of the wild ponies, they’re fabled to be descendants of horses that survived a shipwreck of a Spanish Galleon centuries in the past. Today there are two herds that reside on Assateague Island with about 300 horses in complete — one north of the fence in Maryland and one other south of the fence in Virginia.
The Maryland herd, often called Assateague horses, reside inside the Assateague National Seashore. The different 150 ponies that reside in Virginia are often called the Chincoteague ponies and reside inside the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, however are owned by the hearth division.
In 1835, islanders started the method of pony penning, by rounding up a number of the ponies and bringing them to the mainland to stop overcrowding. In 1924, the primary formal Pony Penning Day was held by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department, the place ponies have been rounded up and auctioned off to boost cash for hearth tools. This observe continues to this yr, with an annual “pony swim” in July of every yr, a story so aptly informed by Marguerite Henry in Misty of Chincoteague.
Things to do in Chincoteague, VA
Your first alternative when visiting the world is deciding whether or not you’re going to go to the Assateague National Seashore or the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (or each). Just take into account that whereas they’re each on Assateague Island, you can’t get by means of the fence separating the states so you’ll want to both enter the Assateague National Seashore in Maryland (about quarter-hour south of Ocean City), or enter the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge by means of the bridge at Chincoteague (about 1 hr 15 minutes south of Ocean City, MD.)
While Assateague is arguably one of the lovely stretches of seaside on the East Coast, we have been Misty followers, so we have been heading to Chincoteague.
Take a Boat Tour to Search for Wild Ponies
Forewarned by my mother, who had taken a bus journey to see the ponies, and my sister, who had pushed by means of the wildlife refuge earlier within the yr, I knew the ponies may show elusive and I wasn’t driving eight hours for a distant glimpse. I needed a positive factor and the one strategy to get that was with a assured pony tour from Captain Dan’s Around the Island Tours.
This is how I wound up getting soaked on a ship throughout one of many coldest Aprils in recent times. You see, Captain Dan doesn’t look forward to the ponies to come back to you, he takes you to the ponies.
Growing up on the island, Captain Dan’s Around The Island Tours has a ardour for ponies that’s infectious. He is aware of the place to seek out the ponies as a result of he understands how they reside. He can acknowledge a lot of the stallions by sight from their markings and coloring, and he is aware of what number of mares are in every herd and which of them predict or not too long ago gave beginning to foals.
Before visiting, I simply considered the horses because the Chincoteague Ponies — so I used to be shocked to not solely be taught that they’ve names, however that some guests come again repeatedly in hope of seeing their favorites.
After our moist journey out, which was actually solely uneven due to the latest tough climate within the space, we moved into calmer seas and shortly approached our first herd.
After spending a while observing this small herd from a distance, we wound our means by means of the inlets of the island, nearly all the best way as much as the Maryland border, till we discovered a pair extra herds near the water. This is what we got here for, and that is the place Captain Dan actually delivered on his promise of assured pony sightings.
While we have been watching the second herd, one of many wild ponies got here working by means of the woods and out into the open space, prefer it was calling to the remainder of the herd. After watching them lazily strolling round nibbling on grass, it was shocking to see how briskly their small legs can run.
The subsequent herd gave us yet one more shock after we noticed a child foal, simply days if not hours previous, slowly make its means up onto 4 legs and trot away after its mama.
When we had lastly gotten our fill (or no less than our 2.5 hours price), it was time to move again to the dock and discover the remainder of what Chincoteague needed to supply. If you aren’t capable of take a pony boat tour, there are different locations you’ll find the wild ponies together with
- At the “Wild Pony Overlook” on the Woodland Trail within the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge (we didn’t see any there)
- Across the fence line on Beach Road
- Between the lighthouse and the Woodland Trail (we noticed just a few from a distance there)
- From atop the Assateague Lighthouse (we noticed just a few from far-off)
- Hiking the Chincoteague Natural History Association service path
- At the Chincoteague Pony Center
While most individuals come to Chincoteague with no less than some curiosity in seeing the ponies, there are many different methods to take pleasure in Chincoteague and Assateague.
Explore the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Covering over 14,000 acres, the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is residence to a various array of wildlife, together with migratory birds, wild ponies, and sea turtles. Visitors can discover the refuge’s many trails and statement decks to identify wildlife and take within the beautiful pure fantastic thing about the island.
In addition to the Bateman academic and knowledge heart, the refuge provides quite a few mountain climbing and biking trails. The Woodland Trail is a 1.6 mile loop by means of the woods (clearly) with a viewing platform over the marsh. The 3.2 mile wildlife loop is open from 3pm to nightfall to autos. You also can take certainly one of their wildlife bus excursions, which run from April by means of November (tickets may be bought prematurely or on-site.) This 7-mile Refuge Trek follows a service highway and you may see a number of the space’s wildlife together with horses, white-tailed deer, sika elk, birds and extra.
Visit the Museum of Chincoteague Island
This small museum is devoted to preserving the historical past and tradition of Chincoteague Island. Visitors can discover displays on the island’s maritime heritage, the well-known wild ponies, and the historical past of the native fishing trade.
The Museum of Chincoteague Island is situated at 7125 Maddox Blvd., Chincoteague Island, VA 23336
Climb the Assateague Lighthouse
Located inside the Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Light may be discovered on the finish of a brief .25-mile path and is usually open from 9 am to three pm. For a small entrance charge, you’ll be able to climb to the highest of the lighthouse for panoramic views of the island.
Take an Eco Boat Tour
Captain Barry’s Back Bay Cruises provides interactive boat excursions on a instructing vessel that serves as a floating classroom. Guests can dig for sea creatures at a sandbar, pull crab pots, accumulate shells, hunt for jellyfish, learn the way oysters develop, establish birds, and even style the world-famous Chincoteague salt oysters. Captain Barry additionally provides sundown cruises.
Stop on the NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Island
The NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center is a good place to study NASA’s missions and scientific analysis. The heart has quite a few interactive displays that spotlight NASA’s work in areas corresponding to Earth science, house exploration, and aeronautics.
The heart hosts quite a lot of occasions all year long, together with rocket launches, stargazing events, and workshops. Guided excursions of the ability are additionally obtainable, giving guests a behind-the-scenes have a look at NASA’s work. Be positive to take a look at the out of doors displays such because the Antares rocket and the Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Cygnus spacecraft.
Go Kayaking with Assatague Explorer
Assateague Explorer provides sundown cruises, nature dolphin cruises, and kayaking excursions. The Assateague cruise & kayak tour is situated on Chincoteague Island. The tour is operated between Assateague & Chincoteague Island within the protected Assateague Channel, taking you to the most effective spots for wild ponies, eagles, and different shorebirds.
Have a Thrill at Iron Pony Adventure Park
The Iron Pony Adventure Park options an aerial journey course with over 30 obstacles on two ranges. The obstacles embrace ladders, tight ropes, steadiness beams, wobbly bridges, cargo nets, and the 26-foot excessive “pony plunge.”
Enjoy a Beach Day
Assateague Island National Seashore has over 37 miles of beachfront, the place guests can swim, sunbathe, surf, and fish. The park can be residence to quite a lot of wildlife, together with wild horses, deer, foxes, and waterfowl.
Some individuals prefer to tent or RV camp within the park (reservations are really helpful) or drive out to Toms Cove (the overland automobile space). The park has a number of trails for mountain climbing and biking, together with the Assateague Island National Seashore Bike Path and the Life of the Marsh Trail.
When visiting with youngsters, you should definitely cease into the Visitor Center to be taught concerning the Ranger-led packages, together with guided hikes, campfire talks, and seaside walks.
Rent a Bike
Rent a motorbike from Jus’ Bikes and spend the day biking by means of city and the wildlife refuge. This family-owned firm has been working since 1995 and provides seaside cruisers, youngsters’ bikes, child-seats, trail-a-bikes, kiddie karts, tandems, and 3-wheelers.
Enjoy Family Fun at Funland
Funland Amusements provides arcade video games, bumper boats, go-karts, mini golf, and inflatables to wonderful household enjoyable.
Funland Amusements is situated at 6528 Maddox Blvd, Chincoteague, VA 23336
Explore Downtown
Make positive to go away time to discover downtown Chincoteague. My sister loves to go to each February for the city’s “Death by Chocolate” scavenger hunt occasion. You can journey the Pony Express Trolley to discover downtown and the remainder of the island. Make positive to incorporate a cease on the Island Creamery Ice Cream and check out their well-known Marsh Mud taste, in case you love chocolate. Craft Beer lovers must also cease for a tasting on the Black Narrows Brewing Company.
Where to Stay in Chincoteague
There are many choices for the place to remain in Chincoteague, from funds seaside motels to charming mattress and breakfasts, campgrounds, trip leases, and family-friendly lodges. A couple of choices embrace:
- Island Manor House – This charming mattress and breakfast is situated simply steps from the waterfront and options snug rooms and a scrumptious breakfast every morning.
- Chincoteague Bay Field Station – This rustic retreat is situated on the sting of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and provides guests a singular alternative to immerse themselves within the pure fantastic thing about the island. You can register for one of many household camp choices.
- Hampton Inn and Suites Chincoteague-Waterfront – Located proper on the waterfront, this contemporary resort provides snug rooms and beautiful views of the bay.
Frequently Asked Questions
The finest time to go to Chincoteague Island is in the course of the spring or fall when the climate is gentle and the crowds are smaller. However, you can see extra actions and points of interest open longer hours in the course of the peak summer season season. If you need to be there for the annual pony swim, plan on visiting in late July.
Chincoteague makes an awesome weekend getaway or a 2-day cease on an extended Virginia highway journey. During the hotter climate, you’ll be able to simply spend per week enjoyable on the seaside, exploring Chincoteague Island, and having fun with the various out of doors actions.
Chincoteague is an off-the-cuff seaside vacation spot so that you don’t must pack something fancy. Be positive to convey snug clothes and footwear for exploring the outside, in addition to sunscreen, bug spray, and a tick elimination package.
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