As I discovered myself splashing via 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 via to the pores and skin from the waves washing over the facet, and thought to myself, “that is how a lot I like my daughter.”
However who was I kidding? Ever since I learn Misty of Chincoteague as a lady, I too have wished to see the wild ponies of Chincoteague, Virginia. After rereading this basic kids’s novel with our mother-daughter e-book membership, we added Chincoteague, VA and Assateague, MD to our journey want checklist. I quickly found that there have been different enjoyable issues to do in Chincoteague VA, making it an ideal cease on our mother-daughter Mid-Atlantic street journey to Lancaster, Gettysburg, and Ocean Metropolis.
The place is Chincoteague, VA and Why is it Well-known?
Chincoteague is a small city situated on the japanese shore of Virginia, simply south of the Maryland border. It’s located on Chincoteague Island, which is a part of the Assateague Island Nationwide Seashore, a protected space that encompasses each the Virginia and Maryland parts of the barrier island.
Individuals go to Chincoteague for its stunning 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 at the moment are protected by the Chincoteague Nationwide Wildlife Refuge and are a significant attraction for guests to the realm.
Along with 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 dwelling to a number of museums and historic websites that showcase the realm’s heritage. Guests additionally take pleasure in outside actions together with kayaking and fishing.
What are the Chincoteague Wild Ponies?
For these not acquainted with the wild ponies, they’re fabled to be descendants of horses that survived a shipwreck of a Spanish Galleon centuries in the past. Immediately 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 Nationwide Seashore. The opposite 150 ponies that reside in Virginia are often called the Chincoteague ponies and reside inside the Chincoteague Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, however are owned by the hearth division.
In 1835, islanders started the method of pony penning, by rounding up among 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 Fireplace Division, the place ponies had been rounded up and auctioned off to boost cash for hearth tools. This observe continues to this 12 months, with an annual “pony swim” in July of every 12 months, a story so aptly informed by Marguerite Henry in Misty of Chincoteague.
Issues to do in Chincoteague, VA
Your first alternative when visiting the realm is deciding whether or not you’re going to go to the Assateague Nationwide Seashore or the Chincoteague Nationwide Wildlife Refuge (or each). Simply understand that whereas they’re each on Assateague Island, you can’t get via the fence separating the states so it is advisable to both enter the Assateague Nationwide Seashore in Maryland (about quarter-hour south of Ocean Metropolis), or enter the Chincoteague Nationwide Wildlife Refuge via the bridge at Chincoteague (about 1 hr 15 minutes south of Ocean Metropolis, MD.)
Whereas Assateague is arguably one of the stunning stretches of seaside on the East Coast, we had been Misty followers, so we had been heading to Chincoteague.
Take a Boat Tour to Seek for Wild Ponies
Forewarned by my mother, who had taken a bus journey to see the ponies, and my sister, who had pushed via the wildlife refuge earlier within the 12 months, I knew the ponies may show elusive and I wasn’t driving eight hours for a distant glimpse. I wished a certain factor and the one approach to get that was with a assured pony tour from Captain Dan’s Across the Island Excursions.
That 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 await the ponies to come back to you, he takes you to the ponies.
Rising up on the island, Captain Dan’s Round The Island Excursions 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 start to foals.
Earlier than visiting, I simply considered the horses because the Chincoteague Ponies — so I used to be stunned to not solely be taught that they’ve names, however that some guests come again time and again in hope of seeing their favorites.
After our moist trip out, which was actually solely uneven due to the current 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 via the inlets of the island, nearly all the way in which as much as the Maryland border, till we discovered a pair extra herds near the water. That is what we got here for, and that is the place Captain Dan actually delivered on his promise of assured pony sightings.
Whereas we had been watching the second herd, one of many wild ponies got here working via 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 stunning to see how briskly their small legs can run.
The following herd gave us one more shock after we noticed a child foal, simply days if not hours outdated, slowly make its means up onto 4 legs and trot away after its mama.
After we had lastly gotten our fill (or at the very least our 2.5 hours value), it was time to go again to the dock and discover the remainder of what Chincoteague needed to provide. Should you aren’t capable of take a pony boat tour, there are different locations you could find the wild ponies together with
- On the “Wild Pony Overlook” on the Woodland Path within the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge (we didn’t see any there)
- Throughout the fence line on Seaside Highway
- Between the lighthouse and the Woodland Path (we noticed a number of from a distance there)
- From atop the Assateague Lighthouse (we noticed a number of from far-off)
- Mountain climbing the Chincoteague Pure Historical past Affiliation service path
- On the Chincoteague Pony Middle
Whereas most individuals come to Chincoteague with at the very least some curiosity in seeing the ponies, there are many different methods to take pleasure in Chincoteague and Assateague.
Discover the Chincoteague Nationwide Wildlife Refuge
Masking over 14,000 acres, the Chincoteague Nationwide Wildlife Refuge is dwelling to a various array of wildlife, together with migratory birds, wild ponies, and sea turtles. Guests can discover the refuge’s many trails and remark decks to identify wildlife and take within the beautiful pure great thing about the island.
Along with the Bateman instructional and knowledge heart, the refuge affords quite a few climbing and biking trails. The Woodland Path is a 1.6 mile loop via the woods (clearly) with a viewing platform over the marsh. The three.2 mile wildlife loop is open from 3pm to nightfall to autos. You may also take certainly one of their wildlife bus excursions, which run from April via November (tickets might be bought upfront or on-site.) This 7-mile Refuge Trek follows a service street and you may see among the space’s wildlife together with horses, white-tailed deer, sika elk, birds and extra.
Go to the Museum of Chincoteague Island
This small museum is devoted to preserving the historical past and tradition of Chincoteague Island. Guests 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
Positioned inside the Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Mild might be discovered on the finish of a brief .25-mile path and is mostly open from 9 am to three pm. For a small entrance charge, you possibly can climb to the highest of the lighthouse for panoramic views of the island.
Take an Eco Boat Tour
Captain Barry’s Again Bay Cruises affords interactive boat excursions on a instructing vessel that serves as a floating classroom. Visitors can dig for sea creatures at a sandbar, pull crab pots, accumulate shells, hunt for jellyfish, find out how oysters develop, determine birds, and even style the world-famous Chincoteague salt oysters. Captain Barry additionally affords sundown cruises.
Cease on the NASA Customer Middle at Wallops Island
The NASA Wallops Flight Facility Customer Middle is a superb place to study NASA’s missions and scientific analysis. The middle has quite a few interactive displays that spotlight NASA’s work in areas similar to Earth science, area exploration, and aeronautics.
The middle hosts a wide range of occasions all year long, together with rocket launches, stargazing events, and workshops. Guided excursions of the power are additionally obtainable, giving guests a behind-the-scenes take a look at NASA’s work. Make sure to try the outside displays such because the Antares rocket and the Orbital Sciences Company’s Cygnus spacecraft.
Go Kayaking with Assatague Explorer
Assateague Explorer affords 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 perfect spots for wild ponies, eagles, and different shorebirds.
Have a Thrill at Iron Pony Journey Park
The Iron Pony Journey 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.”
Take pleasure in a Seaside Day
Assateague Island Nationwide Seashore has over 37 miles of beachfront, the place guests can swim, sunbathe, surf, and fish. The park can be dwelling to a wide range of wildlife, together with wild horses, deer, foxes, and waterfowl.
Some individuals prefer to tent or RV camp within the park (reservations are really useful) or drive out to Toms Cove (the overland automobile space). The park has a number of trails for climbing and biking, together with the Assateague Island Nationwide Seashore Bike Path and the Lifetime of the Marsh Path.
When visiting with youngsters, remember to cease into the Customer Middle to be taught concerning the Ranger-led applications, together with guided hikes, campfire talks, and seaside walks.
Lease a Bike
Lease a motorbike from Jus’ Bikes and spend the day biking via city and the wildlife refuge. This family-owned firm has been working since 1995 and affords seaside cruisers, youngsters’ bikes, child-seats, trail-a-bikes, kiddie karts, tandems, and 3-wheelers.
Take pleasure in Household Enjoyable at Funland
Funland Amusements affords arcade video games, bumper boats, go-karts, mini golf, and inflatables to superb household enjoyable.
Funland Amusements is situated at 6528 Maddox Blvd, Chincoteague, VA 23336
Discover Downtown
Ensure to go away time to discover downtown Chincoteague. My sister loves to go to each February for the city’s “Loss of life by Chocolate” scavenger hunt occasion. You possibly can trip the Pony Categorical Trolley to discover downtown and the remainder of the island. Ensure to incorporate a cease on the Island Creamery Ice Cream and take a look at their well-known Marsh Mud taste, for those who love chocolate. Craft Beer lovers must also cease for a tasting on the Black Narrows Brewing Firm.
The place to Keep in Chincoteague
There are lots of choices for the place to remain in Chincoteague, from finances seaside motels to charming mattress and breakfasts, campgrounds, trip leases, and family-friendly resorts. A number of choices embrace:
- Island Manor Home – This charming mattress and breakfast is situated simply steps from the waterfront and options comfy rooms and a scrumptious breakfast every morning.
- Chincoteague Bay Discipline Station – This rustic retreat is situated on the sting of the Chincoteague Nationwide Wildlife Refuge and affords guests a novel alternative to immerse themselves within the pure great thing about the island. You possibly can register for one of many household camp choices.
- Hampton Inn and Suites Chincoteague-Waterfront – Positioned proper on the waterfront, this contemporary resort affords comfy rooms and beautiful views of the bay.
Incessantly Requested Questions
The very best time to go to Chincoteague Island is throughout the spring or fall when the climate is gentle and the crowds are smaller. Nonetheless, you can see extra actions and sights open longer hours throughout the peak summer time season. If you wish to be there for the annual pony swim, plan on visiting in late July.
Chincoteague makes an ideal weekend getaway or a 2-day cease on an extended Virginia street journey. Through the hotter climate, you possibly can simply spend every week stress-free on the seaside, exploring Chincoteague Island, and having fun with the numerous outside actions.
Chincoteague is an informal seaside vacation spot so that you don’t have to pack something fancy. Make sure to deliver comfy clothes and sneakers for exploring the outside, in addition to sunscreen, bug spray, and a tick elimination equipment.
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