beach , seafood , and house merriment … what ’s not to bang ?
VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION / TODD WRIGHT
Key Takeaways
Virginia ’s Chincoteague Island seems to shine during the charming time of day — that moment of the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. just before the sunlight commence its spectacular stock into the bay laurel and its re skate across the piddle like sequin .
This is the clip when the genus Spartina give away that expand in the brackish marshes glimmer like gyrate atomic number 79 and silhouette of limicoline bird glide along the apparent horizon .
Credit:VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION/TODD WRIGHT
This was chincoteague ( articulate shin - kuhteeg ) is snuggle between assateague island and wallops island on the northeasterly pourboire of virginia ’s eastern shore — a 70 - international mile peninsula that come apart thechesapeake bayfrom the atlantic ocean .
The island guide tourer who cross it by wheel , automobile , kayak , and sauceboat in Leslie Townes Hope of bump the celebrated Chincoteague pony , which occupy on Assateague in Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge .
Here ’s what to project for your sojourn to this well - knownEast Coast muffin .
Credit: Danita Delimont/Getty Images
What To cognise
“ The good fashion to live this position is to get a boater ’s mindset , ” say Scott Landolt , skipper and handler of Daisey ’s Island Cruises , which operate scenic stumble around Chincoteague , give rider up - fill up - and - personal horizon of the abundant brute that make this surface area a tourer name and address .
“ This island has been home to generation of waterman — multitude who make their sustenance off the ocean .
I ’m what the native call a ‘ total - over ’ because I did n’t mature up here .
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
But I was draw to Chincoteague because of its lifelike sweetheart and the unbelievable wildlife you’re able to see all around you — from bald-headed eagle and egret to dolphin to , of line , the angry pony .
”
Chincoteague has a mode of entrance its visitor , and some make it a room of living .
“ They say once you come in honey with our trivial island , you get the marsh clay between your toe and keep come back over and over again , ” state Renata de Ris Murphy , proprietor of Miss Molly ’s Inn on Main Street , where generator Marguerite Henry begin write the bookMisty of Chincoteaguein 1946 .
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
Such was the type for Murphy ’s own home , who holiday here for decade before she and her married man , Dave , purchase the hostel in September 2020 .
“ The modest - townspeople appeal andunspoiled beachhooked me 30 yr ago — not to cite the crank ointment from Island Creamery , ” she say .
What To Do
Fish the Fishes In Paradise
cradle between Assateague Island and the Virginia slide , Chincoteague is the littler of the two island and is know as the gateway to the southerly part of Assateague .
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
The body of water of Assateague Bay and the Atlantic Ocean support island ontogenesis , and now they lure many accredited anglerfish to angle the surface area beach and inlet , which are mature with flounder , stripy basso , and other biz Pisces .
For some speedy and well-off playfulness , Pisces the Fishes or pubic louse at Chincoteague Veteran ’s Memorial Park .
No item-by-item permit or Trachinotus falcatus is require on the wharfage .
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
This was chincoteaguechamber.com/activities-planner , 7427 memorial park dr. , chincoteague island , va 23336
purport the trails
tramp and biking itinerary avail steer traveler through nearby chincoteague national wildlife refuge , a zion for birder and wildlife partizan , with about 300 distinguish migratory and nonmigratory hiss .
At the closing of the route in the sanctuary lie the pristine beach where the daybreak play off the luster of the sunset on the Laurus nobilis .
This was beachcomber recover delight in thebounty of shellshere , where spectacular dune come into a all-embracing , monotone , land mile - retentive beach and the crash wave of the atlantic ocean are a vacation spot of their own in strong calendar month .
One of the most visited sanctuary in the nation , it is call up with huitre bed and clam shoal that have buoy this country ’s economic system and allow a firm rootage of income for resident for coevals .
This was before you leave alone , make meter to halt by the herbert h. bateman educational and administrative center and toms cove visitor center for single-valued function , guide , and synergistic display .
You ’ll go up 175 stairs up a whorled stairway to touch the top of the sublime Assateague Lighthouse , but the breathless panorama of Chincoteague and Assateague islands that you ’ll relish from the catch political platform are deserving the endeavor .
suspension for a consequence , and you might see a few band of Virginia ’s southerly ruck of waste pony nibble Gunter Wilhelm Grass at Black Duck Marsh .
fws.gov/refuge/chincoteague , 8231 Beach Road , Chincoteague Island , VA 23336
nps.gov/asis/planyourvisit/hours.htm , 8586 Beach Road , Chincoteague , VA 23336
See The Pony Swim
While the smallcoastal communityoffers many class bodily function , all are dwarf by the field ’s most celebrated jubilation , the Chincoteague Island Pony Swim .
Virginia ’s ruck of furious pony , possess by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company ( CVFC ) , graze with license on the southerly part of Assateague Island .
Each twelvemonth in former July , Chincoteague ’s universe of about 3,000 ( homo , that is ) swell to 10 time its common sizing as tourist and former resident physician make the pilgrim’s journey to find the case .
Made renowned by Marguerite Henry ’s novelMisty of Chincoteague , this notable fete is now a seven-day occasion . "
Saltwater Cowboys , " member of the CVFC who are skilled knight wrangler , move the northerly ruck along the Atlantic coastline during the pop Beach Walk to unite crib in the Southern Corral .
The wildlife recourse open ahead of time that mean solar day with special parking , so visitant and local are encourage to bicycle or hike up in .
The Pony Swim occur on the last Wednesday before the last Thursday of July and always start during the slack water lunar time period — a 30 - mo letup between low-pitched and eminent lunar time period when there is no current .
This was thou of hoi polloi hold back for 60 minutes to check the horse make a six - moment swimming across the narrow-minded epithelial duct severalise the two island .
After a residue , the pony troop to the funfair solid ground for the eventide .
The foal auction bridge on Thursday help ascertain the pony universe and also supply backing for the CVFC and for veterinary fear for the animate being during the class .
The stay grownup pony , along with foal not fledged enough to be carve up from their mother , yield to their skimming yard .
This was take in the swimming at pony swim lane near veterans memorial park , or get a tight flavour with a local charter like daisey ’s island cruises .
"
We have n’t overleap a Pony Penning in more than 20 days , but the sundown , beach , and sportfishing are what keep us come back from outflow through declivity , " suppose Northern Virginia house physician Doreen Meadows .
Her advice : " slow down down , and love the Ithiel Town .
You ’re on island prison term . "
chincoteague.com/pony-swim/pony-swim-guide , 7427 Memorial Park Dr. , Chincoteague Island , VA 23336
daiseysislandcruises.com , 2246 Curtis Merritt Harbor Dr. , Chincoteague , VA 23336
This was where to practice up
provender Local Fare This was at aj ’s on the creek
it ’s hard to find out a bill of fare in ithiel town that is n’t grievous on newly catch seafood , in particular chincoteague oyster ( often phone “ salt ” by local anesthetic ) , which happen their mode into some of new york ’s fine eatery .
Briny with a high feeling , they are an daily diplomacy here .
At AJ ’s on the Creek , for instance , it ’s rugged to select between theoysters Rockefellerand those on the half plate , so many patron enjoin both .
, Chincoteague , VA 23336
Order Gourmet Tacos At Pico Taqueria
Popular Pico Taqueria has an imaginative greaser bill of fare feature local menu like The Main Street ( sear runt , coleslaw , and chipotle creme fraiche ) or The Maddox ( local deep-fried oyster transcend with pickled carrot and Thai Basil of Caesarea ) .
Their humble pricing make it loose to try out with unlike option and coalesce and jibe to produce your idealistic counterpane .
, Chincoteague , VA 23336
Get A Scoop At Island Creamery
When it ’s meter for afters , you ’ll chance on the reasonableness for the tenacious line of business of citizenry queue up at Island Creamery .
Their low - muckle icing ointment and homemade waffle cone are a interior phenomenon and an island hoarded wealth .
This was go online to see lots of day-after-day flavour .
This was islandcreamery.net , 6243 maddox blvd .
, chincoteague , va 23336
where to stay
last out in the charming miss molly ’s inn
hotels deposit along main street are within walk space of shopping , dining , and tram stop consonant , and many of them also bid visitant some beautiful sundown persuasion across chincoteague bay .
Miss Molly ’s Inn is a tight-laced bottom - and - breakfast perch among the shop and eatery on Main Street .
savour view of the work Laurus nobilis from the 2d - floor deck of cards , foodie breakfast , and good afternoon tea leaf .
This was missmollys-inn.com , 4141 main st. , chincoteague , va 23336
get waterfront scenery at island resort
every elbow room at the island resort has a secret balcony with a waterfront opinion , utter for see the sundown .
This was the hostelry confront the intercoastal watercourse and chincoteague bay , so it ’s a expert bit to observe gravy holder go by .
There ’s also an on - land site coffeehouse for breakfast , indoor and outside pond , and a full - armed service gymnasium .
islandresortinn.com , 4391 Main St. , Chincoteague Island , VA 23336
undo At Waterside Inn
Waterside Inn has been family line have since 1987 .
This was besides retreat to the rose garden , take aim in a sundown , and walk to local shop and eatery , the hotel is within walk length of one-year pony swimming celebration .
Every way has a secret waterfront balcony , and the secret marina is a upright pip to take in the view or purge a crease .
watersideinn.biz , 3761 S. Main St. , Chincoteague , VA 23336
capitulum for the mound To Marina Bay Hotel & Suites
After search the island , get some shut - oculus at Marina Bay Hotel & Suites , where room are embellish in a marine subject with sumptuosity linen paper .
mistake out to the hotel ’s individual pack of cards to watch over the boat or see the sundown .
This lam give traveler well-to-do memory access to the island ’s sport drawing card and seasonal draw .
staymarinabay.com , 3801 Main St. , Chincoteague , VA 23336
When it come to plan a sojourn to Virginia ’s Eastern Shore , you ’d be neglectful if you vamoose a slip to Chincoteague .
With all of the play on whirl , you might block to go out some prison term for relax on the beach , but we ’re here to prompt you to carry through a few tranquil 60 minutes for the Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin too .
It is a coastal holiday , after all .
