Wild ponies, sandy beaches, and crabs abound

After travelling across 11 bridges to get from the mainland to the island, you'll find yourself amidst a quaint little village where time stands still, except for one week in July.

The pony swim is a large-scale event that takes place every July. The wild ponies are rounded up to make the swim from the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on the Virginia side of Assateague Island to Chincoteage for the annual Pony Penning and Auction. The Virginia herd is owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. Although most of the locals leave town the week of the pony swim, it is definitely a sight worth seeing at least once.

Other times of year, the island is quiet and laid-back, a great place to get away from it all and just relax amidst the beauty that is Chincoteague.

The beach at the National Seashore is one of the prettiest on the Atlantic coast. The ocean waves are relatively mild, and lifeguards are on duty during the daylight hours. Farther up the beach, you can drive your 4WD right onto the beach and fish for flounder. If you visit the beach or the wildlife refuge in the late afternoon, you'll need insect repellent as well as sunscreen.

The long climb up the steep, winding stairs of the historic Assateague lighthouse is definitely worth the effort.

There are many places to stay, from the standard hotel room or a quaint B&B that serves afternoon tea to a luxury vacation home rental with its own dock and a hot tub.

There are several places rent canoes and jet skis for the hour, day, or week. The crabbing is spectacular, and many rentals come equipped with all the necessary gear.

Both the sunrises and sunsets are spectacular on the island. A great way to spend the evening is to sip on a frozen drink from the deck of one of the many restaurants facing Assateague Island and watch the sun go down on yet another perfect day.

Quick Tips:

In October, the annual oyster festival draws a huge crowd from around the country.

Many of the local restaurants and hotels have publications that include discount coupons for meals, miniature golf, and the island's ice-cream parlors.

http://www.chincoteague.com is a great source for events and lodging on Chincoteague Island.

Best Way To Get Around:

There is no public transportation. You can walk almost anywhere on the island, but you'll need a car or bicycle to get to the beach at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, which is a short drive across the bridge. Bicycles, including four-person, pedal-powered surreys, can be rented at various locations on the island.

The rental property where we stayed on the island was a charming waterfront end-unit townhouse directly across from the Assateague lighthouse. We had our own deep-water dock where we moored our rental canoe. Renting the canoe for the week was a great idea; my teenagers never complained when I had had enough beach and wanted to go back to the rental. They looked forward to their many adventures on the water and must have navigated every inch of the channel during our stay. The crabbing was excellent in this location, which was next door to the Chincoteague oyster beds.

The unit had a large covered deck off the living room and another off the master bedroom. Both offered beautiful views of the sunrise over Assateague. The wildlife, especially the migratory birds, was abundant and fascinating to watch. It's a bird-watcher's paradise. There are three levels. On the main floor is a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, living room with sleeper sofa, powder room, and full laundry. The second floor has a decent-sized master with a shower bath and deck, as well as a second bedroom with queen-size bed and a Jacuzzi in the hall bath. The upper floor is a large, open room with several beds and a bath.

The unit was clean and nicely furnished. The price for a waterfront rental property was very reasonable. We enjoyed this rental so much that we have requested the same one 4 years in a row.

You can make reservations directly through the Internet or contact the realty company by mail or phone.

http://www.islandprop.com/PropertyPlus/index.html

Island Property Enterprises
P.O. Box 2, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336
Rental Office
Phone: 757/336-3456
Fax: 757/336-6908
E-Mail: islandp2@islandprop.com

This old-fashioned ice cream parlor serves the finest ice cream on the island in a lovely Victorian setting.

Menu choices include an array of large sundaes with fresh fruits, banana splits, malts, thick milkshakes, and huge ice-cream sodas. The house specialty is warm Belgian waffles served with ice cream, fresh fruit, and homemade whipped cream.

The ice-cream parlor is situated in a home that was built in 1875 by William F. Cropper, the town cabinetmaker and undertaker. The house was occupied Captain John B. Whealton in 1920 while he supervised the construction of the causeway and bridge to the Chincoteague Wildlife preserve on Assateague Island.

Many of the locals claim that the house is haunted. Are you brave enough to venture there late at night?

The ice-cream parlor is open daily from 11am to 11pm.

The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Virginia side of Assateague Island and is very different from the Maryland side. First of all, you can't cross from the Maryland side to the Virginia side by car. That's because the Virginia side is totally dedicated to the preservation and care of the horses rather than tourists.

During tourist season, the horses are kept within the preserve. You can see them by booking a tour through the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, where park rangers take you on a small open bus through the preserve to follow the herds. The fee is minimal and definitely worth the price.

If you prefer, you can walk along the beach or the many hiking trails and maybe catch a glimpse of the horses, but I would only recommend this for the most adventurous of souls. I did that on one trip and was confronted by an angry stallion trying to protect his herd.

There are numerous trails throughout the refuge on which to hike or bike and enjoy the wildlife. There are many species of waterfowl, herons, and egrets in the preserve, as wall as black squirrels and small Asian deer. A good camera with lots of film (or disk space) is a must.

I highly recommend bringing insect repellent and using it liberally, as bugs are definitely plentiful during the summer months.

The island itself is beautiful, a windswept barrier island that straddles the Virginia-Maryland border. The 14,000-acre refuge also includes land on neighboring islands, most of which are inaccessible to tourists.

The entry fee is $10 per vehicle, good for 7 consecutive days, and also covers admission to the adjoining National Seashore, another must-see.

Over Columbus Day weekend, the island becomes almost as crowded as it is during the week of the annual pony swim, as seafood lovers come from all directions for the annual Chincoteague Oyster Festival. This year, the festival will be held Saturday, October 8, 2005, at the the Maddox Family Campground. The event will be held rain or shine, so bring a poncho or raincoat just in case.

Participants can feast on oysters prepared in just about every way you can imagine! They are served raw on the half shell, steamed, fried, Rockefeller, and more variations than I can list here. Also on the menu are clam fritters, wonderful Southern hush puppies, coleslaw, potato salad, and hot dogs (for the kids who haven't acquired a taste for oysters). Between the hours of noon and 4pm, $35 dollars covers all you care to eat, while children under 5 eat free. As an oyster lover (and these are the best on the East coast), I usually skip the side dishes and feast strictly on oysters.

There is always live entertainment by local bands, as well as several activities for everyone in the family. Activities include a cooking contest, raffle and games for the kids. The gates open and activities begin at noon on the day of the festival.

The is sponsored by the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce in order to mark the arrival of the oyster season. This popular event is always a sell-out, so purchase your tickets early, either online or by calling the Chincoteague Chamber of Congress. Be sure to book your accommodations early as well, as the hotels and rental units fill up quickly.

Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 258
Chincoteague, VA 23336
(757) 336-6161
http://www.chincoteaguechamber.com/oyster-festival/index.html