![]() ![]() Best Chincoteague Island Area Tours & Activities Kayak Tour around Chincoteague and Assateague Islands You can get to the islands by paddling the Seaside Water Trail, hopping in your own boat and navigating your way out there or by booking a boat tour with a guide. The 14 barrier islands off the coast of Virginia’s Eastern Shore are the longest stretch of undeveloped shoreline on the East Coast. If you’ve always dreamed of relaxing on a deserted island then this is the beach experience you’ve been looking for. Rooms at the best hotels are expensive and can be hard to come by. Beach resorts in the area, including Ocean City, Md., attract thousands of visitors each summer. That’s when the horses that inhabit part of this barrier island off the coast of Maryland and Virginia are rounded up for a 3-minute swim across the channel. ![]() Some 40,000 spectators crowd in here each July to watch the famed Chincoteague Wild Pony Swim. It’s the one time of year when things can get really hectic on the island - though many people say the event is so cool that it’s worth dealing with the crowds. Summer is the best time to travel for weather, but keep in mind while planning your trip that the island’s annual Pony Swim takes place in late July. And best of all, you might snare a private viewing of the shaggy brown and white horses that make this place so famous. The roads, beaches and hiking trails through the woods and dunes are quiet and uncrowded. The area is part of the Atlantic flyway for migrating shorebirds, and everyone can enjoy the bird-watching. The best time to visit is during the spring (March – May). BirdingĪssateague is a natural habitat for countless songbirds and waterfowl – both resident and migratory species.Chincoteague Island Weather – When to Visit The back bays of Assateague have two main routes that offer outstanding views of the bay environment and wildlife. The Bayside areas provide free access to favorite clamming and crabbing spots. The 37-mile-long island affords many opportunities for surf fishing. You can also bike the paved paths and main road (about 3-1/2 miles) or you could bike the 10 miles from Ocean City to Assateague (and back…) Surf Fishing, Clamming, and Crabbing Walkers can easily explore the beaches, woodlands, and marshes. The trails are focused on the marsh, forest, and dunes. The island has three self-guided hiking trails and a scenic bike route. The beautiful, shaggy animals thrive on the bounty of their environment. The horses are actually descendants of domestic horses pastured on the island in the 17th century. Visitors are urged to respect the horses as wild animals. The wild horses on Maryland’s side of the island are free to roam the island: including the roads, beaches, trails, and campgrounds. The Atlantic Ocean and Sinepuxent Bay beaches afford expanses of sand and surf for beach-goers who wish to experience the Island’s natural environment. The Barrier Island Visitor Center and the parks’ websites (see above) provide detailed information on each of the following features of Assateague Island. To reach this area of the Island, you must travel to the southern portion of the island through Virginia. The National Park Service also manages the herd of wild horses on the Maryland portion of the barrier island.? Assateague Island National Wildlife RefugeĪssateague Island also includes a third area, The National Wildlife Refuge in Chincoteague, Virginia. This national park has a variety of naturalist and beach recreation activities, including camping, birding, surf fishing, canoeing, bicycling, and hiking. Assateague Island National SeashoreĪssateague Island National Seashore (a right turn on Bayberry Drive after you cross the bridge on 611) is managed by the National Park Service. It also has a campground, recreation areas, bathhouses and a concession area (in season). This state park has areas for swimming, surf fishing, and surf boarding. Assateague State ParkĪssateague State Park (straight ahead after you cross the bridge on 611) is managed by Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources. (A beautiful new Center is scheduled to open this year!) Previewing ItĪssateague Island has two parks in Maryland. Plan to stop there for maps, brochures, displays, information, conversations with rangers, and activity planning. Just before you reach the Island, you will see the Barrier Island Visitor Center on your right. You find it by driving West on Route 50 about 2 miles, where you make a left onto Route 611 and proceed to the Island by following the signs on 611. Just a short drive from Ocean City you can see bays that have remained untouched Assateague IslandĪssateague Island is a barrier island located south of Ocean City, just across the inlet. ![]()
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