The small town of Chincoteague is only seven miles long and three miles wide. That’s why its visitors are always amazed at the abundance of activities that this place offers to them. With plenty of fun activities on land and on the water, Chincoteague seems to have it all.
The Island City
On the Eastern Shore of Virginia is a small island of such beauty that they call it a paradise island. Over a million of people from all over the country travel thousands of miles just for a glimpse of its pristine bountiful nature. Ponies run free here, and dolphins jump on the ocean waves and play with seagulls.
Miles and miles of fine white sand cover the island’s gorgeous and award-winning beaches. With its unbelievable sunsets, the island is the most tranquil and beautiful escape from a busy life. It is a dream place for all nature-loving and outdoorsy people.
The Wildlife Refuge
The island is the gateway to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, one of the most visited nature preserves in the United States. The refuge was established in 1943 as a habitat for migratory birds. Today, it covers over 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest and offers a habitat for many wildlife species, like waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, song birds, and plants.
The refuge management works tirelessly to protect endangered species and to conserve local wildlife and plants. The Chincoteague Refuge is popular for birdwatching, fishing, hunting, and exploring the wilderness and wildlife. The refuge offers wildlife tours and miles of hiking and biking trails.
The Ponies
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is home to the world-famous Chincoteague ponies. To this day, it remains a mystery how the ponies arrived on the island. Most popular and romantic legend of the ponies’ origin tells how ponies escaped a sinking Spanish ship, swam to the island, and made the island their home
Every summer, thousands of people come to the island to for the annual Pony Swim. This island tradition is accompanied by various activities that last all week long. During this time, the island is busy with festivals, farmer’s markets, carnivals, cinema and theater performances, and pony auctions.
Dining
With the Atlantic Ocean right there, it is no wonder that Chincoteague Island is famous for its fresh seafood. Here, you can even harvest your seafood fare with your own hands. Many restaurants are family-owned and offer elegant waterfront dining along the Chincoteague Bay. Etta’s Channel Side Restaurant, for example, overlooks the Assateague Channel and Lighthouse.
Most menus feature clams, oysters, scallops, crabs, and fish. For such popular indulgences like finger-picking crab feasts and all-you-can-eat seafood, try Steamers restaurant. Non-seafood entrées feature hand-cut fine steaks and poultry dishes. After dinner, it is highly recommended to go for a real treat at one of Chincoteague Island’s fine ice cream parlors like Island Creamery, which bakes its own waffle cones.
A full day on Chincoteague Island might prove to be not enough for this small but rich place. After your first glimpse, you might realize how much more you still have to see and do here.
Image via Flickr by grelock under use of CC BY-SA 2.0/Cropped from original
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