| Follow Us to An Early Retirement |
| We Rv 4 Fun |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Ask my family to name one of our favorite camping spots, and I am sure each one would include
Chincoteague, Virginia. Granted, Chincoteague is not a well known major tourist draw like
Williamsburg or Roanoke. But this outwardly appearing sleepy, backwater town is steeped in history
and legend, and has enough activities to keep any family busy for a full week-long vacation.
The name “Chincoteague” is popularly accepted to be an Indian name meaning “beautiful land
across the water”. Chincoteague is 37 square mile island about one mile from the mainland of
Virginia. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway slightly elevated above a tidal
marsh, replete with swooping gulls, oyster beds, and rocking fishing boats.
Chincoteague boasts the entrance to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island.
The refuge is one of the Nations most visited, receiving over one million visitors per year. Like most
refuges, the wildlife is abundant. The denizens include Osprey, Bald Eagles, the Delmarva
Peninsula Fox Squirrel, ducks, geese, and more. Nature programs are free at the brand new
Visitor's Center, and Interpretive Rangers lead bird and nature walks.
Across from the visitors center is a small parking area with a trail leading to the Chincoteague
Lighthouse. Built in the 1800's, the lighthouse is located at what was once the Southernmost tip of
Assateague Island. Now one of the few lighthouses still working in the United States, the lighthouse
is about 6 miles from the southern edge of the island due to the erosion of the beaches to the
north. The Coast Guard opens the lighthouse to the public on most days for a small fee. You can
climb the steps to the top for a gorgeous view of Chincoteague and Assateague Islands.
The refuge is also home to a herd of wild ponies, rumored to be descendants of survivors of a 17th
Century Spanish shipwreck. Like the Assateague Park herds, the ponies are supposed to be
contained in an area of salt marsh dotted with Lob Lolly pines, but they frequently escape and can
be seen roaming parking lots, searching for the remnants of picnics. The ponies were the subject of
the famous children's book, Marguerite Henry's Misty of Chincoteague.
Currently the ponies are owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department. Following a
devastating fire in the town, the Fire Department started auctioning off the foals in 1925 to raise
funds for equipment. The VFD swims the ponies across the channel separating the islands once a
year, on the last Wednesday of July. The swim and auction is a huge draw to the town, and resorts
are booked for months in advance.
You can see the ponies and two types of deer (Whitetail and Sika) on your way to the family beach
on the Eastern edge of the island. Get there early during busy summer days, as parking is limited
and fills up quickly.
Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of crowded beaches? Carry a pack (with lots of water and
sunscreen) up the relatively deserted beach north of the parking area. Although the fresh salt air
and sandy stretch of beach may give you the urge to get back to nature and shuck your swimsuit,
beware that rangers frequently patrol the out-of-way areas and nudity is strictly prohibited.
Don't feel like walking to a less crowded beach spot? Then visit the off-road vehicle area on the
southern part of the island. There is a fee for the ORV area, and be sure to visit the Park Service
website for a list of required items you must have in your vehicle to gain beach access (a ranger will
check).
Perhaps one of the best ways to see the refuge is to pedal your way around the trails by bicycle.
Do not worry if you forget to bring your bike; rentals are available on the main road into the Refuge.
After a day of roaming the beach collecting shells, you can retire at your waterfront campsite at one
of the islands two campgrounds: Maddox Family Campground and Tom's Cove Campground. From
your campsite, you can watch the flash-flash-pause signal of the lighthouse, which is across the
channel from both lighthouses.
Fishing fanatics will be able to take advantage of boat rentals or fishing trips in the channel or
Atlantic Ocean. Flounder, Rockfish, and offshore Tuna fishing are abundant. You can also try your
hand at clamming by treading or tonging for the elusive mollusks. The one bill of fare that
Chincoteague is famous for is the oyster. Chincoteague oysters are supposed to be some of the
sweetest, perfectly flavored of all oysters, and are available in most restaurants and many roadside
stands.
Before leaving for home, when back on the mainland, take a few minutes to stop at the NASA
visitor’s center, right across from a huge NOAA facility sporting several large satellites, located
where the causeway meets the mainland. Local gossip is that there may eventually be a space
shuttle lift-off from the nearby NASA Wallops Island facility.
Maybe we'll see you there sometime, as this is where we met after a pony auction in 1992. Amy
was a Federal Law Enforcement Officer at the Refuge, and Rich was there on business and stayed
for the festivities. We were married on the beach two years later. That's why Chincoteague will
always be one our favorite spots to visit; we go back every year on our Anniversary!
Chincoteague, Virginia. Granted, Chincoteague is not a well known major tourist draw like
Williamsburg or Roanoke. But this outwardly appearing sleepy, backwater town is steeped in history
and legend, and has enough activities to keep any family busy for a full week-long vacation.
The name “Chincoteague” is popularly accepted to be an Indian name meaning “beautiful land
across the water”. Chincoteague is 37 square mile island about one mile from the mainland of
Virginia. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway slightly elevated above a tidal
marsh, replete with swooping gulls, oyster beds, and rocking fishing boats.
Chincoteague boasts the entrance to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island.
The refuge is one of the Nations most visited, receiving over one million visitors per year. Like most
refuges, the wildlife is abundant. The denizens include Osprey, Bald Eagles, the Delmarva
Peninsula Fox Squirrel, ducks, geese, and more. Nature programs are free at the brand new
Visitor's Center, and Interpretive Rangers lead bird and nature walks.
Across from the visitors center is a small parking area with a trail leading to the Chincoteague
Lighthouse. Built in the 1800's, the lighthouse is located at what was once the Southernmost tip of
Assateague Island. Now one of the few lighthouses still working in the United States, the lighthouse
is about 6 miles from the southern edge of the island due to the erosion of the beaches to the
north. The Coast Guard opens the lighthouse to the public on most days for a small fee. You can
climb the steps to the top for a gorgeous view of Chincoteague and Assateague Islands.
The refuge is also home to a herd of wild ponies, rumored to be descendants of survivors of a 17th
Century Spanish shipwreck. Like the Assateague Park herds, the ponies are supposed to be
contained in an area of salt marsh dotted with Lob Lolly pines, but they frequently escape and can
be seen roaming parking lots, searching for the remnants of picnics. The ponies were the subject of
the famous children's book, Marguerite Henry's Misty of Chincoteague.
Currently the ponies are owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department. Following a
devastating fire in the town, the Fire Department started auctioning off the foals in 1925 to raise
funds for equipment. The VFD swims the ponies across the channel separating the islands once a
year, on the last Wednesday of July. The swim and auction is a huge draw to the town, and resorts
are booked for months in advance.
You can see the ponies and two types of deer (Whitetail and Sika) on your way to the family beach
on the Eastern edge of the island. Get there early during busy summer days, as parking is limited
and fills up quickly.
Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of crowded beaches? Carry a pack (with lots of water and
sunscreen) up the relatively deserted beach north of the parking area. Although the fresh salt air
and sandy stretch of beach may give you the urge to get back to nature and shuck your swimsuit,
beware that rangers frequently patrol the out-of-way areas and nudity is strictly prohibited.
Don't feel like walking to a less crowded beach spot? Then visit the off-road vehicle area on the
southern part of the island. There is a fee for the ORV area, and be sure to visit the Park Service
website for a list of required items you must have in your vehicle to gain beach access (a ranger will
check).
Perhaps one of the best ways to see the refuge is to pedal your way around the trails by bicycle.
Do not worry if you forget to bring your bike; rentals are available on the main road into the Refuge.
After a day of roaming the beach collecting shells, you can retire at your waterfront campsite at one
of the islands two campgrounds: Maddox Family Campground and Tom's Cove Campground. From
your campsite, you can watch the flash-flash-pause signal of the lighthouse, which is across the
channel from both lighthouses.
Fishing fanatics will be able to take advantage of boat rentals or fishing trips in the channel or
Atlantic Ocean. Flounder, Rockfish, and offshore Tuna fishing are abundant. You can also try your
hand at clamming by treading or tonging for the elusive mollusks. The one bill of fare that
Chincoteague is famous for is the oyster. Chincoteague oysters are supposed to be some of the
sweetest, perfectly flavored of all oysters, and are available in most restaurants and many roadside
stands.
Before leaving for home, when back on the mainland, take a few minutes to stop at the NASA
visitor’s center, right across from a huge NOAA facility sporting several large satellites, located
where the causeway meets the mainland. Local gossip is that there may eventually be a space
shuttle lift-off from the nearby NASA Wallops Island facility.
Maybe we'll see you there sometime, as this is where we met after a pony auction in 1992. Amy
was a Federal Law Enforcement Officer at the Refuge, and Rich was there on business and stayed
for the festivities. We were married on the beach two years later. That's why Chincoteague will
always be one our favorite spots to visit; we go back every year on our Anniversary!
| Chincoteague, VA RV Campgrounds and Travel Information |
