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Chincoteague Travel Blog

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Top 4 Waterfront Glamping Resorts in Chincoteague Bay

GET YOUR GLAMP ON BY THE WATERFRONT IN CHINCOTEAGUE BAY & SURROUNDING AREA Glamp at the Jellystone Park™ Chincoteague Island Jellystone Park™ Chincoteague Island is a must-visit destination and the perfect place to create great family memories while glamping in Eastern Virginia. Located next to Maui Jack’s Waterpark, Jellystone boasts impressive Eastern Virginia woods to…[read more]

Glamping

How To See The Chincoteague Ponies

So you’ve always wanted to see the Chincoteague Ponies in the wild.  Maybe you read the book “Misty of Chincoteague” as a child and you’ve decided to make the trip to Chincoteague Island to finally check seeing the ponies off your bucket list.  The information in this blog post will help you best utilize your…[read more]

Chincoteague Ponies

Hiking and Biking Trails on Assatague Island, Virginia

One of our family’s favorite activities is bike riding the trails at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island.   This is a great activity any time of year, but we especially enjoy it during the first warm days of spring.  After a long cold winter it’s a great way to get outside and shake…[read more]

Assateague Island Trails

Chincoteague Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival

The Chincoteague Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival is an Island tradition dating back to 1924. After a string of disastrous fires, Chincoteague Island residents organized a volunteer fire company. The new fire company held a carnival during the annual Pony Penning (already an annual tradition) to raise funds for new equipment. The tradition has grown over the…[read more]

chincoteague carnival

Spring and Fall Pony Round-ups

Chincoteague’s annual Pony Swim attracts nationwide attention. The swim and auction take place on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July each year. Did you know that the Saltwater Cowboys round up the Wild Ponies on Assateague at two other times of the year? The first roundup is April, and the last roundup is in October….[read more]


Chincoteague Island Voted Best Coastal Small Town

Chincoteague Island is the proud recipient of USA Today’s 2020 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award for Best Coastal Small Town! A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. After several weeks of online voting the contest results are: Chincoteague Island-…[read more]


Online Auction of 2020 Chincoteague Pony Foals

Photo credit: DSC Photography For the first time since WWII, the Chincoteague Pony Swim and Auction has been cancelled. Officials in Virginia cancelled the annual event and associated activities due to Covid-19. The swim would have marked its 95th year. The auction will be an entirely online event hosted by longtime Chincoteague auctioneer Tim Jennings…[read more]


Campfires on Assateague Beach

There is something magical about a campfire on the beach at sunset.  Its one of my family’s favorite summertime activities.  We encourage you to give it a try.  Its sure to be an experience you won’t soon forget! Open fires are allowed at designated sites on the beach, by permit only.  Elsewhere on the beach…[read more]

beach campfire

Chincoteague Christmas Events 2019

The holiday season is upon us and its a great time of year to visit Chincoteague Island.  Just a few reasons to make Chincoteague your destination during the holidays include cooler weather, no mosquitoes, no crowds, and a full line up of Christmas themed events! While your here be sure to go see the Snow…[read more]


Woof! Town of Chincoteague Island Dog Park

Attention all dog lovers who can’t bear to leave their best friends behind on vacation. In 2019, the Town of Chincoteague Island opened a fabulous dog park! Finally, now the sweet doggies in our lives have a place to run around and play freely off leash. Entrance to the new dog park The dog park…[read more]


Ponies Walk the Beach

Today the Saltwater Cowboys moved the Northern Herd ponies from the north corral, down the beach and along the ocean, to the south corral.  All the ponies (south herd and north herd) are in the south corral and ready for the big Pony Swim on Wednesday. It was a beautiful morning on Assateague Island.  Spectators…[read more]

Chincoteague Ponies Walk the Beach

The Southern Herd Roundup Kicks Off Pony Penning 2019

July 20, 2019 – The South Herd Roundup started earlier than usual to avoid the excessive heat expected later in the day.  The Saltwater Cowboys make it all happen!


Viewing Rocket Launches

NASA has been launching small rockets from Wallops Island (the Barrier Island to south of Chincoteague) since 1945.  In recent years, however, Wallops has become better known for the large scale rocket launch taking place from the facility.  Rockets like Northrup Grumman’s Antares, which routinely launches from Wallops Island, carrying supplies to the International Space…[read more]


2018 Spring Pony Roundup

The 2018 Spring Round Up will take place  Friday, April 13th and Saturday, April 14th, 2018. Chincoteague’s annual Pony Swim attracts nationwide attention. The swim and auction take place on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July each year.  2018  will mark the 93rd anniversary of the world famous event. Did you know that the…[read more]


Marshfest – A festival that celebrates the Ecosystem, Craft Beer, Music and Art all for a good cause.

Fall 2017 is proving to be one with great weather for Chincoteague Island. What better way to enjoy it than at an outdoor festival that has craft beer, live music, food, and even activities for the kids? This festival is called ‘Marshfest’. It is a fundraiser to be held on Saturday, September 23, 2017, from…[read more]


92nd Annual Pony Swim

Wednesday July 26, 2017 marked the 92nd year of Chincoteague’s annual Pony Swim. The Chincoteague Pony Swim was made famous by Marguerite Henry’s “Misty of Chincoteague“. Tens of thousands of spectators from around the world gather on Chincoteague Island each year to watch this annual tradition. Scroll down for pictures and video of this year’s…[read more]


Chincoteague Pony Auction FAQ

Q: When is the auction? A: The auction runs from approximately 8am until Noon on Thursday (the day after the swim). Q:  What should I take with me to the auction? A: Seating is limited so you may want to bring your own chair. It’s usually hot and humid  at the auction so bring water,…[read more]


Pony Swim Day FAQ

Q: What time do the Ponies swim? A: The Saltwater Cowboys swim the Ponies at “slack tide”.   Slack tide is a period of about 40 minutes after the current stops moving in one direction, and before it starts moving in the opposite direction. Slack tide is the easiest time for the Ponies to make the…[read more]


Climbing to the Top of the Assateague Lighthouse

The majestic red and white-striped Assateague Lighthouse sits like a grand decoration on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Like the bald eagles of the same island, the lighthouse is perched guardedly on her land as if protecting a nest. However, the lighthouse not only watches over Assateague Island but keeps the maritime sojourner safe as it…[read more]


Assateague Island Village “When Assateague Was Home”

The Museum of Chincoteague has a wonderful exhibit that will be on display this Spring. The exhibit is part of Assateague Heritage Days and is called “When Assateague was Home”. Illustrated map of Assateague village, created by former resident Roy Jones. Assateague Island, Virginia is now a wildlife refuge and is home to the famous Wild…[read more]


Taking a Drive Back in Time with ‘Teaguer’s Tump Tours’

This Spring, I had the opportunity to take a drive back in time through the streets and byways of ‘The Tump’, with the island’s new tour company ‘Teaguer’s Tump Tours’. In case you are wondering, it’s not far to get to ‘The Tump’.  In fact if you’re staying on Chincoteague, you’re already on ‘The Tump’. Islanders…[read more]


Heritage Weekend, March 24 – 26, 2017

Reproduction of a Map of Assateague created by Roy Jones. The Museum of Chincoteague Island is partnering with the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance (CCA), the Chincoteague Island Arts Organization (CIAO), Chincoteague Island Library, the Chincoteague Natural History Association, Assateague National Seashore, and the Virginia Barrier Islands Center to celebrate Heritage Days. The theme this year for…[read more]


My Chincoteague Island History Tour aboard the Pony Express Trolley

“With my high starched-collar and my high-topped shoes And my hair piled high upon my head I went to lose a jolly hour on the trolley And lost my heart instead” Lyrics from “The Trolley Song” * sung by Judy Garland, written by Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane I just can’t talk about the Trolley without…[read more]


What is a ‘Buyback’ Pony?

Wild ponies have inhabited Assateague Island for hundreds of years. Today two herds of wild horses make their home on Assateague Island, separated by a fence at the Maryland-Virginia line. The Maryland herd is managed by the National Park Service. The Virginia herd is owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. Each year the Chincoteague…[read more]


My overnight stay at the Marina Bay Hotel & Suites – The Island’s newest and only Boutique Hotel

I’m not ashamed to admit it, but I’m a simple person, and I had no idea what a boutique hotel was or what it meant when I saw the term on the website of the Marina Bay Hotel and Suites. Did it mean they had a small and pricey clothing or accessory store inside of it? Did it…[read more]


The ‘Refuge Trek’ bus tour, a great way to see the North side of Assateague

Psst…are you looking for something to do on your visit to Chincoteague that’s a little “off the beaten path”? Well then, perhaps you’d be interested in taking the ‘Refuge Trek’. Formerly known as the Wildlife Tour, the ‘Refuge Trek’ will give you exclusive access to the Northern part of Assateague. The Northern OSV road The…[read more]

3335 Main Street
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336
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