Our friends at AAA Car Care Center bring us another great road trip!
If you’re tired of crowded beaches, consider taking a road trip to Virginia’s only resort island. Just a short trip from the 757, Chincoteague Island, on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, offers a relaxing alternative to competing for parking at tourist filled beaches. The island is small – only seven miles long and three miles wide- but there is never a shortage of things to do.
Visit Chincoteague’s National Wildlife Refuge – 14,000 acres of beaches, dunes, marshes, and forest. Enjoy the scenic views from many walking and biking trails. You can also rent a kayak or join a guided kayak tour through the channels. If you’re a bird watcher or photographer, this is the place for you, as the refuge provides a habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and song birds.
The refuge is also home to the famous Chincoteague ponies. Believed to be descendants of colonial horses, these ponies have adapted to living near the ocean. The Virginia herd of 150 ponies are owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. You’ll be able to spot the horses on a hike through the refuge or take a bout tour through the channels. You can spot them year round and they usually hang out close to the water. Once a year, Chincoteague holds an annual pony swim where the horses swim through the Assateague Channel over to Chincoteague.
This wildlife refuge leads on to Assateague island, providing miles and miles of beautiful beaches with no crowds. Enjoy the ocean breeze and sunshine during the day, and build a campfire at night. You can also hike up to the Assateague Island lighthouse and climb the 175 steps to the top.
Chincoteague also provides great opportunities for crabbing and fishing. Consider going out with one of the many charter boat captains.
Once you’ve enjoyed your time in nature, stroll through downtown Chincoteague. Take a picture in front of the LOVE chairs or the famous Misty pony statue. Check out the shops and bookstores on Main St. Take a bike ride through Robert Reed Downtown park. The island is very dog friendly, so make sure to bring them too! You can even get a Chincoteague Island history tour aboard the pony express!
When you visit this island, you have to try the seafood. Fresh off the shore, it’s local and delicious. Fish, crabs, oysters, and a variety of soups. There’s even an annual Chincoteague Seafood Festival held every Spring.
At the end of the day, make sure you pick a restaurant with a great view of the water, as Chincoteague is also known for it’s beautiful sunsets.
But before you hop in your car and head to this local paradise, make sure it is road ready. Our friends at AAA Car Care Center are always ready to help you get safely on the road and off to your new adventure.
Happy travels!
For More Road Trippin in the 757 check out the following:
Take a Road Trip to Cape Charels VA
Road Trippin in the 757 Heads to Currituck County
Road Trippin in the 757 Checks Out 6 Sits Commemorating African American History in Chesapeake
To watch this week’s entire episode of Living 757, click here!
And if you would like to see someone featured on the show, please send a message to Share@Living757.com and you may just see them here soon!
