Back in early July we had the opportunity to visit Assateague Island and Chincoteague Island in the beautiful state of Virginia. Both of these islands are barrier islands along the north eastern coast of the state. If you ask me, they are the prettiest coastal areas in Virginia.
Assateague Island is shared by both the state of Maryland and Virginia, with the northern portion of the island belonging to Maryland and the southern portion belong to VA. It’s also home to the wild ponies (wild horses) who are free to roam around the island.
This is a protected island and there are no motels, hotels, homes or businesses on it. On the southern tip of the island you’ll find the famous Assateague Lighthouse. You can be lazy on the beach, swim on the ocean, go fishing, hiking, enjoy some birdwatching, etc. here. It’s a gorgeous, un-touched by development place!
Chincoteague Island is where you want to go if you’re looking to stay overnight. You’ll find hotels, motels, bed & breakfast inns, campgrounds, etc. here. You’ll also find restaurants, mini golf, museums, stores to go shopping in, ice cream parlors, etc. You won’t find a boardwalk in this seaside community.
On this island you can laze around on the beach & go swimming, hike some nature trails, walk the beach, go fishing, jet skiing, crabbing & clamming, boating, go bike riding, kite flying, etc. Just about anything that you want to do on a fabulous beach vacation.
We spent a wonderful 5 days and 4 nights exploring both islands and trust me, we are definitely going back again next year. There is so much to see & do here and we only got to experience a small portion of it.
Today I’m sharing four photos that we took while we were there. Sorry they’re not fantastic photos, but any time I’m near water, I use my cheaper camera and not my $800 professional one. (I dropped an expensive camera in the ocean last year, now I’m afraid to take my new professional camera any where near water!).
I hope you all have been enjoying the wide variety of travel posts & travel features that I’ve been bringing to you for the past year. I’ve been trying to show you all of the beautiful travel destinations and things you can see & do up and down the east coast of our fantastic country!
I would love to visit either of these islands. The protected island would be fabulous to see nature undeveloped by men. I would enjoy seeing the wild ponies.
So beautiful there! I know I have been there but was actually too young to remember much except seeing the beach. We lived in Virginia for some time when I was a kid. It is an amazing looking place, and I love seeing the pictures.
Every year I say that I want to go there. Thank you for sharing the info. I did.t realize that there was nowhere to stay on Assateague
I don’t remember ever hearing of these islands until yesterday. Then, as I was watching an episode of Bones set on Assateague (looking for Blackbeard’s treasure), I saw your article! They look beautiful.
Now I want to go to the ocean. Too bad these islands are 2,000 miles away from me.
I don’t visit the coast nearly enough and I’m close to the Pacific Ocean. I love the smell and the sounds so I frequently listen to a CD of sea sounds and it takes me back! I don’t have a professional camera, just my Fuji Instax Mini, so I’ll enjoy your pictures.
Both of these Islands sound and look so Beautiful! I would love to go to the Assateague Island Just to see the wild horse running free! That is Tops in my book. Freedom for the Gorgeous Horses! The Chincoteague Island is a Definite Family orientated Island. All the comodities a Family would need to have a Great Time.. I love your pictures. Thank You for sharing these awesome Islands with us..
I love places like this that are totally untouched by man. You had me at ocean, lighthouse and wild ponies sounds like heaven. Thank you for sharing these amazing pictures too made me smile. I sure need a vacation that is away from everything. I would so love to visit this place someday.