Everyone knows about the wild ponies and Misty but Chincoteague has so much more to offer. Get to know the island better than ever with self-guided Chincoteague tours.
Are you familiar with the Gingo-Teague tribe? Did you read about the Civil War Battle of Cockle Creek in school? Can you locate Snotty Ridge on a map? These and other pressing questions can be easily answered after a walking or biking tour of Chincoteague. Our little island has stories to tell to those who want to know.
A self-guided tour of some locations would set your teeth on edge – but not here. Chincoteague Island makes for the perfect walking or biking vacation. With Assateague Island in the mix, you have the perfect blend of wilderness and small town to explore. There are miles of well-maintained, low-impact trails all over both Chincoteague and Assateague. Why, you even can follow a trail all the way out to Assateague Lighthouse!
One of the most popular things to do on Chincoteague is to leave the island … aboard one of the many excellent and professional Chincoteague Island boat tours!
Chincoteague Island offers an endless variety of reasons to come for a visit: the wild ponies, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Lighthouse, our pristine beaches, and so much more. One of the more popular pastimes is enjoying a scenic Chincoteague Island cruise.
People know Chincoteague Island for its wild ponies and beaches but there’s a lot more to us than that! Tour Chincoteague Island on a Teaguer’s Tump Tour and step back in time to discover our island’s storied and colorful history.
Teaguer’s Tump Tours are the only tours of Chincoteague Island that aren’t on the water. While you’ll certainly enjoy any one of the Chincoteague Island boat tours that are available, Teaguer’s Tump Tours are decidedly different.
The Chincoteague Island Farmer’s Market and Artful Flea 2016 Grand Opening is coming – April 9th, 9am to 1pm – offering an opportunity to not only buy great local produce, seafood and unusual gifts but also to soak up the relaxing and friendly, Chincoteague Island culture.
The Chincoteague Island Farmer’s Market and Second Saturday Artful Flea are some of the surest signs of spring, here on the Virginia Coast. As the sun comes out so, too, do the people and with them, the fruits of their labors. Be it through plant and animal husbandry or … spring cleaning.
The Chincoteague Island Farmer’s Market is open every Saturday, from April 9th to October 15th, as well as on Wednesdays, May 25th to September 7th, rain or shine. Here you will find local farmers and fishermen, bakers and gardeners, their tables laden with fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood, eggs and meats, breads and other home-baked goods, jams and jellies, plants and flowers for garden and home – and locally sourced from within a 100 mile radius!
see wonderful art like this beautiful painting by Dawn Tarr at Chincoteauge Island’s Second Saturday Art Stroll
Chincoteague Island is known for many things – its art community not the least. And what’s one of the best ways to see Chincoteague art? Why, the Second Saturday Art Stroll, of course!
The second Saturday of each month, April though November, 6pm to 9pm, participating galleries and shops around Chincoteague Island host local artists, their art, live music, and so much more: the Second Saturday Art Stroll!
Sponsored by the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance, the Second Saturday Art Stroll is a marvelous chance to see a wide variety of art and art exhibits, meet and chat with local artists
Assateague Lighthouse’s original Fresnel lens is on display at the Museum Of Chincoteague
Previously known as The Oyster & Maritime Museum, The Museum of Chincoteague houses the story of Chincoteague Island’s fascinating history.
Located just outside the entrance to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Maddox blvd, The Museum of Chincoteague’s stated mission is to collect and preserve the material culture that reflects the historical progression of the life on Chincoteague Island.
And it’s not all just ponies, I can tell you.
The islands of Chincoteague and Assateague have a history that is the stuff of seafaring legend, complete with shipwrecks and strandings that belie the peaceful and friendly faces the islands now present to visitors.
Take, for example, the January 1650 stranding of Colonel Henry Norwood by his crew on the north shore of Assateague Island. Colonel Norwood and some of his men came ashore in search of food, water, and safe harbor in which they could repair their storm-damaged ship – but the crew remaining onboard got cold feet and scarpered, marooning Norwood’s party to the island’s wilds. Norwood survived to write of the ordeal in his book “A Voyage to Virginia,” a survival ensured in part because of the oysters of Assateague.
As with most smaller, island communities, we like to do things our own way here on Chincoteage Island. The Pony Island Horseshoe Drop & Costume Promenade on New Year’s Eve is an example of that and another is the New Year’s Day, Polar Pony Plunge on Chincoteage Island.
Come New Year’s Day afternoon – January 1st, 2014 at 1:14pm (get it?) – you are given the opportunity to display your intestinal fortitude by taking the Polar Pony Plunge. That or you can display your sanity and enthusiasm for those crazy enough to take the aforementioned Polar Pony Plunge.
It’s not surprising that residents of an island would have a fascination with waterfowl. One way our coexistence with our ocean environment manifests itself is through the art of the Chincoteague residents. Some especially beautiful specimens of this work will be on display during the 23rd Annual Chincoteague Decoy Carvers’ and Artists’ Association Decoy Show, taking place over Labor Day weekend, Saturday & Sunday August 31 & September 1, 2013.
Just because you’ve missed the pony roundup for 2012, doesn’t mean you’ve lost your chance to see the infamous Chincoteague ponies during the off season! In fact, many of us locals find that the herds are easier to observe during once the crowds thin down.
There are two herds that graze in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (located on the island just next to ours, Assateague Island). The easiest and most reliable spot to view the southern herd is the pull off on Beach Road (the main road on Assateague Island) across from Black Duck Marsh Pool, which is also a great photo spot. This is the first pull-off after emerging from the 25 mph area on the right. The ponies are in a large area and can often been seen in the marshes and among the pine trees. There is also a pony lookout along the woodland trail — it is a nice hike around to the spot where you can observe the ponies.
The Horses live in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge year-round
The northern herd grazes in an area that can be accessed from the service road that runs north from the end of the wildlife loop. It is a longer hike – about 3-4 miles. You will pass a small corral and cross a cattle gate and after the cattle gate, you enter the Chincoteague horse’s area. The ponies can be anywhere north of the cattle gate – – some see them on the road and in the marshes and flats. If you come across them on the road, give them a wide berth and time to adjust to your presence. The ponies graze in a large area so it is possible that you will not see them.
Remember, the ponies are WILD ANIMALS — keep a safe distance do not attempt to pet or feed them. The males in particular can be intimidating and unpredictable. This is especially true with the northern herd since the service road runs through their area, but there are times when the ponies get out of the southern corral and can be on beach road or the wildlife loop.
Everyone knows about the wild ponies and Misty but Chincoteague has so much more to offer. Get to know the island better than ever with self-guided Chincoteague tours.
