Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, VA - Chincoteague VA Family Vacation

Preview: Although Misty, the pint-size pony, may have made the Chincoteague/ Assateague area famous, there’s a lot more than wild ponies here. There are shops, restaurants, camping areas, and hotels; Chincoteague also provides the only Virginia access to Assateague Island, much of which is an unspoiled national wildlife refuge, with beaches, sand dunes, scrub thickets, and forests. Assateague Island is a narrow, 37-mile barrier strand that stretches between the Atlantic Ocean and Chincoteague Island. The southern section of Assateague Island is in Virginia and has portions of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, which is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This refuge ends at the Virginia/Maryland border, where Assateague National Seashore begins. The National Seashore is in Maryland and is managed by the National Park Service. Assateague State Park, managed by Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources, is in Maryland and stretches between the popular beach resort of Ocean City to the north and the National Seashore to the south. Each region of Assateague Island contains about 9,000 acres. The Maryland side offers more beach and primitive camping facilities, and the Virginia side more migratory birds, denser pine forests, more wildlife viewing, and such delights as Assateague Lighthouse. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, located at the southern tip of Assateague Island in Virginia, is a national wildlife refuge, whose ecosystems include forests, dunes, and wetlands. This chapter is one complete vacation written with families in mind. It’s loaded with exciting things to do, family-friendly places to lodge and dine, recommended side trips, local sources of information, and detailed travel directions.
© Copyright Candyce H. Stapen published by The Globe Pequot Press all rights reserved.


Duration: Up to a week's worth of fun.
Best Time to Go: Year-round
This travel guide comes from:
Great Family Vacations: South Guide Book