Chincoteague
is linked to the Delmarva
Peninsula by a five-mile
causeway. The island and
neighboring Assateague
Island, are key stop-over
areas on the Atlantic
Flyway, the seasonal
migration path for
hundreds of species of
birds. More than 316
species have been sighted
at the Chincoteague
National Wildlife Refuge
and Assateague Island
National Seashore.
Binoculars and a birding
book are a must; even the
most avid birders may find
themselves stumped by the
more seldom-sighted
varieties. Accessible
hiking and biking trails
provide alternative
methods of exploring
various sections of the
refuge. The automotive
Wildlife Loop, open from
3:00 P.M. to dusk, is yet
another way to see a great
deal of the refuge.
Visitors may also enjoy
walking along the
unspoiled seashore where
there is no sign of man’s
intrusion.
You'll need
no book to identify
Chincoteague's wild
ponies, although
Marguerite Henry's
children's novel
Misty makes
excellent family reading
before your trip. Legend
says the wild ponies are
descendants of ponies that
survived the wreck of a
Spanish galleon. The
ponies may approach
stopped automobiles, but
they should not be fed.
One look at their uncombed
manes, shaggy coats and
the forelocks over their
eyes tells you that these
are not domesticated
animals and should not be
petted.
The best place to spot the
wild ponies is from the
Woodland Trail overlook or
from the concessionaire’s
land tour to the northern
portion of the refuge.
There are roughly 150
ponies on the Virginia
portion of the island
traveling together in
groups of 2 to 20
animals. One of the most
popular events in this
part of the state is the
annual pony swim and
penning held during the
last week in July. The
Virginia ponies are herded
across Assateague Channel
to Chincoteague.
Refuge hours vary
according to the season:
May through September
hours are 5:00 A.M. to
10:00 P.M., April and
October hours are 6:00
A.M. to 8:00 P.M. and
November through March
from 6:00 A.M. to 6:00
P.M. There is a nominal
per automobile entrance
fee that is good for seven
days.
One of the
most enjoyable ways to see
Chincoteague and the
National Wildlife Refuge
is on a guided cruise
aboard the Osprey.
The 90-minute voyage takes
you down the southern end
of Chincoteague and along
the southern tip of
Assateague. Your
knowledgeable guides will
point out the landmarks
and identify the wildlife
you will spot along the
way. You’ll even learn to
give directions like a
native: south is “down the
marsh,” north is “up the
neck,” west is “over the
bay” and east is “to the
beach.” Tickets can be
purchased at the Refuge
Motor Inn on Beach Road
just before the bridge to
Assateague Island.
Another option is the
90-minute Wildlife Safari
Land Tour (tickets are
sold at the Wildlife
Refuge Center) that
travels through areas of
the refuge not accessible
to automobiles. Here too,
knowledgeable naturalists
will identify the flora
and fauna as you make your
way around the sanctuary.
For ticket information and
schedules for the cruise
and safari call (804)
336-6155.
Chincoteague has two small
museums: the Refuge
Waterfowl Museum and
the Oyster & Maritime
Museum. The former
has a fascinating
collection of decoys plus
exhibits that reveal the
history of hunting water
fowl along the coastal
waterways. Weapons,
boats, traps, art and
carvings augment the
extensive decoy
collection. The museum on
Maddox Boulevard is open
daily during the summer
months from 10:00 A.M. to
5:00 P.M. Admission is
charged. Just up the
street is the Oyster &
Maritime Museum with
display cases of shells
and fossils. This museum
has ambitious expansion
plans. Hours are the same
with the exception of
Sunday when it is open
from NOON to 4:00 P.M.
Admission is charged.
Both museums are seasonal,
opening only from May to
September.
J
ust five miles before
reaching Chincoteague you’ll
pass NASA Visitor Center
at Wallops Flight Facility.
If you’re traveling with
children, they are sure to
spot the rockets and
re-entry vehicles exhibited
in front of the center.
Since 1945 Wallops has
launched roughly 12,000
rocket research vehicles
and about 20 earth
satellites. The history of
this significant space
research is presented at the
center. There are scale
models of space probes,
satellites and aircraft as
well as full-scale planes
and rockets. Space suits, a
Moon rock brought back by
the Apollo 17 mission and
exhibits on the Hubble space
shuttle make this a
worthwhile stop. The center
is open daily from 10:00
A.M. to 4:00 P.M. from July
4th to Labor Day; at other
times it is closed on
Tuesday and Wednesday.
There is no admission
charge.
Directions: For
Chincoteague take I-64 east
past Norfolk and then take
Route 13 north through the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel
for 80 miles to Route 175.
Take Route 175 east to the
Chincoteague National
Wildlife Refuge.