Chincoteague Island
If you love nature and looking for a great vacation or 3 day weekend then look no further. Chincoteague and Assateague islands are home to wild Spanish horses, spectacular birds and other wildlife. It is also home to great saltwater fishing.
In this article we’ll help guide you to planning your vacation in Chincoteague as well as activities sights and of course some great spots to fish.
Wild Horses
The Spanish Horses that roam these islands are wild and beautiful. You will find them in all colors and size. A bit of caution, The Park suggests staying 15 feet away from them for safety, after all these are wild horses. Do not feed any horse that approach you as you may be bitten inadvertently. In most cases, you can often see them right from the roads. There is often places to pull over and take pictures or just enjoy their beauty. You also can stop by the administrator building (located across the street from the light house) and buy a bus tour of the ponies for $15 a person. You can also take a boat tour around the islands to see the ponies for about $45 a person. Do not feel you have to buy a tour, if you are trying to keep costs down you will come across plenty of herds on your own.
Bird watching
Chincoteague and Assateague islands are well reknown for great bird watching. We saw PLENTY of Red Headed Woodpeckers all throughout the island and hiking trails. The main trails are paved and there are plenty of dirt off trails to take to enjoy nature and see plenty of different bird species. Another popular species we saw a lot of was Golden Finch. There is even a Bald Eagles nest on the island!
Fishing
If you love fishing then there is plenty of fishing spots in Assateague Island! One of the best fishing spots is the surf right at the end of Beach Rd. Here you can catch red drum, bluefish, stripers and whiting. Use cut bunker and mullet for best results. You can buy these from Captain Steve’s Bait and Tackle. If you forgot your gear or didn’t have room then don’t fear you can rent gear at Captain Bobs Marina if you need new gear we offer great combo sets ready for fishing at our online store.
Dining
There are plenty of places to get food on Chincoteague. Our favorite place was Dons’ Seafood. Though a hair expensive ($20-$30 a person) the seafood was amazing. The portions were great and they do not over season the seafood which allows you to get the good flavors without masking anything.
Another great place to get a bite to eat on Chincoteague is the Chincoteague Diner. Very reasonable prices ($8-$12 a person for breakfast or lunch) and the food was very good. If you are looking for fast food however, you are basically limited to a McDonalds located right by the park entrance.
Hotels and Camp grouNds
Looking for a hotel or cottage or even a cabin? There is plenty to choose from on Chincoteague Island. The Days Inn was a decent little hotel. It was very very close to Assateague and very affordable. If you are looking for tent camping or a cabin or RV hookups then there is a KOA right down the road from the Assateague entrance. If you want a cottage then look into Steve’s Cottages. A word of advice, there is so much to do on the islands so you will not spend much time in your room, so being cheap does make sense. All you really need is a place to sleep.
We hope this guide helps you plan your trip. If you have any questions or advice then just send us a email. Have fun and enjoy the natural beauty of these islands!!!
