60 Classic Books Everyone Should Read In Their Lifetime
These are our picks for the 60 most essential classic books. You know, the ones that everyone should get around to reading sooner, rather than later.
island of Chincoteague
Set on the <anchor>island of Chincoteague</anchor>, off the coasts of Virginia and Maryland, Marguerite Henry’s beloved 1947 story might be intended for a younger audience, but it has captured readers’ hearts of all ages for decades. The Newbery Honor winner brings readers into the magical world of the wild horses that inhabit the island and introduces the world to one very special pony, Misty.
The Best Things To Do On Chincoteague Island, Virginia​
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# The Best Things To Do On Chincoteague Island, Virginia

Beaches, seafood, and family fun...what's not to love?

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Julia is a writer and culinary professional with expertise in the food, travel, publishing and marketing industries. Her specialized skills include project development, recipe development, styling and media demonstration. Julia has deep knowledge of cooking principals, is passionate about consumer education, and skilled in savvy story packaging. Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and at www.juliarutland.com.

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Paige Porter Fischer is a writer and editor with 23 years of experience in journalism. She has covered travel, food, architecture, home design, celebrities, and lifestyle for national magazines and newspapers. Paige has been a features writer for Coastal Living, West Coast Editor for Better Homes & Gardens, Editor-at-Large (lifestyle) for Sunset magazine, and a weekly design and travel columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. As a freelancer, she scouts locations, pitches stories, produces and art directs major photo shoots, writes and edits features, and consults with interior designers and architects to help develop content for their web sites, writing everything from bios to blog posts. She is a storyteller who loves the convergence of words, pictures, and people. Her work appears in publications such as Coastal Living, Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Country Home, Veranda, Sunset, Luxe, Real Simple, Modern Farmhouse, and Cottage Style.

Updated on March 8, 2024

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VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION/TODD WRIGHT

Virginia's Chincoteague Island seems to glow during the magic hour—that bit of the day just before the sun begins its dramatic descent into the bay and its rays skate across the water like sequins. This is the time when the spartina grasses that flourish in the brackish marshes glimmer like spun gold and silhouettes of shorebirds glide along the horizon.

“The best way to experience this place is to get a waterman’s outlook,” says Scott Landolt, captain and manager of Daisey’s Island Cruises, which operates scenic trips around Chincoteague, giving passengers up-close-and-personal views of the abundant animals that make this area a tourist destination. “This island has been home to generations of watermen—people who make their living off the sea. I’m what the natives call a ‘come-over’ because I didn’t grow up here. But I was drawn to Chincoteague because of its natural beauty and the incredible wildlife you can see all around you—from bald eagles and egrets to dolphins to, of course, the wild ponies.”

Chincoteague (pronounced SHIN-kuhteeg) is nestled between Assateague Island and Wallops Island on the northeastern tip of Virginia’s Eastern Shore—a 70-mile peninsula that separates the Chesapeake Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. The island draws tourists who traverse it by bike, car, kayak, and boat in hopes of encountering the renowned Chincoteague ponies, which reside on Assateague in Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

“They say once you fall in love with our little island, you get the marsh mud between your toes and keep coming back over and over again,” says Renata de Ris Murphy, owner of Miss Molly’s Inn on Main Street, where author Marguerite Henry began writing the book Misty of Chincoteague in 1946. Such was the case for Murphy’s own family, who vacationed here for decades before she and her husband, Dave, bought the inn in September 2020. “The small-town charm and unspoiled beach hooked me 30 years ago—not to mention the ice cream from Island Creamery,” she says.

Danita Delimont/Getty Images

## Fish In Paradise

Cradled between Assateague Island and the Virginia coast, Chincoteague is the smaller of the two islands and is known as the gateway to the southern part of Assateague. The waters of Assateague Bay and the Atlantic Ocean supported island growth, and now they entice many licensed anglers to fish the area beaches and inlets, which are ripe with flounder, striped bass, and other game fish. For some quick and easy fun, fish or crab at Chincoteague Veteran's Memorial Park. No individual license or permit is required on the pier.

Robbie Caponetto

## Wander The Trails

Hiking and biking routes help guide travelers through nearby Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, a utopia for birders and wildlife enthusiasts, with nearly 300 recognized migratory and resident birds. At the end of the road in the refuge lies the pristine beach where the sunrises match the splendor of the sunsets on the bay. Beachcombers find delight in the bounty of shells here, where dramatic dunes descend into a wide, flat, mile-long beach and the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean are a playground of their own in warm months.

One of the most visited refuges in the country, it is ringed with oyster beds and clam shoals that have buoyed this area’s economy and provided a steady source of income for residents for generations. Before you leave, make time to stop by the Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center and Toms Cove Visitor Center for maps, guides, and interactive exhibits.

You'll climb 175 steps up a spiral staircase to reach the top of the lofty Assateague Lighthouse, but the breathtaking panoramas of Chincoteague and Assateague islands that you'll enjoy from the viewing platform are worth the effort. Pause for a moment, and you might see a few bands of Virginia's southern herd of wild ponies nibbling grass at Black Duck Marsh.

Robbie Caponetto

## See The Pony Swim

While the small coastal community offers many family activities, all are dwarfed by the area's most famous celebration, the Chincoteague Island Pony Swim. Virginia's herd of wild ponies, owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company (CVFC), grazes with permission on the southern part of Assateague Island. Each year in late July, Chincoteague's population of about 3,000 (humans, that is) swells to 10 times its usual size as tourists and former residents make the pilgrimage to witness the event.

Made famous by Marguerite Henry's novel Misty of Chincoteague, this renowned festival is now a weeklong affair. "Saltwater Cowboys," members of the CVFC who are skilled horse wranglers, move the northern herd along the Atlantic coastline during the popular Beach Walk to join ponies in the Southern Corral. The wildlife refuge opens early that day with limited parking, so visitors and locals are encouraged to bike or hike in.

The Pony Swim occurs on the last Wednesday before the last Thursday of July and always starts during the slack tide—a 30-minute lull between low and high tides when there is no current. Thousands of people wait for hours to watch the horses make a six-minute swim across the narrow channel separating the two islands.

After a rest, the ponies parade to the carnival grounds for the evening. The foal auction on Thursday helps control the pony population and also provides funding for the CVFC and for veterinary care for the animals during the year. The remaining adult ponies, along with foals not mature enough to be separated from their mothers, return to their grazing grounds.

"We haven't missed a Pony Penning in more than 20 years, but the sunsets, beaches, and fishing are what keep us coming back from spring through fall," says Northern Virginia resident Doreen Meadows. Her advice: "Slow down, and enjoy the town. You're on island time."

The annual Pony Penning and the popular Misty franchise are credited for Chincoteague's successful transition from commercial-seafood producer to tourist attraction, but the area has even more to offer.

Robbie Caponetto

## Eat Local Fare

It’s difficult to find a menu in town that isn’t heavy on freshly caught seafood, particularly Chincoteague oysters (often called “salts” by locals), which find their way into some of New York’s finest restaurants. Briny with a mellow flavor, they are an everyday delicacy here.

At AJ's on the Creek, for example, it’s tough to choose between the oysters Rockefeller and those on the half shell, so many patrons order both. Chef Jeffrey Landry, who moved to Virginia from Maine, says the endless array of seafood inspires him daily. His menu is elevated, but the vibe at AJ’s is relaxed, much like everything else on the island. “I fell for Chincoteague because coming here feels like a step back in time,” says Landry. “It’s not trying to be fancy or to become a hot tourist destination. It’s a simple place where nature is the main attraction and the people are as down-to-earth as they come.”

Popular Pico Taqueria has an inventive taco menu featuring local fared like The Main Street (seared shrimp, slaw, and chipotle creme fraiche) or The Maddox (local fried oysters topped with pickled carrots and Thai basil). Their modest pricing makes it easy to experiment with different options and mix and match to create your ideal spread. When it's time for dessert, you'll discover the reason for the long line of people queued up at Island Creamery. Their small-batch ice cream and homemade waffle cones are a national phenomenon and an island treasure. Go online to see dozens of daily flavors.

Robbie Caponetto

## Stay In Town

Hotels situated along Main Street are within walking distance of shopping, dining, and trolley stops, and many of them also offer visitors some beautiful sunset views across Chincoteague Bay. The Island Resort, Waterside Inn, and Marina Bay Hotel & Suites are all great options for travelers and can give you easy access to the island's fun attractions and seasonal draws.

When it comes to planning a visit to Virginia's Eastern Shore, you'd be remiss if you skipped a trip to Chincoteague, where exciting experiences abound, from bites of fresh seafood to seeing the annual Chincoteague Island Pony Swim. With all of the fun on offer, you might forget to leave some time for relaxing on the beach, but we're here to remind you to save a few tranquil hours for the sands too. It is a coastal vacation, after all.

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