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Chincoteague Island? Other suggestions?
Chincoteague Island? Other suggestions?
We are heading south in June to visit family and I am trying to find a "beachy" place to stay a few nights prior to driving to Richmond.
Does anyone have any experience with Chinoteague Island, VA? I vaguely remember visiting as a child.
What appealled to me after my very brief research was the location near a NWR, undeveloped beaches, small town and on the water.
We are looking for a relaxing spot where we can walk on the beach (even if we need to drive to the beach) maybe take a fishing charter or day sail, a nice town for dinner in the evening. We visited St. Michaels a couple of years ago and loved it but want to try something new.
I am up to other suggestions too.
Does anyone have any experience with Chinoteague Island, VA? I vaguely remember visiting as a child.
What appealled to me after my very brief research was the location near a NWR, undeveloped beaches, small town and on the water.
We are looking for a relaxing spot where we can walk on the beach (even if we need to drive to the beach) maybe take a fishing charter or day sail, a nice town for dinner in the evening. We visited St. Michaels a couple of years ago and loved it but want to try something new.
I am up to other suggestions too.
Its a good choice in June for the things mentioned. Its been a long time since we've been, but I don't think a place like that changes too much. The wild ponies are cool to see - I have some nice photos in a shoebox somewhere.
Be aware that if a light wind is blowing a certain way, you may get those biting green head flys on the beach. Maybe someone who has been there recently will chime in if that still happens (not uncommon on the less developed east coast barrier islands) and other details.
Be aware that if a light wind is blowing a certain way, you may get those biting green head flys on the beach. Maybe someone who has been there recently will chime in if that still happens (not uncommon on the less developed east coast barrier islands) and other details.
When we come to place where the sea and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
We stayed in Chincoteague for two nights over Labor Day weekend on the way back from the Outer Banks. It's a quaint town and an easy drive over to the National Seashore. You can stay on the water but not at the beach. We stayed at the Hampton Inn near town but on the bay. The National Seashore has a great beach and tremendous bike and hiking paths (plenty of places to rent bikes in Chincoteague.) Heard rumors it can get buggy (mosquitoes and green flies) but we had zero problems with either. If you go make sure you stop for a pulled pork sandwich at Woody's - it is the best ever!! We didn't do any charters but there are plenty-sightseeing definitely and I would image fishing. Check out trip advisor forum on Chincogeague.
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mindehankins
- Posts: 3014
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
- Location: Western NY State
Hello
We have visited stayed on Chincoteague many times over the years, and most recently in Oct 2010 and Sept 2011. We stayed in the Comfort Suites next to the Hampton. Both hotels are right on the water, are relatively new and are nice. The Comfort Inn has an outdoor heated pool, which was nice because the Ocean was too cold for me to swim. It also has an indoor pool and hot tub.
The beach is actually on Assateague Island and is undeveloped other than a Visitor Center and parking lot. The last 5 years or so, the parking lot has been washed out due to winter storms, and the island is actually shifting and changing shape. We loved to take long walks on the beach and see the many types of sea birds and dolphins swimming off shore.
In addition to the beach, we love to rent bikes and ride around the island and in the wildlife refuge. The wildlife refuge has a paved road, that is closed to cars except for certain hours. We would ride for hours seeing the bird life, and the wild ponies. There are woodland trails as well. The wildlife center runs a tram in the back ares of the refuge where cars are not allowed. It was beautiful back there and you got close views of the ponies.
We went on a "charter" boat ride in the bay waters between Chincoteague and Assateague. It was really beautiful, althogh the boat was bit ramshackle. We got to see a huge bald eagle perched on a low dead tree fairly close up, so that was real treat.
The island of Chincoteague is small and quiet except when there are events like the pony swim. We liked bike riding around the island - its small and you have nice water views almost everywhere. The town has some great restaurants, especially if you like the local seafood. There is mini-golf, and a few other low key tourist attractions.
As you can tell from this, we love it there. If you would like more specific info, feel free to ask.
We have visited stayed on Chincoteague many times over the years, and most recently in Oct 2010 and Sept 2011. We stayed in the Comfort Suites next to the Hampton. Both hotels are right on the water, are relatively new and are nice. The Comfort Inn has an outdoor heated pool, which was nice because the Ocean was too cold for me to swim. It also has an indoor pool and hot tub.
The beach is actually on Assateague Island and is undeveloped other than a Visitor Center and parking lot. The last 5 years or so, the parking lot has been washed out due to winter storms, and the island is actually shifting and changing shape. We loved to take long walks on the beach and see the many types of sea birds and dolphins swimming off shore.
In addition to the beach, we love to rent bikes and ride around the island and in the wildlife refuge. The wildlife refuge has a paved road, that is closed to cars except for certain hours. We would ride for hours seeing the bird life, and the wild ponies. There are woodland trails as well. The wildlife center runs a tram in the back ares of the refuge where cars are not allowed. It was beautiful back there and you got close views of the ponies.
We went on a "charter" boat ride in the bay waters between Chincoteague and Assateague. It was really beautiful, althogh the boat was bit ramshackle. We got to see a huge bald eagle perched on a low dead tree fairly close up, so that was real treat.
The island of Chincoteague is small and quiet except when there are events like the pony swim. We liked bike riding around the island - its small and you have nice water views almost everywhere. The town has some great restaurants, especially if you like the local seafood. There is mini-golf, and a few other low key tourist attractions.
As you can tell from this, we love it there. If you would like more specific info, feel free to ask.
We just returned from Chincoteague. Stayed at the Hampton Inn, which is quite a lovely place. I definately recommend it.
The weather worked against us, it was so cold and windy we could barely sit on the beach. I am sure people stared at me, I had to wrap a fleece coat around my head like a turban just to keep from being sand blasted.
In some areas, we got swarmed by mosquitos (in that wind, how does that happen?) and other areas were bug free. I was not expecting 60 degree temps in VA this time of year. I don't think it has changed since that Misty movie was filmed.
Overall we had a nice time. It was a good stop over.
The weather worked against us, it was so cold and windy we could barely sit on the beach. I am sure people stared at me, I had to wrap a fleece coat around my head like a turban just to keep from being sand blasted.
In some areas, we got swarmed by mosquitos (in that wind, how does that happen?) and other areas were bug free. I was not expecting 60 degree temps in VA this time of year. I don't think it has changed since that Misty movie was filmed.
Overall we had a nice time. It was a good stop over.
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momto3boys
- Posts: 157
- Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:14 pm
- Location: Missouri
Glad that you had a nice time. We drove through there before and would love to stay sometime. Renting the bikes looked like fun. The town seemed very quaint. Mosquitoes were bad even though we were just stopping by. I did let my young son ride a pony while there. That and lunch was all that we had time for.
Hi PA Girl,
Glad you liked Chincoteague, but sorry to hear it was so cool. I have been wrapped up on that beach in October, getting sand blasted, so I can feel for you. It was unusually cool in VA during part of June, but its making up for it now. 99 degrees tomorrow!
Believe it or not, the island has changed quite a bit since we started going in the late 70s. The waterfront area where the Hampton and Comfort Suites are, was all fishing boats and ramshackle buildings. It was a huge big deal when they allowed a McDonalds on the island too. However, its still quaint, and we always enjoy riding bikes around the island.
Where did you eat while you were there? Was the lighthouse open so you could go the top for a view?
Glad you liked Chincoteague, but sorry to hear it was so cool. I have been wrapped up on that beach in October, getting sand blasted, so I can feel for you. It was unusually cool in VA during part of June, but its making up for it now. 99 degrees tomorrow!
Believe it or not, the island has changed quite a bit since we started going in the late 70s. The waterfront area where the Hampton and Comfort Suites are, was all fishing boats and ramshackle buildings. It was a huge big deal when they allowed a McDonalds on the island too. However, its still quaint, and we always enjoy riding bikes around the island.
Where did you eat while you were there? Was the lighthouse open so you could go the top for a view?
We ate at Don's, Etta's and AJs.B&J in VA wrote:Where did you eat while you were there? Was the lighthouse open so you could go the top for a view?
At Don's we had a variety of crabs. Our son loved them and did a pretty good job at cleaning them. We also had oysters and steamed clams. I later learned from the manager at the Hampton Inn that the owner of Don's farms clams (and maybe oysters) out in the bay.
Ettas was fun because there was a man playing a guitar. The food was just ok and our server was rather odd.
AJs was a good late lunch stop, we stay outside. Don't people like to sit outside down there? The hostess thought we were nuts for wanting to sit out on the porch.
We did not go to the lighthouse. We passed in going in and planned to visit but after getting swarmed by mosquitos a couple of times, we didn't feel like breaking out the Deet. At that point in the day, we were all sort of wiped out from the beach.