Chincoteague Island, Virginia

Chincoteague Island is located on Virginia's Eastern Shore which is also known as the Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland and Virginia).  We purchased a home here a while ago and try to get there as often as we can. Chincoteague Island was voted the #1 family beach town by AOL at one time.  Most of the homes on the island are vacation homes, however there are quite a number of local folks who live there year round.  The ocean is beautiful and not commercial in any way.  Just the beach and lifeguards. No boardwalk with neon signs here. There are scooters that you can rent if you chose not to drive on the island and there are plenty of those on the road in the summer.  The center of town is Main Street where there are family owned seafood restaurants and also some nice shops and a movie theater.  It only has one movie playing at a time. There are not many of those type movies theaters around anymore!  If you are an ice cream lover there are 3 ice cream parlors.  One is a beautiful old fashioned one. There's also a bakery with fresh donuts every morning. About a half hour away are tour boats that will take you to visit nearby Smith or Tangier Islands.  Also about one hour away is Ocean City, Maryland.

 Assateague and Chincoteague Islands are mostly known for their beautiful ponies that live a tranquil, quiet life.  The most popular time of year to visit Chincoteague Island is the last week of July when the ponies make their annual swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. Mind you it is a very short swim and the local cowboys make sure that none are injured or in danger.  Being the animal lover that I am I would never write about this or promote this event if it endangered the ponies in any way.  The herd is taken care of very well during their time on Assateague Island with many of them living out their lives there.  It is a natural and beautiful setting.  Anyhow, the ponies swim to Chincoteague Island  to keep the herd at a number that can be managed.  The ponies are auctioned off to many people whose dream has been to own one of these ponies.  Several every year are donated back to the island and those are sold at at some of the highest bids. As high as $17,500.00  All monies raised are given to the local volunteer fire department of the island, who also maintain and care for the ponies. I don't have any pics of the pony swim itself this year since a sudden thunderstorm came over us and we ran for cover.  Hope you enjoy the pics and you may want to keep this Chincoteague Island in mind for a family vacation.  It is a wonderful getaway!