Explore the best of assateague on these epic expeditions. Assateague island a national seashore visitors guide. Assateague island national parks conservation association. Backcountry camping is also available for campers who wish to. I really enjoyed ocean city when i went back for the first time in many years yesterday, but i wanted to get away from the crowds, as well. It was one of the runnersup for the annual newbery medal, now called newbery honor books. Kayak rentals and tours, provisions at assateague island.
The terrain is a mix of sand dunes, maritime forests and salt marshes, and is just a couple miles wide at its broadest section. Assateague island is a 38 milelong wildlife refuge that since anyone can remember has been home to a herd of wild ponies that fluctuates in size every spring with a. The assateague island visitor center maryland district of assateague island, on the southern side of route 611, 4106411441, yearround daily 9am5pm offers a film on the wild ponies, brochures, aquariums, a touch tank, maps, and other. Here you will find detailed information and abundant photographs, as well as where to find the herds and where to stay and eat while visiting. With over two miles of beach, the water is your best friend. Its a 37 mile long island that covers maryland and part of virginia. Some people believe the horses arrived on assateagues shores when a spanish galleon ship with a cargo of horses sank offshore. Backcountry camping without a permit is prohibited. Pony express nature cruise travel to assateagues wild horses. The assateague island national seashore, established in 1962, occupies the northern twothirds of a 37milong barrier island, encompassing a small portion operated as assateague state park. This tells the history of how the wild horses ended up on assateague island to begin with. After living in maryland for over a year we finally made it to the island. Wild horse islands is the most comprehensive site on the web concerning the wild horse herds that roam on barrier islands along the atlantic coast. A small book about the wonderful ponies of assateague.
After all, the wild ponies have comfortably roamed the. Assateague island national seashore maryland the national seashore is open 24 hours and the assateague island visitor center is open daily from 9 a. Assateague island, the fictional home of misty of chincoteague, is the real home of bands of wild ponies. Assateague island national seashore 2020 all you need to. Its two miles of ocean beaches offer swimming, beachcombing, sunbathing, surfing and fishing. The assateague island seashore, a perfectly barren landscape of sand dunes and beautiful, secluded beaches, is just 8 miles south but a world away from ocean city. If you go, be prepared to wait for long hours with the crowds in the hot sun. With the famous wild chincoteague ponies, migratory bird population, rich wildlife, beautiful beach and gorgeous saltwater marsh scenery most people visit time and again. The park offers an extraordinary beach experience that allows visitors to enjoy wildlife and outdoor activities in a beautiful natural setting. This 14,000acre refuge is the gateway to assateague island national seashore and home to the famous chincoteague ponies. Partial proceeds from this concession go towards supporting the maryland coastal bays program, a 501c3 dedicated to protecting the bays behind ocean city and assateague island.
Assateagues wild horses assateague island national seashore. Before going making a reservation is a good idea because the island is a very popular campsite, the horses really draw wildlife lovers in. It talks about the life cycle of the horses, as well as how the horses live. Book tent camping, treehouses, cabins, yurts, primitive backcountry. Misty of chincoteague is a childrens novel written by marguerite henry, illustrated by wesley dennis, and published by rand mcnally in 1947. Here youll find windswept beaches, maritime forest, coastal bay waters and nature at its best on one of. Assateague state park is marylands only oceanfront park. However spring and fall are also great times of year as the temperatures are a bit cooler which means less crowds. The ultimate guide to camping on assateague island poor. Ponies can be seen with their foals 7 days a week, apriloctober on the boat or kayaking tour. The ash wednesday storm of 1962 was a horse of another color.
Assateague state park is also located on maryland side of assateague and provides over 300 campsites. People are putting this story is about assateague island and the wild life that lives there. Wild ponies in their natural habitat explore assateague island marine animal touch tank bird watching dredging for clams learn about the eco system see the fishing boats go by navigate ocs commercial fishing harbor handson crab and crab pot demonstration. This undeveloped barrier island is populated by a herd of wild horses, made famous in the book misty of chincoteague. Find cheap deals and discount rates that best fit your budget. After all, the wild ponies have comfortably roamed the islands along the. The ponies have adapted to the limited diet over the hundreds of years they have lived on assateague. The maryland herd roams freely in part of assateague island national seashore. Enjoy the start of your day by going kayaking and looking for the beautiful horses of assateague. Assateague island national seashore campground, snow hill. There is plenty to see and do in this pristine park, including hunting, hiking, biking, fishing and kayaking. Assateague explorer departs from the assateague nature centre the closest dock to assateague with the best access to all herds of horses along the island. Visit assateague and see the best areas for pony watching, bird watching and dolphin watching with assateague explorer. Tents, trailers and recreational vehicles no hookups.
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Camping at assateague island national seashore is permitted only on the maryland side of assateague. Buy misty of chincoteague books, videos and assateague souvenirs. Assateague island national seashore virginia is for lovers. During each census, horses are identified by their distinguishing characteristics, mapped and counted. At daiseys island cruises, our main goal is for you to have an enjoyable and memorable experience. In america in particular, wild horses, manes streaming, nostrils flaring.
There are herds at assateague, md, assateague island chincoteague va. Order the book misty of chincoteague assateague island. Here is accurate and fascinating information about their lives throughout the year, as they raise their young and look for food. Assateague island horse campground, assateague island, md. Book now your hotel in assateague island national seashore and pay later with expedia. Assateague island is a harsh environment for the ponies and their diet is limited. Following in the wake of a storybook pony the new york times. The ponies primarily eat the salt water cord grass that grows in the marshes on assateague island. Assateague is a 37mile long barrier island on the atlantic coast of maryland and virginia. Visiting assateague island to see the wild horses has been on my bucket list since i found out about the island. Assateague adventures kayak tours chincoteague nature tours. Each year, the wild ponies living on assateague island in virginias outer banks are. Anyone who wanted to go stargazing should go to the national park side of assateague because that is the darkest part of the island a great spot for doing that and the further. It is located on assateague island, a barrier island bordered by the atlantic ocean on the east and the sinepuxent bay on the west.
You will likely need to plan a vacation to the island once your kids get a hold of this book i would recommend it to anyone interested in assateague or ponies. Assateague island travel maryland, usa lonely planet. Assateague island is a great place to visit anytime of the year and also a great place to see wildlife. Many visitors first learn about the assateague horses from marguerite henrys famous book misty of chincoteague. One unique area to visit while in ocean city, maryland is called assateague island. The nature cruise or kayak tour to assateague make your visit to assateague the vacation of a lifetime.
Ponies from the maryland herd, referred to in literature of the national park service as assateague horses, live within assateague island national seashore. Assateague island horse campground in assateague island, maryland horse lovers. The national park service offers guided walks, talks and special programs. Camping on the beach at assateague island off the coast of maryland offers you the opposite experience, allowing you to fall asleep under the stars to the sound of waves crashing on the shore. It is also a great time of year for hiking and biking. National park service provides bayside and oceanside campsite year round. Set in the island town of chincoteague, virginia, the book tells the story of the beebe family and their efforts to raise a filly born to a wild horse. Life on assateague island has adapted to an existence. Browse expedias selection of 3060 hotels and places to stay in assateague island national seashore. When most of us think of going camping, we envision a wooded area filled with trees, dirt, and woodland creatures like bears, skunks, and squirrels. They are generally treated as wild animals, given no more or less assistance than other species on the island, other than to be treated with contraceptives to prevent overpopulation. On our nature cruises, you get to experience assateague island and chincoteague island in a way that is simply not possible from land.
A guide to vacationing on assateague island a guide to vacationing on assateague island this little pocket of everchanging maryland and virginia shoreline may be. Assateagues wild horses assateague island national. Campsite reservations are recommended, call 877 4446777. Coast guard certified tour boat misty departs from chincoteague island, virginia, by the beautiful southern part of assateague. The wild horses of assateague island are descendents of domesticated animals brought to the island. Assateague island is the barrier island to chincoteague which boasts being the most visited national wildlife refuge in the us. It has a lot of really interesting facts and it is a great find whether you are sitting at home reading about it or actually visiting the island.
Assateague outfitters is a joint partnership between superfun eco tours and the maryland coastal bays program. Backcountry camping assateague island national seashore has two oceanside and four bayside camping areas for visitors who wish to backpack or paddle the island. Henry traveled to chincoteague in 1945, looking to write a book about the ponies. A ssateague island national seashore, stretching 37 miles from virginia into maryland is one of the worlds best beaches for communing with nature.
During the brief 3 minute pony swim event, the wild horses swim across the assateague channel when the tide is slack calm so the young ponies, which are born during spring or early summer, are safe from any strong currents. This 37milelong barrier island along the atlantic coasts of maryland and virginia includes adjacent marsh islands and ocean waters. The best time of year to visit assateague island is the summer where you can enjoy a little fun in the sun. This book is a true story involving misty, a famous horse who gave birth to. On the last wednesday of july, the virginia herd of horses is rounded up and swum from assateague island to nearby chincoteage island. Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. This barrier island park, located on the atlantic ocean, is known nationally for the wild horses that freely roam its 850 acres of beach, sand dune, salt marsh and maritime forest. Wild horses, dolphins, birdwatching, spectacular scenery and wildlife in virginia. The book talks about the dangers of people interacting with the wild horses. Purchase books, videos and more that made chincoteague wild ponies famous. The true story of misty of chincoteague, the pony who stared. Tentonly sites, located 100200 feet from centralized parking areas.
Fun for all assateague island ecotours, the assateague explorer and assateague adventure. Save on booking hotels, resorts, holiday homes, apartments, villas, beach houses and more. Let us show you the hidden beauty and wildlife of these islands. Consult assateague island for specific information for the time of year and location you wish to visit. Find your perfect vacation rental in assateague island maryland usa, with. We will definitely book with them again and recommend them to. Its a short drive to the adjacent island of assateague which has a pristine beach on the ocean, and is run by the national park service. Chincoteague and assateague island daiseys island cruises. Wild horse islands is the most comprehensive site on the web detailing the wild horse herds that roam on east coast barrier islands. On our most recent trip to ocean city, md we drove over to the maryland side of assateague island. On the following day most of the young foals are auctioned off. The wildlife will be awake and active during this time. The drive to the beach is full of wildlife, a visit to the lighthouse, glimpses of the horses in the meadows, birds of every description and the beautiful beach.
Managed as a wildlife population, the assateague horses are free to roam over approximately 27 miles of the barrier island and can be difficult to find at times. Assateague wild ponies assateague island national seashore. The wild horses of assateague island island adventure. Color photos enrich the text that reveals the unique ecosystem on which the ponies depend. Here you will find accurate information and abundant photographs, as well as where to find the herds and where to stay and eat while visiting. Assateague and chincoteagues most famous residents know how to stay safe in extreme weather conditions. The wild horses, popularized by marguerite henrys childrens book misty of chincoteague, have occupied the. Proceeds from the sale benefit the chincoteague volunteer fire department. The story takes place during a traditional chincoteague festival called pony penning.