Things To Do In Chincoteague
Fishing, boating, surfing, sunbathing, shell collecting, biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, shopping, dining & so much more; Chincoteague and Assateague have it all! Come spend an hour or a month...do a little or a lot...it's your choice. Chincoteague Island---a birder's paradise, a fisherman's dream, sunsets like you have never imagined, dolphin frolicking in the waves with sea gulls laughing from above....idyllic days by the shore.
Other Attractions
Fishing on the Islands
Fishing on the Islands
For the fisherman, there is channel, surf, and deep-sea fishing. Rent a boat, fish from the public piers, or compete in various fishing tournaments throughout the year. Go crabbing or clamming in the abundant waters surrounding both islands.
Click here for NOAA Nautical Charts, then zoom in to Chincoteague.
Scenic Boat Cruises
Scenic Boat Cruises
Scenic Boat Cruises through the Chincoteague and Assateague Channels provide opportunities for bird watching, pony watching, or just relaxing while watching the sun set over the islands.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most visited refuges in the United States, providing visitors with outstanding opportunities to learn about and enjoy wild lands and wildlife.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge includes more than 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest. Established in 1943 to provide habitat for migratory birds (with an emphasis on conserving greater snow geese), the refuge today provides habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and song birds as well as other species of wildlife and plants. The refuge also provides wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities such as fishing, hunting, wildlife photography and observation, interpretation, and environmental education.
Discover miles of hiking and biking trails.
Saddle up and enjoy a casual horseback ride on the beach.
Please note: PETS ARE PROHIBITED – even in your vehicle – on both the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Assateague Island VA National Seashore. Click here for available pet sitters and boarders.
Birding and Wildlife Photography
Birding and Wildlife Photography
The opportunities to reconnect with nature are truly endless. The 14,000 acre Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge with unspoiled beachfront, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest serves as a stopover on the Atlantic Flyway for over 300 species of migratory birds who reside here at least part of the year.
Assateague Island National Seashore
Assateague Island National Seashore
Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Rest, relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent.
Please note: PETS ARE PROHIBITED – even in your vehicle – on both the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Assateague Island VA National Seashore. Click here for available pet sitters and boarders.
Island Nature Trail
Island Nature Trail
Located on Hallie Whealton Smith Drive, the trail offers two paths to leisurely enjoy Chincoteague’s Nature. The south 0.7 mile paved trail is pet friendly and provides opportunity to walk, bike, run or bird watch. To the north is a natural surface trail that extends 0.45 miles through pine forest and glade.
NASA Wallops Flight Facility
NASA Wallops Flight Facility
Who knew that an island dominated by wild ponies would also become a prime location for viewing rocket launches carrying precious cargo to the International Space Station? Under a $1.9 billion contract with NASA, at least 8 missions will leave from the Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport located at NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia.
