Although the Chincoteague ponies may roam barefoot and free on the wilds of Assateague Island for most of their lives, horseshoes are still readily found on both Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. They're horseshoe crabs, and they have an enormous role to play in making Chincoteague Island an ecotourism Paradise. Why?Because the horseshoe crabs choose to lay their eggs in the sand and mud flats of Toms Cove Hook, making those areas prime...more
If you didn't succumb to the affliction of horse-craziness as a youngster, then the odds are high that you know neither where Chincoteague Island is, nor why it is important. So we're here to fill you in on the secrets that make the seven-mile length of Chincoteague Island irresistible to over a million visitor each year.Yes, one of those secrets has to do with horses, which have inhabited Chincoteague and its neighbor Assateague Island for...more
Few places on planet Earth capture the idea of a romantic honeymoon getaway as the magical wilds and waterways of Chincoteague Island on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Once you and your spouse have successfully navigated the anxieties, anticipation, and hectic activities leading up to and including your wedding day, you deserve to leave the world behind and bask in the pleasure of each other's company, in surroundings of natural beauty and Southern charm.Spend your Chincoteague Island honeymoon being pampered at one of the waterfront bed and breakfasts. The Island Manor House, built in 1848 and furnished with antiques dating back to pre-Civil war days, is among the most striking of Chincoteague's many stunning B&Bs. Enjoy your gourmet breakfast or afternoon snack in the garden room or the front courtyard, where the gentle trickle of the fountain and the sweet fragrance of rosebushes will soothe your spirits. Watch hummingbirds and butterflies winging their way through the private gardens--or maybe, like you, they're just floating on air! The history of the Island Manor House makes it the perfect setting for your Chincoteague romantic getaway. It was built by Nathaniel Smith,...more
Just a short drive off Virginia's Eastern Shore lies an island so stunning that its seven mile length is the vacation destination for more than one million annual visitors, each one of whom arrives to enjoy a taste of Paradise. Chincoteague's Island natural beauty, coastal charm, and Southern down-home hospitality are what draw them from around the...more
The waters and winds of Chesapeake Bay never rest, and over the eons they have built up and carved away countless land masses. The Island of Chincoteague, about five miles off Virginia's Eastern Shore, rose from the Chesapeake's waters about four thousand years ago and is surrounded by vast areas of marsh. More than twenty miles of the tiny...more
If you go to Chincoteague Island during the last week of July, you're probably there for the Pony Penning and Auction, like approximately 50,000 other visitors. You'll be in for an exciting time, but what you won't see is the sort of round-up which takes place on Federal grazing lands in the Western United States. There'll be no helicopters herding exhausted mustangs into waiting trucks from far above The 150 ponies of the Chincoteague Island herd are such old hands at being rounded up (they are gathered twice a year for veterinary checkups) that on the Wednesday of the annual four hundred yard Chincoteague Pony Swim from Assateague Island to the Firemen's Carnival grounds, most of them take the exercise "in stride." The Chincoteague Island Pony Swim has been taking place since 1925, when the first was held to raise funds for the Chincoteague Island Fire Department. Two disastrous fires in the preceding five years had destroyed much of Chincoteague Island's business district, and the Fire Department desperately needed better equipment. They held a Firemen's Carnival that July, featuring the first Pony Swim and Auction. Fifteen pony foals were sold.Word of the Pony Swim soon reached...more
The mountains loom and the bluest sky reaches beyond the heavens, soaring endlessly, dotted with fluffy clouds that make insignificant shadows over the rolling prairies. You have the sense that those who have laid claim to this grand land have done...more
The tourism industry in Thailand truly took off when US soldiers started to arrive in the 1960s for Rest and Recuperation (R&R) during the Vietnam War period. Coinciding, international mass tourism sharply increased during the same period due to the...more
When visiting Southern California, consider using San Diego as your base camp. Many world famous attractions, and most everything you might need can be found within a short drive of downtown San Diego. The locals often say that everything is within...more
Getting to set out exploring New Zealand in a Spaceship is something that people are lucky enough to do every day, but setting out in a Hybrid model takes this luck to a level of luxury! I was fortunate enough to take one of these beautiful vehicles...more
Dordogne is one of the most beautiful regions in France. With its stunning castles and lush forests, Dordogne has the appearance of having emerged straight out of a fairytale. There are many monuments, Chateaux, and rustic villages dotting the region...more
Iceland is a large island situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is home to many spectacular mountains and is one of the more novel holiday spots in Europe. Despite its name, only about 10% of the island is actually covered in ice. The country also...more