Native American tribes were thriving on what is now Virginia's Eastern Shore for more than twenty centuries when Captain John Smith arrived in 1607. One of these tribes, led by Chief Barabokees and Emperor Waskawampe, had claimed as their own an island five miles off the Virginia coast, calling it Chincoteague, or "The Beautiful Land across the Water." The Assateague tribe gave their name to the barrier island just to the east of Chincoteague.The...more
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 longer than anyone can remember. The secret lies in how the horses, which are actually pony-sized, came to run free on two rather inhospitable (for horses, anyway) strips of sand and marsh where fresh water is at a premium and the grass comes already salted. If, on the other hand, you had succumbed to horse-craziness in your youth, you'd know all about the classic children's book Misty of Chincoteague, published in 1947 and largely responsible for putting Chincoteague Island on the fast track to tourism super-stardom. In her book, Marguerite Henry attributed the existence of the Chincoteague ponies to the shipwreck of a Spanish galleon in the 1600s. While the more likely story is that today's ponies are descendants of ones turned loose by 18th...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...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 island's coastline, in fact, consists of marshes, and the vast majority of its land mass is less than 10 feet above sea level.While its topography may leave Chincoteague vulnerable to erosion from flood and wind, those wetlands, waterways, and beaches have also allowed the Island to develop into one of America's premier vacation spots, with annual visitors numbering close to one million. Many of them are drawn to Chincoteague's sister island and protector Assateague, the 37-mile long barrier island just a few hundred yards to Chincoteague's east. Assateague is home to both the Chincoteague Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Assateague Island National Seashore, and, of course, to the world-famous Chincoteague Island ponies.Until four hundred years ago, Chincoteague and Assateague were left to themselves except for hunting and fishing parties...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...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
Italian cuisine is one of the most popular culinary art forms in the world. These flavourful dishes have often graced the tables of many homes and restaurants all over the world. Naturally, the best place to sample authentic Italian cuisine is in...more