The Chincoteague Pony Centre (no website; 6417 Carriage Drive; Chincoteague Island, VA; 757-336-2776) is in the heart of downtown Chincoteague Island. This recreation center offers pony riding lessons for children; only children ages 6 through 12 may ride the ponies. During July and August, the Chincoteague Pony Centre provides a summer camp for children ages 5 through 10. This equestrian center also has a gift shop with pony-themed gifts and clothing apparel. The centre's museum features Misty family pony memorabilia, based on the pony from "Misty of Chincoteague," and a pony-drawn carriage.
The Oyster and Maritime Museum (no website; 7125 Maddox Boulevard; Chincoteague Island, VA; 757-336-6117) is in eastern Chincoteague Island, near the entrance to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. This museum features exhibits such as an aquarium with oysters and seashells, an oyster dock model and a Fresnel lens lamp, which used to be at the top of the Assateague Island Lighthouse; this 19th-century lamp could be seen by ships that were 23 miles from shore. The Oyster and Maritime Museum also has early 19th- and 20th-century photographs on the history of Chincoteague Island's oyster harvesting industry.
Situated on the west shore of Chincoteague Island, Daisey's Dockside Nature Cruises (daiseyscruises.com) offers day cruises throughout Chincoteague's water inlets and creeks. This cruise tour company also offers tours through Assateague Island, which features herds of wild ponies and the Assateague Island Lighthouse. Each tour lasts approximately two hours, and only six passengers may ride on the boat per tour. Other tour sites include Tom's Cover, a small bay in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is due east of Chincoteague Island; the entrance to this national park is Beach Access Road. This 14,000-acre national wildlife refuge was founded in 1943 and is home to a variety of wildlife species, including wild ponies, waterfowl and the fox squirrel -- which is an endangered species. Biking trails are available throughout the park, including the quarter-mile Lighthouse Trail, which leads to the Assateague Island Lighthouse, and the three-mile long Wildlife Loop. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge also provides beaches for swimming activities.
Due to the city's oyster and seafood industry, Chincoteague Island provides a variety of seafood dining options. The upscale Bill's Prime Seafood and Steaks (billsseafoodrestaurant.com) is right off Main Street. Seafood options include the crab imperial, sea scallops, colossal lobster tail and seafood Norfolk, a combination of shrimp, scallops and crab meat. The restaurant accepts reservations for dinner.
Steamers (steamersallyoucaneat.com) is right off of Maddox Boulevard in the center of Chincoteague Island. This restaurant provides an all-you-can-eat buffet with seafood selections, such as shrimp, scallops, crawfish and crab meat. Steamers is only open from late spring through early fall.
