SENIORS DISCOVER CHINCOTEAGUE, VIRGINIA



Seniors Enjoy One Of the Best Coastal Small Towns

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Senior travelers discover one of the Best Coastal Small Towns in the country… Chincoteague, Virginia, with a population just under 3,000.  A Chincoteague site asks  …”Are you ready for a change from the big city beach resorts? In Chincoteague there are no high rises, boardwalks, or traffic jams. Chincoteague Island is a serene, yet fun filled, tourist destination.”

Chincoteague Island, Virginia’s only resort Island, is located on Virginia’s eastern shore. Chincoteague is within easy reach of all major cities on the mid-Atlantic seaboard. Chincoteague is the gateway to the Virginia portion of Assateague Island, home of the famous Chincoteague Wild Ponies.

“Chincoteague offers a relaxed atmosphere and the beauty of unspoiled nature.”  The town is called the “Beautiful Land Across the Water”. Costal Living Magazine labels Chincoteague “The Happiest Seaside Town in America”.

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Senior Visitors Meet The Wild Ponies

The Island is loaded with history. The name is derived from the Native American name for the island  Gingoteague. In 1943 the name of the town became “Chincoteague.”

Interesting story on the wild ponies that occupy the Island. Legend has it that the feral ponies that run wild on Assateague are descendants of survivors of a Spanish galleon that sank in the 16th century off  the Virginia coast.

The likelihood is that they are actually descended from domesticated stock, brought to the island by Eastern Shore farmers in the 17th century to avoid fencing requirements and taxation. You choose, this senior just likes the story of a Spanish galleon sinking, with horses on board that swam to safety.

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There is an annual event called Pony Penning that takes place in July. The ponies all swim across a channel. Salt Water Cowboys round them up on Assateague and drive them across the water to Chincoteague where several are auctioned off.

Oyster Beds, Clam Shoals And Birdwatching Await Seniors

Chincoteague has several small hotels, B&Bs, a campground and restaurants. And a fun miniature golf course. Assateague Island, is said to be perhaps the most beautiful island on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

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World famous for its oyster beds and clam shoals, Chincoteague is the gateway to the Assateague Island National Seashore and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.  Adventure awaits senior visitors as history and legend blend with the wild bucolic atmosphere of the seasonal shore.

Seniors, take your pick…fishing, boating, surfing, sunbathing, shell collecting, biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, shopping, dining….. Chincoteague and Assateague awaits your arrival. And for senior birders, it’s a paradise for birdwatching.

TripAdvisor notes that you can catch or dig up your own seafood, and the beaches bring literal breaths of fresh air. There are a host of tours for you to consider. Enjoy the island. -jeb

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