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People ask us this at the front desk more than just about anything else. Horses aren't native to North America, so whatever's out on that marsh today arrived somehow in the last four hundred years and then got loose. How they managed it is the part n… Read more
The last week of August is one of the best times to visit Chincoteague Island: peak-summer crowds have thinned, ocean water is at its warmest, the wild ponies are still grazing year-round, and hotel rates drop to some of the lowest rates of the summe… Read more
Everyone who's stayed at the Refuge Inn has heard some version of Donald Leonard's story — the boy who couldn't be found unless you looked for the ponies, the dreamer who built an iconic motel with a little luck and a lot of help from his family and … Read more
August doesn't get the same hype as the big spring and fall pushes, but that works in your favor. The light is gorgeous in the early morning, and the refuge is busy in a different way. The marsh steadily turns into a shorebird buffet as the month pro… Read more
July doesn't get talked about as much as spring or fall, and we think that's unfair. Yes, it's hot, and yes, you'll want bug spray. But this is the month when the whole nesting season pays off—chicks are hatching, fledglings are testing their wings, … Read more
Spring migration is winding down, and nesting season is in full swing. Osprey are feeding young, marsh birds are active throughout the day, and the skies are filled with the sounds of summer. June is a great time to watching birds go about their dail… Read more
.png&w=3840&q=75 "A small bird with a blue head and yellow belly perched on a branch amidst green foliage.")
May is one of the most active months on Chincoteague. You don’t need a big plan to enjoy it. Step outside at the inn, spend some time along the tree line, or head into the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Movement is constant this time of year—… Read more
April birding on Chincoteague is one of the most dynamic times of year, with activity across marsh, pine forest, and shoreline. Our position along the Atlantic Flyway makes the island popular stopover for migrating birds while also hosting those sett… Read more
Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day If you’re looking for the classic Chincoteague summer experience, these long weekends deliver. Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day each bring their own energy to the island. Beach days on nearby Ass… Read more
March birding on Chincoteague is full of activity across marsh, forest, and shoreline. Positioned along the Atlantic Flyway, the island provides an important stopover for migrating birds as well as a home for many year-round residents. Each week brin… Read more