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Category: news

Top 10 Unexpected Birds of 2025

You’d Never Expect to Hear these birds at The Refuge Inn, but we did! If you’ve stayed at The Refuge Inn, you may have noticed the soft chorus of island life that surrounds us: wrens calling from the pines, robins at dawn, and the chatter of grackles… Read more
A Scarlet Tanager with bright red body and jet black wings pauses on a tree branch with lush green leaves

Coolest birds of 2025

Cool Birds of The Refuge Inn Our BirdWeather sensor records hundreds of feathered visitors each season — some familiar, others delightfully unexpected. From deep-forest travelers to ocean wanderers, these are a few of the coolest birds we’ve hea… Read more
saltwater cowboy hunter leonard holds foal 102 in the polaris on the chincoteague pony farm, where she was about to meet her foster mom EJ

A Mystery on the Marsh & A Miracle on Leonard Lane: The Story of Foal #102

On August 25, 2025, under the quiet buzz of a late-summer night on Assateague Island, a golden palomino filly slipped into the world. She was the 102nd foal born in the CVFC Pony Herds in 2025, and nobody knows how it happened, but by morning, this l… Read more

Where Assateague Unfolds: Discovering the Tom's Cove Hook

Where the Island Unfolds: Discovering the Tom’s Cove Hook   In September each year, the Tom’s Cove Hook reopens to explorers and dreamers alike. By late March, it closes again to make way for migratory shorebirds who return to nest and rais… Read more
Sunrise over the pedestrian bridge to assateague

Mother's Day on Chincoteague Island

Celebrate Mother’s Day on Chincoteague Island: A Relaxing & Joyful Weekend Getaway Looking for the perfect way to show Mom just how much she means to you? Treat her to a refreshing, nature-filled weekend on Chincoteague Island. With the Refuge In… Read more

A Perfect May Weekend on Chincoteague Island: Seafood, Sunsets & Spring Fun

  There is something extra special about Chincoteague in May - the scent of salt in the air, the sound of shorebirds returning, and the energy of the island reawakening for the season. If you’re planning a spring escape, this 3-day itinerary hi… Read more
Refuge Inn owner Arthur Leonard gives a decoy carving demonstration to two young visitors at the Easter Decoy and Art Festival

Easter Weekend Getaway on Chincoteague Island

Easter weekend is one of the most joyful and relaxing times to visit Chincoteague Island. Spring brings blooming flowers, migrating birds, and the return of island traditions that make this community so special. Whether you're looking to unwind by th… Read more
Wild ponies of Chincoteague in the corral on Assateague Island. Foreground: Buckskin and paint mares looking at the camera. Background: Several more horses gather inside the fence of the corral

Spring Roundup Rundown

Spring is one of the most peaceful and beautiful times to visit Chincoteague Island, and the Spring Pony Roundup offers a front-row seat to one of the island’s most treasured traditions. On April 11 and 12, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company and… Read more
chincoteague lighthouse with beautiful orange and purple sky reflected in the water

Valentine's Day Weekend on Chincoteague Island

Valentine’s Day Weekend on Chincoteague Island   Love is in the air on Chincoteague Island! If you’re looking for a romantic and adventure-filled getaway, there’s no better place to spend Valentine’s Day weekend than here. From scenic boat tours… Read more

MLK Birding Weekend on Chincoteague Island

As we approach the long weekend observing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, all of us here at the Refuge Inn are thrilled to share all the island has to offer in the cooler months with you! During January, Chincoteague and Assateague Islands hold… Read more