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Categoría: news
a couple reading on assateague beach under a colorful umbrella, with no other beachgoers in sight. There is a calm ocean in the background

Why the Last Week of August Is the Best Time to Visit Chincoteague

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 … Leer más
The Leonard Family in 1974 just after the opening of the Refuge Motor Inn

The Woman Behind the Refuge: Martha Leonard's Story

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 … Leer más

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… Leer más
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… Leer más
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… Leer más

Where Assateague 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 raise their young on its windswept flats. The Hook’s brief open seaso… Leer más
Sunrise over the pedestrian bridge to assateague

Mother's Day in Chincoteague: A Weekend Itinerary

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… Leer más

A May Weekend in Chincoteague: Seafood, Sunsets and Spring

  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… Leer más
Refuge Inn owner Arthur Leonard gives a decoy carving demonstration to two young visitors at the Easter Decoy and Art Festival

Easter in Chincoteague: A Weekend Itinerary

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… Leer más
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 Pony Roundup: A Weekend Itinerary

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… Leer más