Chincoteague Island Secrets Revealed

Chincoteague Island Secrets Revealedsurroundings.  Fresh Chincoteague oysters will give
 you a true taste of what it means to live on
If you didn't succumb to the affliction ofChincoteague!
horse-craziness as a youngster, then the odds areAssateague Island's beaches, just a very short bridge
high that you know neither where Chincoteague Islandeast of the Town of Chincoteague, are certainly some
is, nor why it is important.  So we're here to fill you inof the       truly great beaches about which
on the secrets that make the seven-mile length ofyou've never heard.  Standing on a stretch of
Chincoteague Island irresistible to over a million visitorundeveloped Assateague waterfront which seems to
each year.extend endlessly in either direction, you'll be facing an
 expanse of open ocean which reaches the shores of
Yes, one of those secrets has to do with horses,Europe.  Behind you will be sand dune upon sand
which have inhabited Chincoteague and its neighbordune, and if you're in the right place, you'll be able to
Assateague Island for longer than anyone canspot the Assateague Island Light House, which has
remember.  The secret lies in how the horses, whichstood sentinel on the entire scene since 1867.  No
are actually pony-sized, came to run free on twocabanas, hot dog stands, or boardwalk with souvenir
rather inhospitable (for horses, anyway) strips of sandhawkers.  Just you, the sea, the sand, and the sky.
and marsh where fresh water is at a premium and theThe weekly National Seashore campfire put on during
grass comes already salted. the summer by the National Park Service rangers who
 maintain the Assateague Island National Seashore will
If, on the other hand, you had succumbed togive you a chance to lie on the beach under the stars
horse-craziness in your youth, you'd know all about themunching on your toasted marshmallows and filling
classic children's book Misty of Chincoteague, publishedyour head with tales of Blackbeard the Pirate's lost
in 1947 and largely responsible for putting Chincoteaguetreasure as the Assateague Light House beam
Island on the fast track to tourism super-stardom.  Insearches the darkness overhead.  (The secret
her book, Marguerite Henry attributed the existence oflocation of Blackbeard's treasure, however, remains
the Chincoteague ponies to the shipwreck of aunrevealed.)
Spanish galleon in the 1600s.  While the more likelySecret treasure may still be yours, however, if you
story is that today's ponies are descendants of onesstop in at Payne's Sea Treasures, a former hot dog
turned loose by 18th century island settlers to graze instand on Ridge Road in Chincoteague.  This odd
the islands' vast expanses of marsh grass, no oneestablishment has evolved into one of the most
knows for sure.amazing curio shops you'll find during your life.  If your
 shell seeking efforts on Assateague have come up
That may be one Chincoteague Island secret foreverempty, Payne's can supply you with beach glass or
lost to history, but we're going to reveal a few moreany number of shells-- horseshoe crab shells in
which will add a bit of extra island zest to your visit.particular.  Across the street from Payne's is a
 20-foot tall Viking statue.   Payne's Sea Treasure's
The delicately flavored, slightly salty Chincoteaguelate proprietor Mr. Capt'n Bob Payne purchased the
oysters, a specialty at the Island's popular island eatingstatue from a defunct Muffler Man store.
establishment The Village Restaurant, really do tasteChincoteague has lots more secrets to uncover, but
different from oysters you'll have anywhere else. we'll let you have the fun of discovering them for
Why?  Because all oysters take on the flavor of theiryourself!