Has anyone visited Assateague Island (Maryland) in late November?
My husband and I are planning to travel there over thanksgiving break. I’ve heard so much about the feral horses there, I’d love to see them. Would we still be able to see them this time of the year? Are there places to camp around the area? Any suggestions / tips on planning a trip there this time of the year would be much appreciated.
You’ll still be able to see them. It’s not like they have anywhere else to go. My wife and I visited Chincoteague Island in early December of 2005 and I got several good pictures of some of the ponies grazing in the grassy marshlands. In some cases, I got out of my car and walked into the field to get closer to them for a better shot…glad a park ranger didn’t come by then, they might not have liked that.
I’d assume you might have to be a rugged camper (or have an RV) if you are planning on camping though. The weather can get quite cold at night at times, even below freezing sometimes, though the daytime weather can still be quite nice. On Thanksgiving Day, I’ve seen it in the 40s and in the low 70s…you could get anything in between.
At least the good thing (we found out) about visiting there this time of year is that there are no mosquitos. Also, the park should not be crowded in the least, which is a good thing. The bad thing is that a lot of local businesses that cater to the tourists may be “closed for the season”…at least that was our experience on Chincoteague.
Check out the link below, it gives you info on camping at the park. You are very near Ocean City, Md. as well, you can probably find more creature comforts staying there. Orbitz currently is listing a price of $56/night at the Best Western Ocean City Hotel and Suites over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and numerous other options in the $53-$80 a night range.
Don’t forget to take your camera! We took tons of pictures of the wildlife, scenery, and the sunset over the bay/ocean. If you like seafood, you should be able to find plenty of it! Don’s Seafood Restaurant was a little place on Chincoteague Island we liked that had nightly specials for a really good price.
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The Hidden Galleon: The true story of a lost Spanish ship and the legendary wild horses of Assateague Island $24.89 On the island of Assateague, along the seacoast of Maryland and Virginia, there is a breed of horses that has run wild for centuries. Legend says they originated from a long lost Spanish galleon. This centuries-old tradition is remembered every year when 50,000 tourists descend on the island of Chincoteague to witness the annual pony swim and auction. On September 5, 1750, a Spanish warship named … |
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The Assateague Ponies $3.00 … |
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Wild Ponies: A One Whole Day Book $16.95 Children join the noted naturalist-artist as he spends a day watching a splendid herd of wild ponies on Assateague Island off the mid-Atlantic coast. Youngsters see the ponies romping in the surf, heading for the dunes where they munch on sea grasses, and wading through the mudflats of the nearby bay. A young foal rests with its mother in the shade of a tree, then starts to play hide-and-seek with… |
