Can’t Miss Summer Fun On Your Chincoteague Island Vacation
As a child, my family spent a week vacationing on a small island off the coast of Northern Virginia. We loved our time there, and as an adult, a Chincoteague Island vacation has become a summer staple for my family. We’ve visited nearly every year since 2010 and over time my kids and husband have fallen in love with the island too. We just got back from our trip a few weeks ago, so I wanted to share some of the fun we had with all of you. Keep reading to see what sort of fun you won’t want to miss on your Chincoteague Island vacation!
Disclosure: This post is not sponsored in any way.
CAN’T MISS FUN FOR A CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND VACATION
‘Donut’ Miss Out!
You’ve seen before that my family (especially my dad) love their donuts. So it makes total sense that we are well acquainted with the island’s donut options. Early in the week, we typically hit up Sandy Pony Donuts. Their unusually flavored donuts are fun to try, and super fresh. We haven’t had a bad one yet! Insider tip: these donuts are on the small side, so purchase accordingly!
We’re also big fans of donuts from Lil’ Whippy. This is a relatively new extension of the soft-serve ice cream spot Mr. Whippy. Their donuts are seriously tasty, and they DO NOT skimp on the frosting! We like to spread our ‘whippy’ outings out a bit, so we do soft-serve early in the week, and donuts later on. (And bonus, there’s a bookstore right across the street! After donuts we love to walk over to Old Neptune’s Bookshop to check out their awesome comic book selection!)
I Scream, You Scream…
I mentioned it earlier, but Mr. Whippy is well known on the island for their tasty soft-serve ice cream, shakes, and other goodies. They are great for a treat on a busy evening when you want to indulge and relax at home, since they have a convenient drive-thru window. Definitely a must-visit for my family each summer.
We were excited to discover a new type of frozen treat when we arrived on the island this year! The Banana Hammock offers frozen bananas covered with chocolate and other goodies like sprinkles, nuts, or chocolate chips. They were the perfect cool indulgence on a hot afternoon before we hit the beach. My boys are still talking about those bananas weeks later!
Every Chincoteague Island vacation we take includes a visit to the Island Creamery. They have a huge assortment of delicious ice cream flavors they’ve created. (And parents, some even have a little hint of booze, in case vacay is stressing you out!). We’ve been going since I was a kid, and it’s always incredible. Don’t let the line outside scare you off- it moves quick and is so worth the wait. (Be sure to bring wipes! ‘Marsh Mud’ is a particularly messy flavor!)
Keeping Cool
A Chincoteague Island vacation in the summer usually means heat and humidity. We love to stay cool by hitting up the 2 major local water attractions whenever we’re in town. Maui Jack’s is a newer water park on the island. They have some super fun slides for adults and big kids, as well as a lazy river. The middle area, designed for young kids, is definitely the most fun for young visitors. My boys spent hours sliding and wading there.
Of course, any Chincoteague Island vacation MUST involved some serious beach time. You’ll need to drive or bike over to the smaller island (Assateague) to get to the beach, but it’s to watch for wildlife and Chincoteague ponies as you drive through the island. My kids love jumping through waves and playing in the sand. There’s plenty of wildlife to watch for- sand crabs, salp washed on shore, sometimes dolphins swimming in the distance, and more.
Active Eating
One of the best parts about a Chincoteague Island vacation is the laid-back, beachy vibe at many of the businesses. We love to stop to grab dinner on our way back from the beach, which often means we’re sandy, and still in swimsuits. (So nothing too fancy for us!) It’s great to have casual, easy options to choose from, and we particularly love the ones that give the boys a chance to stay busy.
ChincoTiki Caribbean Bar + Grill has a great area for games like giant Jenga, cornhole, etc., and a great view of the water as well. They offer a bar, and some tasty fresh food options.
Woody’s Serious Food has been a family favorite for years, because we love their BBQ and lemonade. The yard games and kitschy decor make it extra fun for families!
Smokey’s BBQ + Grill is another favorite choice- especially for #thelittleone. Give a kid a bounce house, and he’ll be begging to go there everyday! They have fun games to play, and delicious food and lemonades as well.
Busy Bodies
As I said, we’ve been enjoying Chincoteague Island vacations for years, so we’ve had the chance to try out a lot of fun activities on the island. Here’s some of our absolute favorites!
Captain Barry’s Backbay Cruises
We’ve gone out with Captain Barry a few times now, and love it SO much. Captain Barry is super funny, extremely knowledgable, and totally laid back. Kids will get tons of opportunities for hands on learning about the animals and plants that live on or around the islands.
There’s a small visitor center on Assateague Island, and we visit every year. The center has ocean themed books and puzzles for kids to check out, as well as a small gift shop. The fish tank, touch tank, and collection of bones/shells are always my boys’ favorite things to explore. Be sure to check the schedule for special activities running, like story time, bird watching, etc.
If you’re feeling energized, you can climb to the top of the Assateague Island Lighthouse! The views from the top are beautiful, and totally worth the climb.
The park offers a great playground to let kids play and burn energy without spending a cent. My boys have met kids at the playground early in the week and made plans to meet again later in the week for my play. Such a great option when the kids just can’t keep still!
Fishing + Crabbing
There’s several places on the island to rent or buy equipment and supplies for fishing or crabbing. My boys gave crabbing a shot this year, and #thebigone really loved the experience!
Boating + Kayaking
Last summer, we rented kayaks and paddled around the island. The boys loved taking the vessels out and seeing things from a different point of view. #thebigone had gone a few years ago, and loved having a second chance at it. (I’m fairly certain we rented from Snug Harbor Marina, but I could be mistaken- baby brain and all!)
There are several options for boating and sailing on the island as well. This year we took a boat tour with Daisey’s Island Cruises and really enjoyed it. We learned a lot, and got to check out ponies, dolphins, and other cool sights from a closer view.
Have a pony fan in your family? You’ll absolutely want to stop by the Chincoteague Pony Centre for a chance to ride a pony for a small fee. My kids loved the experience and felt so proud afterwards! Plus the gift shop is a lot of fun to peak through.
If you’re in Chincoteague in the summer, you should make a little time for their firemen’s carnival. It’s especially perfect for families with young kids since there’s typically a great assortment of rides for toddlers and youngsters.
Biking
Last summer, the whole family rented bikes and rode out to Assateague Island together. We alll love family bike rides! It was fun to see a different part of the island than where we typically drive through. We rented from The Bike Depot, and were really happy with their service.
Mini Golf + Other Fun
On Maddox Boulevard, you’ll see options for miniature golf, go-karts, and other sorts of family fun. The bumper boats at Funland are a big-time family favorite!
Maybe Next Year?
There’s never enough time for my kiddos and I to check everything off our Chincoteague Island vacation bucket list! These are some ideas of what we didn’t manage to squeeze in this summer, but hope to check out in the future!
- Black Narrows Brewing My dad and husband are both beer fans, so this will be a must-see next time we’re in town.
- Pico Taqueria We’ve eaten here when it was at it’s original location, which was more of a food truck/stand. Yummy food, and hope to visit their newer, larger location soon.
- Chincoteague Trolley Even after all these years visiting the island, we’ve never been on the trolley. I know my kids would find it super fun, so hopefully we get the chance!
- Farmer’s/Artisan/Flea Markets I’ve always wanted to check this out, but our travel timing has never been quite right. Hopefully I make it happen someday!
