Virginia

Chincoteague: Lighthouses, Wild Ponies and Pirates

Program No. 2005RJ
Virginia's only inhabited barrier island and the national wildlife refuge and seashore have stunning vistas, wild ponies, wildlife, miles of trails and beaches and a memorable history.

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At a Glance

Chincoteague Island, Virginia’s only inhabited barrier island, retains the aura of a waterside village of years past. Discover the island’s exceptional history from its earliest settlers to today — a story that includes maritime events, pirate lore and Chincoteague’s surprising role in the Civil War. Travel to the adjacent Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, rich in wildlife, waterfowl and natural habitats, and see its iconic Assateague Lighthouse, explore nature trails and stroll its pristine seashore. Observe the herds of wild Chincoteague ponies that still roam the marshes and beaches of the Refuge and were forever memorialized in Marguerite Henry’s timeless classic novel “Misty of Chincoteague.”
Activity Level
Easy Going
Walking a total of up to two miles per day, getting on and off a school bus, boarding and exiting a pontoon boat. All of Chincoteague and most of Assateague are flat terrain.

What You'll Learn

  • Boat along island waters to observe ponies and wildlife, view the NASA rocket launch sites on nearby Wallops Island and see Assateague Island from the water.
  • Visit the Museum of Chincoteague Island with its rare 1st order Fresnel lighthouse lens and historic island treasures.
  • Sample island cuisine, and enjoy a performance by local musicians who will entertain you with sea shanties, island songs and Celtic music.

General Notes

You may be interested in a three-night version of this program, "Island Adventure: Discover Chincoteague and Assateague Islands" (#10545).
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Nancy Richards West
Nancy Richards West has lived on Chincoteague Island for three decades, using this picturesque setting as inspiration for her paintings. The first resident artist chosen by the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, the thrill of painting en plein air often lures her out of the studio and into the field, where she captures the effects of changing light, weather and seasons. Nancy has extensive training in classical drawing and color theory, and her delicate treatment of oils is subtly elegant. Her work has won numerous awards and honors, including the Ward Foundation’s top award for painting, and she represented the Commonwealth of Virginia at the White House Easter Festivities in 1996. Nancy received her B.A. with high honors in fine arts from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.. Nancy has been sharing her artistic talents on Road Scholar programs with the Museum of Chincoteague Island for almost 20 years.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Nancy West
Nancy Richards West View biography
Nancy Richards West has lived on Chincoteague Island for three decades, using this picturesque setting as inspiration for her paintings. The first resident artist chosen by the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, the thrill of painting en plein air often lures her out of the studio and into the field, where she captures the effects of changing light, weather and seasons. Nancy has extensive training in classical drawing and color theory, and her delicate treatment of oils is subtly elegant. Her work has won numerous awards and honors, including the Ward Foundation’s top award for painting, and she represented the Commonwealth of Virginia at the White House Easter Festivities in 1996. Nancy received her B.A. with high honors in fine arts from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.. Nancy has been sharing her artistic talents on Road Scholar programs with the Museum of Chincoteague Island for almost 20 years.
Profile Image of Cindy Faith
Cindy Faith View biography
Cindy Faith has been a Group Leader and lecturer at the Museum of Chincoteague Island’s Road Scholar programs for many years. Raised on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, her knowledge of the region’s natural and local history is encyclopedic. Her expertise runs the gamut from horseshoe crabs and wild ponies to pirates and the Civil War’s impact on the Chincoteague region. Combined with her warm sense of humor, Cindy’s vast knowledge assures Road Scholar participants of an informative and interesting experience.
Profile Image of Beth Scheeley
Beth Scheeley View biography
Beth Scheeley was born and raised on Chincoteague Island. She has many family ties to the island, which makes her a true "teaguer." Beth has an extensive knowledge for Chincoteague's history. Her childhood memories of Chincoteague's past looks, restaurants and people will call for endless conversations and stories during your time with her. Her go-getter personality and friendliness will surely make you feel right at home on Chincoteague Island.
Profile Image of Darcy Cole
Darcy Cole View biography
Darcy has lived on the island for over 15 years. In her early encounters with the wild horses of Assateague, she became fascinated with the idea that each horse had a name and a personality. In those 15 years, she has become a regional expert on the horses, publishing books on the horses and conducting workshops and talks related to the horses. In addition to her many lectures at the Museum of Chincoteague, Darcy serves as a Team Leader on the two annual Service Projects.
Profile Image of Douglas Mills
Douglas Mills View biography
Douglas Mills, great nephew of famed architect R. Buckminster Fuller, is general manager of the Island Theatre in downtown Chincoteague. With nearly three decades of experience in performing arts technologies, he is also the lead historian and researcher for the Island Theatre history project that documents the complex and rich history of Chincoteague Island's 75-year-old art deco theatre. Doug has a fascination with maritime and naval history, including the design and engineering aspects of lighthouses, light ships, and other visual navigation aids.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.





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