Explore Dune, Marsh, and Forest
Several half-mile nature trails traverse the island's distinct ecosystems. The Life of the Dune Trail is a trudge through soft sand that offers the chance to steal a glance from a wild horse, deer, fox, or nonnative elk that was imported from Japan in 1920. The Life of the Marsh Trail is an elevated boardwalk that meanders through salt marsh teeming with waterfowl. The Life of the Forest Trail snakes its way through a forest of stunted loblolly pines gnarled by salt and wind.

Rake in a Few Clams
There's a mud lark in each and every one of us. The quiet waters of the Chincoteague and Sinepuxent Bays offer nature's bounty as hard-shell clams and blue crabs abound. At sunset, a tangerine sky gives way to lush hues of red as the surrounding salt marsh emerges in silhouette. A canoe is a great way to explore the bays because it allows you to paddle close to shorebirds and waterfowl without scaring them away. And if you don't own a kayak or canoe, several rental centers service the island.

Whisper to Wild Horses
Lore has it that the wild horses of Assateague swam to the island from a shipwrecked Spanish galleon. The horses are actually descendants of domesticated horses brought to the island that reverted to a wild state. Two herds roam the island, one in Maryland and one in Virginia, each around 150 strong. On the last Wednesday and Thursday of July, the annual Pony Penning is held in which saltwater cowboys round up the Virginia herd (aka the Chincoteague ponies), forcing them to swim across the channel at slack tide to Chincoteague. Most of the foals are auctioned off so that the herd's numbers are maintained at 150.