Chincoteague

Abbie at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel scenic overlook.

 We set out for Chincoteague for a beach and pony visit.  From Richmond, we traveled through three underwater tunnels as we drove to Virginia's Eastern Shore.

 Our hotel has a Chincoteague pony that you can visit.   Here is Abbie and Sophie with Lightning.

The Assateague lighthouse was built in the 1860s.

 We climbed to the top of the light house.

 View from the top.

The girls completed the Junior Ranger program at Toms Cove.

 Here is the family, except for Paula.  She took the picture.

 Toms Cove has a great beach and a nice visitor center.

 The ponies grazing in marshland.

After we spent a few days with Matt's family at their home in Richmond, VA, we drove over to Chincoteague Island, VA which is on the eastern shore of Virginia.  We often visit Virginia Beach while we are visiting in the summer but we decided to try something different this year.  We drove about 3 hours or so to get to Chincoteague.  We had heard that it was really neat to see the wild ponies.  The girls were so glad to get just a little beach time.  There are only about 4000 people who live on the island but once a year, they have the Pony Penning there which is a big deal.  It's at the end of July.  We were there about a week before that took place.  The local people told us that about 50,000 people come to the island each year to see the Pony Penning.  Local firemen and other guys ride around on Assateague Island (just across from Chincoteague and herd up all of the wild horses.  They put them in a corral for a few days and then they have them swim across the channel.  After they do this, they auction off the wild ponies that have been born.  However, each year, several of the ponies that are auctioned off are donated back to the wild so that they can maintain a wild herd of horses on the island.

The weather was wonderful while we were there!  It was not really that warm at all.  We were even a little chilly.  Matt, Paula and the girls took a boat tour one morning around the island but ironically enough, we couldn't see the wild ponies very well while we were in the tour.  We actually got some nice views of them just driving around Assateague Island.  We also enjoyed visiting the lighthouse with Aunt Leia.  Our legs were definitely sore for a couple of days after walking up all of the stairs in the lighthouse!  We enjoyed seeing some new things and spending time with family.