Assateague Island National Seashore Campground 🐎

May 10-14, 2021

While visiting with my niece Cari, we talked about me always wanting to visit Assateague Island National Seashore Park to see the wild ponies. Misty of Chincoteague Bay was a favorite childhood book of mine and it’s based on these wild ponies. I’d read that dogs aren’t allowed on the island, but then someone in a FB group I belong to posted a photo of her dogs on the beach! It turns out that the Virginia side of the island forbids dogs, but the Maryland side allows them! Thank you, Maryland!
Cari and I went online and we were able to secure one night at the campground! I was ecstatic! Sadly, I didn’t see any ponies that night. The next morning, I drove around before checking out and I saw several ponies! It was amazing and a childhood dream had come true for me. When I was checking out, I asked about any campsite openings, due to a cancellation. There was one available! As it turned out, I was able to stay for 4 nights, on a day to day basis. I just had to keep moving to a different spot. No problem!

Watching these beautiful ponies wander free is magical. There are strict regulations in place to protect them, but sometimes keeping the appropriate distance is challenging. One afternoon, Maddie and I were “trapped” in the car because we were surrounded by ponies for a long time. Eventually, they wandered off, all except for one very pregnant mare. She chose to lay down and enjoy the sand and warm sun in my campsite. A woman walked by and told me this pony is Susi Sole, pronounced soleil, for sunshine. Susi visited my area every day and night. I was able to capture the photo of her that looks like a painting, after sunset. I posted it on the Assateague Island Alliance FB page and everybody loved it. Susi stopped by early the morning I was leaving the park. I was very sad to leave, but I knew that there would be lots of her baby’s photos posted on FB. As it turned out, she had her adorable foal, a colt, 11 hours after I last saw her! Her baby is very handsome and as a friend said, I’m feeling like a grandmare! 😉

I ate well while staying in the area. I have lots of food with me, but I can never resist a good, old-fashioned diner. The Decatur Diner was only a few miles away and I enjoyed two fabulous meals there. Actually, it was four meals because the portions were enormous! I reheated the leftovers on my campfire each night. I’m trying to eat a meal in each location that we visit that’s a traditional favorite for the area. In Maryland, of course it was crabmeat. Diner food is notoriously loaded with calories, fat, cholesterol, etc. and yes, I finished every bite. 🤷‍♀️ I had the same wonderful waitress each day (Madeline aka Maddie!) and she was a Kindred Spirit. She’s from Colorado, but van/tent camped all across the country before moving to Maryland. She was going to be camping at Assateague that weekend, so she was happy to learn that the ponies were waiting for her!

Leaving Assateague Island was bittersweet. I had fulfilled a childhood dream, enjoyed spectacular weather and ate really delicious food. I hated to leave, but I joined a few FB groups about the ponies, so I’m following them through posts and photos. I’m definitely going back there someday. If you love horses and want a unique experience, book it now! 🐎💝🐎

Next stop: Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Hugs from South Carolina! 🤗

Wendy & Maddie 💕