The drive into Chincoteague (pop. 4,317; SCHINK-a-teeg), a low-key fishing village, takes you across miles of glowing gold and blue marshlands through a gauntlet of quirky billboards advertising local motels, restaurants, and sportfishing charters. This mix of natural beauty and tacky tourism aptly reflects the character of the town, which is totally dependent upon summertime visitors but seems to wish that we’d all just leave and let the locals go fishing.
A small bridge along Hwy-175, which runs 10 miles east from US-17, drops you at the heart of town, where casual seafood restaurants like the Landmark Crab House (757/336-5552) line the small wharves that stretch along the bay. For oysters, go to Capt. Fish’s (757/336-5528) at 3865 Main Street and sample them for around $8 a dozen. For breakfast, head south of town to the end of Ridge Road, where the popular Island Family (757/336-1198) serves up hearty meals across from the “pony swim” landing.
Among the many places to stay are several nice B&Bs and a handful of standard motels like the friendly and central Birchwood (757/336-6133) at 3650 N. Main Street.
For more-complete listings and other information, contact the Chincoteague visitors center (757/336-6161), located at 6733 Maddox Boulevard.
