A 10-Year-Old’s 10 Favorite Things to See and Do at Chincoteague Island
At 10 years old, Chincoteague Island is everything — ponies, ocean waves, and adventure around every corner. Here’s a list off all the best parts of the island through the eyes of a kid who’s seen it all and loved every second.
Arden at the carnival. Photo by DeAnn Long Sloan.
If you’ve been following along on Horse Nation at all over the past week or so, you know that we spent some time at Chincoteague Island for the 100th Annual Pony Swim. Having read about it as a child in Maguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague and other books, I was curious about it. But what actually inspired the trip was my horse-crazy 10-year-old, Arden.
In my household, we do a trip for our children’s 10th birthdays. The kids get to pick where they can go and what they can do — within reason. (Initially, Arden was hugely disappointed when she learned that Victoria Falls, Japan, and Hawaii weren’t options. 🙄) Her siblings chose more traditional theme parks — Disneyland and Legoland. When Arden announced that she wanted to see the Pony Swim, I thought, “Cool. Me too!” So, off we went.
When you’re 10 years old, Chincoteague Island can seem like quite the magical place. Between the wild ponies, the ocean, and the small-town feel, it’s a place where you never want the day to end. In addition to the Pony Swim, we tried to experience a fair amount of what the island had to offer. At the end of the trip, when we were finishing our breakfast at AJ’s on the Creek, I asked Arden to tell me what her favorite parts of the island were.
Here is a list of the 10 absolute best things to do and see at Chincoteague Island … according to a 10-year-old:
1. Ponies
The ponies are the number one reason I love Chincoteague. They’re so beautiful — it’s like they stepped out of a storybook. Every time I saw one, I wanted to take a million pictures — and take one home with me.
Some of the ponies on Assateague Island. Yes, we pulled over to see them and get pictures.
Surfer’s Riptide at the Pony Penning grounds. He’s a crowd favorite. Can you blame them? That forelock is 🔥.
2. Pony Swim
The pony swim is epic. The Saltwater Cowboys guide the ponies across the water from Assateague to Chincoteague, and the whole town and all the visitors show up to watch. It’s exciting, splashy, and you get to see the ponies up close while they rest before parading to the fairgrounds.
Maybe not the best view, but you get the idea. It was awesome to see in person.
3. Pony Auction (Do you notice a theme here? This girl is horse-crazy.)
The auction was one of my favorite parts. This is where foals find new homes, and it’s super cool to see who’s bidding. One foal that was going home went for $50,000 and one of the buyback ponies went for $100,000! I even got to bid on one. I want to go back when I actually get to take home a pony.
4. The Views
Everywhere you look, there’s something pretty. You can see the marshes glowing at sunset, ponies grazing in the distance, and the waves crashing on the beach.
View from outside our AirBnB.
View of the bridge leading TO our AirBnB.
Looking out at the bay from our table at The Pearl. We even saw dolphins.
5. The Carnival
The carnival during Pony Penning Week is amazing — rides, games, and everyone is so friendly. I enjoyed the Scrambler and winning stuffed animals in the games, which were run by local organizations.
On the Scrambler.
Heading up to the Fun Slide.
6. The Beach
The beach at Assateague is beautiful, and the waves are perfect for boogie boarding. Nothing beats that salty ocean smell, and I love doing gymnastics on the sand.
Looking out into the Atlantic.
Just a handstand on a boogie board. NBD.
7. The Junior Ranger Program
At the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, you can do activities to become a Junior Ranger. It’s fun to learn about the animals and the environment, and at the end, you get a badge! I even got my National Park passport book and want to visit as many National Parks as possible.
Taking the Junior Ranger pledge.
The first stamp in her National Park Passport Book.
8. The Water Park
Maui Jack’s Waterpark was so much fun and was a great break from the beach and walking around. The waterpark itself isn’t huge, but was perfect for hanging out and cooling off. The slides are fun and the lazy river is relaxing.
9. The Food
My favorites were Chinkotiki and AJ’s on the Creek. Chinkotiki has games like ping pong and cornhole, plus there was live music. It was relaxed and the food came out quickly. We finished the trip with breakfast at AJ’s on the Creek, and my waffle and bacon were AMAZING. Plus the waitress was super nice.
Waiting for dinner at The Pearl.
Steamed shrimp from Chinkotiki.
10. The Stores
The shops on Chincoteague are fun to explore. I like finding cool T-shirts, souvenirs, and stuffed ponies. It’s impossible to leave without buying something.
Just some of the swag we came home with.
Arden sitting outside The Brant.
Chincoteague Island isn’t just a vacation spot — it’s an adventure. From ponies to beach days to the carnival food, it’s my one of my favorite places to visit. I am already trying to convince my mom to go back next year.
All photos by author.
