Assateague

Assateague is quite simply home to one of my favorite beaches in Maryland’s eastern shore. It is an island facing the Atlantic and is only four hours away from Washington, DC. The beach here on Assateague is quiet and the water is cool. The shifting sand dunes which surround the beach provide a serene backdrop as you lay under the sun’s rays.The beach is not crowded on Assateague and this is primarily because of two correlating reasons:

1. It is on a state park and also managed by the National Park Service

2. No hotels anywhere near the beach. What this means is that people come here for one thing: Beach time

Although, if you feel like going for a walk, venture south along the beach towards Chincoteague, Virginia. You may be lucky enough to see the famous wild ponies of Assateague Island running along the water’s edge. Chances are though, you will not have to venture too far to see at least one of the wild ponies. They can generally be seen on the way to the beach or near the beach access. Remember to focus on having a good time by the water and keep a safe distance from the ponies, they are wild!

There is parking at the entrance of the park and fees to access the beach vary depending on whether you are a Maryland resident, if you are biking or on foot etc. For more information on fees click here. There is also the option of camping on the island, for this there are separate rules and fees which you can read about here. If you are looking at visiting Assateague but not staying there, you can always stay in Ocean City, MD.

By Sebastien Tobler Of CollidingContinents.com