Gone Hikin': Road Scholar: Misty of Chincoteague: An Island Adventure With Your Grandchild

Road Scholar: Misty of Chincoteague: An Island Adventure With Your Grandchild

DAY 1 - August 9, 2026

With plenty of time to get to Chincoteague Island, we stopped at John Heinz Wildlife Refuge in Philadelphia for a little hike. Unfortunately it turned out to not be much of a hike. The ponds were drained and full of vegetation, trails were closed because of construction and there was no wildlife to be seen. This is what it looked like in 2013.

This should all be water but it's not.

Darby Creek

On to the Odessa Diner in Delaware for brunch.

A little break from driving at a rest stop in Maryland.

These geese did not come up in the Merlin app but apparently they are Chinese geese.

Arriving in Virginia.

Our room at Spark by Hilton Chincoteague Island.

Ellie meeting Amelia in the pool and they would be besties all week.

DAY 2 - August 10, 2026

Breakfast at the hotel.

Then to a boardwalk over the marsh right next to the hotel and museum.

Photo by Ellie

Assateague Island Lighthouse - we would be climbing the 175 steps up to the top on the last day.

You can walk all the way over to Assateague Island where there are hiking trails but with 25 different kinds of vicious mosquitoes hiking was not an option on this trip.

On to the bus for a tour of Chincoteague Island ...

... and a game of Island Bingo ...

.. with prizes!

Passing by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company that raises funds to care for the wild ponies on Assateague Island

Putting a penny on Captain Chandler's grave.

The bus dropped us off at McDonald's across the street from the hotel where there are ponies next door.

After lunch a tour of the Museum of Chincoteague Island then arts and crafts.

The museum houses Captain Chandler's biscuit that he was holding when he was struck by lightning.

Then back on the bus for a tour of the Bateman Center, the visitor center on Assateague Island, where we learned about the plants and animals of the island from a ranger. But not the ranger pictured.

In the evening, off to the beach.

Lots and lots of dolphins swam by.

Sanderlings

Ruddy Turnstones

DAY 3 - August 11, 2026

Right after breakfast a tooth fell out. The entire hotel staff was running around trying to find something to secure it in for transport home for the Tooth Fairy.

Then it was on the bus to the Chincoteague Pony Centre where Ellie made another new friend, Badger, the 18-week-old Great Pyrenees.

It was fun and games.

The off to feed the horses ...

... goats and donkey.

We attended a private showing of the movie "Misty" at the Island Theater the it was off to Beebe Ranch.

Back on the bus to our hotel for dinner on our own.

In the evening, another trip to the beach.

More dolphins swimming by!

This seagull had a look that clearly said something big was about to go down. And did it ever! We had picked up subs for dinner on the beach and Ellie's unopened bag of potato chips was right in front of me on my towel. That is until Grand Theft Potato Chip happened. By the time another beachgoer had confiscated the bag of chips it was ripped open and no longer fit for human consumption. Naughty bird.