Chincoteague Island to Pocomoke City Day Trip
Directions: To begin your Chincoteague Island to Pocomoke day trip, take VA-175 west 10.5 miles to US-13, and head north 8 miles to market Street/US Bus Route 13 for 1.3 miles into downtown Pocomoke.
Pocomoke City History and Attractions:
The Pocomoke River has been the site of iron smelting brick making, and shipbuilding. It served as a 18th and 19th century lumber and tobacco shipping channel. Its surrounding Great Cypress Swamp hid both escaping slaves and Civil War deserters.
Today the Pocomoke River and Sound are recognized as one of the Chesapeake Bay's richest sources of shellfish, and the River has now received protected status as a Maryland Scenic and Wild River, so not only those who live along its banks, but those who visit can enjoy its unspoiled beauty for generations to come. Pocomoke City stands on the banks of the River, directly south of the Pocomoke River State Park.
Your Chincoteague Island to Pocomoke day trip should begin with a stop at the Delmarva Discovery Center on Market Street. Located right on the River, the Center will introduce you to not only the river's ecological systems, but the history of human interaction with the River, dating back to the local Native Americans.
You'll find yourself immersed in the sounds, smells, and filtered light of the river forest just like the area settlers you can hear working in the distance! Your journey will take you from the Great Cedar Swamp to a Chesapeake Bay steamer, the Pocomoke shipbuilding yards and a fishing exhibit, before ending with a look at how industry has affected the River.
Your visit to the Center may inspire you to experience the River on your own. Rent a canoe or kayak at Snow Hill, bring along your fishing gear and angle for bass, gar, or pickerel, and watch for bald eagles or egrets soaring overhead. If boating's not on the schedule for your Chincoteague Island to Pocomoke day trip, you can still fish for free at the Pocomoke City municipal pier. No license required!
While you're in town, pay a visit to the Sturgis One-Room School House, which served the African-American children of Pocomoke for from 1900 to 1937. And stop in at the Costen House, the home of Pocomoke City's first mayor (and Civil War blockade runner).
If golf's your game, why not try nine holes at Pocomoke's Winter's Quarters public course, named because its riverside location once sheltered the local Pocomoke Indian tribe in the coldest part of the year. Or visit the Shad's Landing Nature Center in Pocomoke River State park for lessons in the area's wildlife and ecology. The State park also has several great hiking and biking trails, and some fantastic camping facilities.
Extend your trip to Pocomoke by staying at Littleton's Bed and Breakfast, where you'll be treated to garden-fresh flowers and great Southern hospitality in a National Historic Registry Home. Finish off your Chincoteague Island to Pocomoke day trip by stopping in at Ray's Shanty on Chincoteague Road in New Church on your way home, but make sure to get reservations if you'll be arriving after 5:30. They say they serve the best shrimp of the Eastern Shore, and their packed dining room proves it!