Chincoteague Island to Wachapreague Day Trip
Directions:
Leaving Chincoteague Island, follow VA-175 south to Atlantic Avenue, then go west 2.7 miles to VA-695. Continue west 2.1 miles to US-13. Head south for 23 miles to Adams Crossing Road. Continue on Adams Crossing Road to Wachapreague Road for 4 miles. Normal driving time is about one hour.
Chincoteague to Wachapreague Day Trip
If you find the barrier island life on Chincoteague Island irresistible, why not try a day trip to the tiny town of Wachapreague? Just over an hour away, the town is located one the vast Wachapreague marsh, a highlight of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail.
Plan your Chincoteague Island to Wachapreague day trip for the spring or fall. Those are the times of year when huge flocks of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds rest in the Wachapreague marshes while traveling along the Great Atlantic Flyway.
In the summer, purple martins, oyster catchers, terns, and gulls arrive. Explore the wetlands from a closer vantage pointing a rented kayak or canoe, or go beachcombing on Parramore and Cedar barrier islands about 5 miles east of Wachapreague. The unique character of the wetland habitat has earned it designation as a United Nations Biosphere Reserve.
The "Little City by the Sea's" fewer than 300 year-round residents are reminded of their good fortune every time they gaze on the Wachapreague waterfront, where the Wachapreague Channel meanders eastward through the marshlands to the open Atlantic. The fishing off Wachapreague once earned it the nickname "The Flounder Capital of the World."
Commercial and recreational fishers still flock to Wachapreague in search of offshore fish like tuna and marlin. You can spend your day in Wachapreague fishing by booking a charter or by renting a skiff at Captain Zed's on the Marina.
The town's scenery and hunting have also made Wachapreague a prime destination for vacationers. While the Wachapreague Hotel. offers Wachapreague's only overnight accommodations, the town is only twenty minutes from Onancock and several delightful bed and breakfasts.
Any Chincoteague Island to Wachapreague day trip should include a meal at the Island House, where you can pair some of the best seafood available anywhere with wines from the Bloxom, Holly Grove, or Chatham Wineries, all of which are within easy driving distance. The Federal-style home at Chatham Vineyards was begun in 1818, and the land itself has been under continuous cultivation since the mid-1600s.
The Island House features the brilliantly-hued and energetic paintings of local artist Guy Wilkins. Noted decoy artist Alex Russell has a shop on Main Street. Finish your Chincoteague Island to Wachapreague day trip with a visit to 17 Brooklyn Avenue, where you can view the farmhouse which once stood on the farm which is now Wachapreague.