Father to Son

Father to Son

“How I rediscovered the fine art of crabbing on Chincoteague Island and had a bonding experience with my 9yr. old son”

It all started a few days before this past summer's Chincoteague Blueberry Festival. While distributing some posters to one of the local campgrounds, I ran in to one of the fine exhibitors who attend the show. We chatted for a while and she mentioned that she was trying to pack the week with fun and unique activities for her kids. By the way, this exhibitor hails from Georgia and uses the Blueberry Festival as a sort of working vacation.

Towards the end of our conversation she bluntly asked me if I knew anything about crabbing. Now, it’s been quite a few years since I had done any crabbing, but I sure like to eat crabs and I did my best to recollect for her the basics of Crabbing 101. This set the process in motion in my own mind.

The next week,(Pony Swim Week) while my family and I were in relaxation mode and enjoying our beautiful waterfront vacation home that we had rented with some friends, my son said, “Hey Daddy, why don’t we try to catch some crabs?”

I said “ let’s do it” and the next day we waltzed on down to Captain Steve’s Bait and Tackle Shop right on Maddox Blvd. We were helped by a guy named Jimmy and he was absolutely terrific. He helped us get the right equipment i.e. crab lines, chicken necks for bait, weights, buckets etc. He also convinced us to get a wire net so that the crabs wouldn’t get tangled in the web. Jimmy also steered us to some great crabbing locations like Memorial Park and the little marsh stretch near the bridge to Assateague Island.

Crabbing is actually very easy to do and can be enjoyed by both young and old alike. It’s really fun too!

Well, needless to say, we had a wonderful time crabbing and enjoying a new experience together. Our little crabbing adventure has been the subject of many laugh filled conversations and “inside jokes” ever since. Like many other shared events on a Chincoteague Vacation, it will be formed into a life long memory. Oh, and yeah we did actually catch some crabs too.

So, when visiting Chincoteague remember that one of the most inexpensive forms of recreation is crabbing and it can reap big rewards…like dinner for instance. The entire family will want to get involved and who knows, maybe you’ll create an unforgettable Chincoteague Island memory like I did.

Until the next time…

Chincoteague Island Vacations - Do More, Spend Less

Chincoteague Island Vacations - Do More, Spend Less

Are you looking for ways to maximize your Chincoteague Island vacation fun while minimizing your expenses? Here are a few suggestions on how to stretch those vacation dollars as far as you can.

1) Go fly a kite. The Atlantic wind currents of the shores of Assateague Island were made to be mastered, and if you have the skill, master them you will with a double-or-more stringed sport kite from Chincoteague’s Kite Koop on Maddox Boulevard.

If you’re not up to handling an aircraft which can reach speeds of 60mph, the Kite Koop also has plenty of single line kites, including box and butterfly models in dazzling styles and colors.

No wind? The beach is still the beach, and swimming, sunbathing, or beachcombing will fill the time until the breezes return.

2) Bring your bikes and hiking shoes. The flat landscapes of Chincoteague and Assateague are made for hiking and biking, and there’s no admission fee for accessing the Assateague National Seashore by either foot or bike. You can also rent bikes (helmets are complementary) from several shops on Maddox Boulevard.

Within the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague you’ll find four hiking/biking trails ranging from 1 to 3.2 miles. Exploring them will provide opportunities to spot some of the Island’s more than 300 bird species.

If the kids are along, stop in at the Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center before hitting the trails, and ask about the Jr. Birder Booklets. Kids who complete the booklets during their visit are awarded Jr. Birder patches.

3) By planning your Chincoteague Island vacation far enough in advance, you can take advantage of one of the fee-free summer weekends during which there is no fee for bringing your vehicle to the Assateague National Seashore.

Also check before planning your trip to see if any Ranger-guided kids programs are available during your stay. These daily programs offer visiting kids a variety of close-up encounters with the natural world of Assateague. Some programs require advance reservations, but only one of them, “Kayak in the Cove,” requires a $10 fee.

As tourist destinations go, Chincoteague is and always has been a bargain. With a little effort and creativity, you can find many activities for little money. For example, the 22nd Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival still has one full day left to go. Kids under 12 are admitted for just $1.00. Pick up a coupon in the Chincoteague Beacon, the island’s free newspaper and adults pay only $4.00 for an incredible amount of entertainment.

Discovering Chincoteague Island on a budget can be fun and won’t break the family budget. Enjoy!

.

Live from the 22nd Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival

Live from 22nd Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival

Greetings from Chincoteague Island !The Chincoteague Insider has stolen away from the Fine Madness of the 22nd Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival to give you a live report of this wonderful event. It’s amazing what you can do with a laptop and a wireless card these days.

The crowd came early and has remained through most of the afternoon. Just about everybody was enjoying some form of blueberry confection from Homemade Blueberry Ice Cream to Old-Fashioned Blueberry Shortcake, Blueberry Pie, even Blueberry fried dough, and of course Fresh Blueberries. I never cease to be amazed at the versatility of nature’s healthiest and most tasty of fruits.

As for the main food offerings from Pepper Jack Grille; well let’s just say, forget your preconception of “festival food”, these folks prepared a range of breakfast and lunch plates that pleased the eye and made the mouth water…simply delicious!

The music never stopped. From the Irish and Celtic influenced music of the Celtic Islanders to the amazing Piped Piper, a one man band extraordinaire along with the Gospel tinged bluegrass of Mountain Faith and capped off with the youthful enthusiasm of the acoustic duo Tyler Ringer, visitors to the festival danced, clapped and applauded with great vigor.

And let’s not forget the fantastic assortment of Fine Artists and Crafters who converged on the beautiful Chincoteague Center from 13 states. The Chincoteague Blueberry Festival remains the largest Fine Arts and Crafts Show on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and is truly a Shoppers dream come true.

There is plenty of fun stuff for kids as well from Pony Rides to Bungee Jumping.

The Blueberry Festival runs through Sunday July 26th from 9:00am – 4:30 pm and is a great way for the family to enjoy an event that has something for everybody.

For more information you can always visit the website at www.ChincoteagueBlueberryFestival.com

I hope to see you at the festival.
Until later,
Insider – out!

Chincoteague Watersports - Pt.2 - Make a Splash!

Chincoteague Watersports - Pt.2 – Make a Splash!

Let’s call it like it is, today is a hot, sticky, summer day here on Chincoteague Island. The temperature and humidity stand in sharp contrast to the unseasonably cool and breezy days we have experienced for much of the season. So now is the time to get wet! That’s right it’s time to enjoy Chincoteague from an aquatic perspective and you have numerous choices.

Swimming, of course, is the number one choice for Chincoteague vacationers, and the bath house close to the Toms Cove Visitor's Center provides toilet facilities, changing booths, showers to rinse off the sand, and even fresh drinking water if you swallow too much of the salty Atlantic!

Once you move out of range of the lifeguards, you can try your hand at surf fishing (the National Park Rangers at Toms Cove offer instructions in the art.) If the surf is up, trade in your rod and reel for a surfboard or bodyboard, which you'll be able to rent from any one of a number of Chincoteague water sports equipment providers. They are available in sizes for every surfer!

The summer sun shines bright on the shores of Assateague and Chincoteague, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to work on your tan. When that gets old, why not rent a jet ski to explore Chincoteague's eastern shore or try your luck shell-seeking along Little Beach at Toms Cove?

Does jet skiing seem a bit too intrusive in such a pristine setting? Two of the most popular Chincoteague watersports are kayaking and canoeing. Kayak rentals are available right next to the surfboard rentals at Oyster Bay Outfitters in Chincoteague.

You can also book a guided kayak tour and get a close-up look not only at the Chincoteague Ponies, but at the Assateague Lighthouse and the dozens of waterfowl species which call the island's waterways home. If you're not experienced at paddling, relax. Instructions are included.

The most unforgettable Chincoteague watersports experience you could ask for (and one of the most unforgettable of your life), however, happens neither in nor on the water, but above it. Book a parasailing adventure, and see what millions of birds see each year from 400 to 800 feet above the Bay as they migrate down the Atlantic Flyway to nest at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

On Chincoteague, you're never far from the water, and that means you're never far from fun!

Now, go on out and make a splash!

Have a fabulous day!

Chincoteague Watersports - Wet Fun for Everyone Pt.1

Chincoteague Watersports-Wet Fun for Everyone Pt.1

When you visit Chincoteague Island off Virginia's Eastern Shore, you'll be getting double the fun for your vacation dollar. Chincoteague Island, made famous in 1947 with the publication of Marguerite Henry's Misty of Chincoteague, has been attracting vacationers to its annual Pony Swim and Penning since 1925.

But there'd be no Pony Swim and Penning, and no ponies either, were it not for Chincoteague's much larger neighbor to the east, Assateague Island. The thirty-seven mile length of Assateague, is divided by the Virginia/Maryland State Line, and has been preserved as the Assateague National Seashore, and is the year-around home of the Chincoteague ponies.

Both the Atlantic and Chincoteague Bay sides of Assateague offer the sort of beautiful beaches which have earned Assateague a place among Condé Nast's Top Twenty US Beaches in 2006. The possibilities for fun in, on, along, and even over the water in such a place, as you might imagine, are nearly limitless!

Vacationing in Chincoteague during the summer means that the beach at Tom's Cove, just across the bridge on the western side of Assateague, will be watched by lifeguards so that you and your little ones can relax and let your surroundings work their magic. With miles of white sand backed by unspoiled sand dunes, you'll have your choice of Chincoteague watersports.

The Chincoteague Insider will dive into specific Chincoteague Island water sports in the next post. In the meantime, if you are visiting Chincoteague, don’t try to stat dry…get wet!


Just a reminder to get your pre orders in for fresh blueberries and the Ultimate Blueberry Pies. The Chincoteague Blueberry Festival is just two short weeks away. These mouth-watering delicacies always sell out, so pre-order and be guaranteed these culinary treasures. For more information, please visit www.ChincoteagueBlueberryFestival.com

Have a berry nice evening !

Insider…out!

Assateague Lighthouse Makeover

Assateague Lighthouse Makeover

With the possible exception of the image of the Chincoteague Pony, there is no greater symbol of the twin islands, then that of the lighthouse located at the Wildlife Refuge on Assateague. No doubt made of the same sturdy stuff that has characterized the island’s native’s throughout the centuries, the lighthouse has endured many changes. Just for a bit of perspective here, the lighthouse was once located on the coast, but due to the shifting topography, now is farther inland.
Well, the Assateague Island Lighthouse is having a few progressive cosmetic procedures that will eventually include a top to bottom paint job and a few structural improvements. Those construction projects have been temporarily halted in order to yield to the visitors during tourist season. The Lighthouse reopened to the public on July 4th. The Insider highly recommends taking that climb to the top and a walk on the deck which looms 130ft. above the ground, but offers a spectacular view. Call for times of operation at 757-336-3696.

It’s amazing just how many authors and poets either reside or spend considerable time in Chincoteague or the Shore in general. For example, Poet Irene Rouse will be making an appearance complete with a reading from her new book” Petty Street” at Sundial Books on July 12 from 2:00 – 6:00pm. “Petty Street” is an autobiographical series that deals with the poet’s life during the Great Depression. To learn more about this event, call 757-336-5825.

By the way, Jane Richstein, co-owner of Sundial Books is writing the Local Books Blog on www.ChincoteagueOutlook.com , it’s definitely worthy of your time, so check it out!

Chincoteague is having a remarkably cool summer, with temperatures dipping into the 50’s at night. This in stark contrast to the hot,humid norm. Great sleeping weather!

There’s a whole lot more going on this weekend, notably the 2nd Saturday Art Stroll. The Chincoteague Insider will delve into that a bit in the next post.
Have a great evening!
‘til later…



.

Chincoteague Sport Fishing - Pt.2

Chincoteague Sport Fishing Unreeled – Pt.2.

As cooler spring conditions yield to the warmer days of early June, schools of enormous bluefish introduce the Chincoteague sport fishing offshore season, followed by several species of sharks. While mako sharks are in highest demand, blue, tiger, thresher, bull, and even hammerhead sharks frequent the deep waters around Chincoteague.

Bluefin and yellow tuna also arrive in June, but prefer cooler water and spend most of their time below 20 fathoms, so are caught by trolling. The best game fish arrive with July and the height of Chincoteague's tourist season. Wahoo, which can swim at up to 50 mph; mahi mahi (dolphin fish), which are terrific eating; and marlin now come to join the fray.

White marlin, which normally run between 40 and 60 pounds, blue marlin, which can weigh as much as half a ton, and swordfish converge on the underwater canyons between 40 and 70 miles off Chincoteague Harbor. These canyons are also excellent lobster hunting rounds. Mahi mahi flock to the orange buoys attached to the lobster traps, and marlin flock to the mahi mahi!

One word of caution: it's a nearly universal (and expected) practice of Chincoteague sport fishing to release both blue and white marlin.

The Chincoteague sport fishing trip of a lifetime would be a nighttime excursion in search of the greatest of all game fish, the swordfish. Swordfish have the stamina to fight a line for hours, and commonly grow to weigh several hundred pounds. That's several hundred pounds of truly delicious fish!

During daylight, however, swordfish feed in the deepest waters, approaching the surface only after dark. On overnight swordfish runs, Chincoteague sport fishers cover their bases by setting lines with glow sticks attached to their leaders at several depths. Mackerel and squid are popular baits.

As autumn sets in, Chincoteague's second run of flounder arrive, along with more tautog and sea bass. By late October, it's time for the red drum and striped bass, and the end of the offshore Chincoteague sport fishing season.

The striped bass, however, are kind enough to stick around all winter. Thanks to them, Chincoteague sport fishing is available all year long!

That’s right! If you are a fisherman of any level or stripe, Chincoteague Island has unlimited, year-round opportunities to enjoy this rewarding pastime. Chincoteague is truly a sport fishing paradise!

Chincoteague Sport Fishing Unreeled - Pt.1

Chincoteague Sport Fishing Unreeled – Pt.1

In addition to being Virginia's only resort island, and located right next door to the undeveloped beauty of the Assateague Island National Seashore, Chincoteague Island has long been known as one of the best sport fishing venues on the entire Atlantic Coast!

If you're a newcomer to Chincoteague sport fishing, the first thing you'll notice on arriving on the island is its many marinas and charter boats lined up Chincoteague Bay. The demand for spots on Chincoteague sport fishing charters is always high, because regardless of the season, there are great game fish just waiting to test the skills of their would-be conquerors.

Chincoteague Harbor and Ocean City MD are the only two major sport fishing ports for the entire Delmarva Peninsula. Chincoteague fishing charter boats are available for all kinds of sport fishing: inshore, offshore, and fly fishing.

Spring on the mid-Atlantic coast can be a windy affair, but on calm days, it’s the season to angle for sea bass and tautog around the shipwrecks off Chincoteague's coast. Spring is also when the first run of legendary Chincoteague flounder arrives and inshore fishing begins.

The flounder settle along Chincoteague's inlets and creeks, beginning in late March. Their numbers peak during the end of April and beginning of May. Spring also brings gray trout, bluefish, kingfish, rockfish, bluefish, black drum, and red drum to Chincoteague's inshore waters.

Sport fishing in the waters off of Chincoteague Island is a dream come true for many visitors to the island. There are numerous opportunities for all levels of experience and many fishing boat excursions with seasoned Captain’s to guide you . Why not give Chincoteague sport fishing a try!

More Chincoteague fishing information in the next Chincoteague Insider posting.

Until then…

Chincoteague July 4th Weekend 2009

Chincoteague July 4th Weekend 2009

Let Freedom Ring! So, goes the song and the meaning behind the celebration known as Independence Day. I hope you are having a wonderful holiday!

With the opening of the 84th Fireman’s Carnival and the Forth of July fireworks, some major milestones in the Chincoteague summer itinerary have been passed. Now I don’t know if there is such a thing as perfect weather for these types of events and I know folks have differing views on these matters, but for me these low humidity days and cool nights suit me just fine. That was at least until today when the rain showers rolled in putting the kibosh on matters concerning the beach.

So, I say just roll with it! What a perfect opportunity to visit some of those Main Street Merchants that have been on your list or go exploring down some of the backstreets and discover one of those off-the- beaten - track Chincoteague Art Emporiums and gift shops. Have a brew at the Chincoteague Inn on the waterfront or just grab an ice cream and relax. It’s “all good” as the hipsters say. Later, you can take in a movie. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is playing at the Island Roxy for parents with kids and Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp is the late feature.

If you are reckless enough to pick up and read a newspaper, you will discover endless hand-wringing about why Sara Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska, or that Marion Barry got arrested again, this time for stalking to add to his list of notable public service achievements. You might learn about yet another drug that was discovered in the “King of Pops” deadly regimen…but why torture yourself? Put that paper down. Right Now! Please…

On the subject of newspapers, I would like to point out and give a thumbs-up to Greg Merritt’s commentary in his Island Perspective on page 2 of this week’s Chincoteague Beacon.
Greg nailed this one! It was entitled “Give our rescue personnel their space, respect.”
Good work Greg! I urge all to grab a copy of the Beacon and read that piece.

Just a reminder about the Chincoteague Blueberry Festival which will be rolling into town on July 24th, 25th & 26th, 2009 at the beautiful Chincoteague Center. This is the 22nd Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival and it has expanded it’s musical, culinary and entertainment offerings, while retaining it’s low family friendly admission price.

To learn more about the Blueberry Festival, you can go to www.ChincoteagueBlueberryFestival.com

Don’t forget to Preorder your fresh blueberries and Ultimate Blueberry Pies. These festival favorites always sell out. Don’t be disappointed…preorder both and be happy!

Makes me hungry just thinking about those pies!

‘til later…

Chincoteague Camping Continued

Chincoteague Camping Continued

In the last Chincoteague Insider post we discussed a bit of the background to the Chincoteague Island camping experience. Today we will take a brief look at some of the campgrounds on Chincoteague.

At Toms Cove Campground, for instance, three fishing piers and a marina with a private boat ramp give the perfect excuse for a fishing-only camping vacation. The non-fishing members of the family, however, can relax by the pool, entertain themselves with the jukebox and video games at the clubhouse, and shop at the campground store for souvenirs or any camping essentials they forgot!

The thirty-seven yellow pine-covered acres of the Pine Grove Campground are ideal for a woodland Chincoteague camping adventure. Six ponds providing refuge for a wide range of ducks, swans, and other waterfowl species will captivate wildlife enthusiasts. If you’d like to boil up a traditional Eastern Shore dinner, the town crabbing dock is just a short stroll away. You'll also be camping in within a stone's throw of Assateague Island and the Chincoteague ponies.

Even closer to Assateague is the Maddox Family Campground, with all the amenities to make you feel right at home during your Chincoteague camping vacation. The playground and swimming pool will keep the kids happy in between family outings. Hot showers and a laundry room will handle sand and dirt accumulated from outdoor fun, and the campground store as everything from groceries and RV supplies to gifts for the folks back home.

Peak Chincoteague camping season extends from June until Labor Day, and the peak of the peak occurs during Pony Penning week at the end of July. If you're planning a camping vacation during Pony Penning week, you'd be well-advised to reserve your campsite a full year in advance. During the summer, Chincoteague's campgrounds are consistently between 70 and 80% full, so deciding to go camping to get away from it all might be best left to the spring or autumn.

If you'd really like to get away from it all, backcountry camping is available on the Maryland side of Assateague Island. Count on backpacking or canoeing your gear anywhere from 2 1/2 to 13 miles to reach one of the backcountry sites, and be sure to bring an adequate amount of fresh water with you because none will be available at your campsite.

Water, woods, wildlife, and world-class seafood-- they're all waiting when you decide to go Chincoteague camping!

Chincoteague Camping - a Natural Choice

Chincoteague Camping - a Natural Choice

Getting back to nature on Chincoteague Island is as simple as booking a stay at one of the island’s campgrounds, packing up the RV, camper, or tent, and making sure to include plenty of mosquito repellent and sunscreen along with the swimsuits and marshmallow toasting sticks!

Now, don’t get me wrong modern camping on Chincoteague Island looks quite a bit different than it did in 1925 when the first Chincoteague Pony Swim took place. It even has progressed considerably beyond the camping rigors that were common when Marguerite Henri’s classic children’s book “Misty of Chincoteague” launched Chincoteague into world famous status. Modern camping on Chincoteague Island brings with it most of the comforts of home, but just a little bit closer to nature Chincoteague style.

There are many families for whom the tradition of Chincoteague camping goes back generations, simply because of the multi-generational attractions of this unspoiled island with its small-town charm. One of the common island sights during peak camping season is that of families of bike-mounted campers traveling in single file along the island’s roads, just like the families of ducks paddling along the island waterways they pass.

When they aren’t biking (and the flat terrain of Chincoteague is perfect for biking!) they can swim, fish, sail, kayak, surf, hike, hunt for crabs, oysters, or clams, comb the beach and the shops of Chincoteague for souvenirs, or simply enjoy the amenities of Chincoteague’s outstanding campgrounds.

With this bit of background on Chincoteague Camping we can get into some specific camping opportunities in the next Chincoteague Insider Post.

I look forward to it! Until later…

Pony Swim on Chincoteague- right around the corner

Pony Swim on Chincoteague Island- right around the corner

Most of the year, Chincoteague Island is a relatively quiet place. The majority of visitors to this resort island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia enjoy laid back activities such as boating, fishing, crabbing, enjoying the beautiful beach on Assateague Island and of course shopping at the various and sundry gift shops, bookstores, boutiques, art galleries and the like.

The last week of July brings out an entirely different side of this fascinating place. This is when Chincoteague pays tribute to the legacy of Misty the spotted gold and white pony that has become Chincoteague’s icon.

Misty is the star of the children’s literary masterpiece from the pen of Marguerite Henri. Ms. Henri’s classic masterpiece, written in 1947 changed the worlds perception of Chincoteague Island forever. The Chincoteague Pony Swim which initially and for more than a decade after it’s creation was pretty much a local happening. A highly anticipated celebration for Chincoteaguers’ and a small group of outsiders. All that changed after the release of Misty of Chincoteague.

To this day Ms. Henris’s book still manages to fly off the shelves of bookstores everywhere and entertain legions of eager young readers of every stripe.

Similarly, the Chincoteague Pony Swim still attracts up to 50,000 eager spectators annually. Every family should attend this amazing spectacle at least once. The experience is unforgettable and will forge a memory that every family will treasure forever.

The Chincoteague Insider is proud to announce a new feature at http://www.chincoteagueoutlook.com

Introducing the new Local Books Blog by Jane Richstein co-owner of Sundial Books and a good friend of The Chincoteague Insider. Read Ms. Richstein’s review of the seminal literary work, Misty of Chincoteague as it’s the subject of her Premier Blog entry. Be sure to read it at http://www.chincoteagueoutlook.com and while you’re there, read Jon Richstein’s Music Blog as well. Both will contribute weekly Blogs and we are thrilled to have them onboard.

When in Chincoteague, pay a visit to Jan and Jon at Sundial Books and get to know two hardworking and very knowledgable Chincoteague Main Street Merchants.

Until later...

Chincoteague Summer Rules

Chincoteague Summer Rules

Firemen, fireworks, and Assateague campfires are all at the heart of a Chincoteague Island summer. Although the first influx of summer tourists usually begins right after Memorial Day, the pace of summer activities continues to heat up right along with the temperature.

Peter Stone’s Model Horse Show arrives at the Chincoteague Center about a month before the Chincoteague ponies make the trip from Assateague Island during Pony Penning Days at the end of July. While the Stone model horses may not be alive, they are certainly striking and much lower maintenance than a Chincoteague pony foal!

Chincoteague, along with the rest of the former colony of Virginia, celebrates Independence Day with a 10:00 PM Fireworks Festival at the Chincoteague Carnival grounds. The Fireworks Festival spells the end of the first weekend Chincoteague Fireman's Carnival, held every weekend throughout July and culminating with a five-day run, including the Pony Auction, at the end of the month,

The Fireman's Carnival features all the amusement park rides, food, games, and live music you'd expect from a summertime fair. During the third weekend in July, it coincides with the annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival at the Chincoteague Center.

The Blueberry Festival is a tribute one of summer’s most beloved (and good-for-you) symbols in all its delicious forms. It’s also a gathering of talented artists and crafters from all over the Delmarva Peninsula, who come to participate in the Christmas in July Shopping Extravaganza. There’s no better place to find unique hand-crafted jewelry, carvings, candles, or artwork souvenirs of your Chincoteague summer!

Did you know that July is National Blueberry Month? Well it sure is and Chincoteague celebrates nature's tastiest and most nutritious fruit with the Chincoteague Blueberry Festival held July 24th, 25th & 26th, 2009. To learn more about the Blueberry Festival please visit www.chincoteagueblueberryfestival.com.

Later...


!

Chincoteague Seafood - It's what's for dinner

Chincoteague Seafood - It's What's for Dinner

Seafood has been an Eastern Shore dinner staple since before the day in 1607 when the English first arrive at Cape Henry, encountering a group of Native Americans lunching on pit-roasted oysters, crabs, and clams. When the surprised natives ran away, the hungry new arrivals finished their feast and continued to depend on the area's abundant seafood.

Although those Native Americans and Englishmen didn’t know it, the seafood they were eating was both loaded with mineral and vitamins, and rich cholesterol-lowering fats. Having Chincoteague seafood for dinner just twice a week could be all it takes to control cholesterol counts!

If having Chincoteague seafood twice a week sounds like things might get boring, just remember that the kind of seafood available off Chincoteague's shores changes from season to season. Depending on the time of year, the Chincoteague waters will yield (to name just a few) delectable bluefish, red and black drum, and striped bass sharks, sea trout, tuna, wahoo, kingfish, and marlin, tautog, and flounder.

If you love shellfish, pack up your clamming rake, wait for low tide, and head for Toms Cove on Assateague Island to try your luck collecting Lil Niks. Oysters, available all year, take on the flavors of the waters in which they grow. Those growing off Chincoteague have a marvelous salinity which accounts for their name "Chincoteague Salts."

Shucked Chincoteague Salts are waiting on ice at the island markets for you to take home, or at the island restaurants in such classic recipes as Oyster Stew or Breaded Fried Oysters.

Then there are those Chincoteague crabs! Peak crabbing season is in the early summer, when the blue crabs emerge from a winter of hibernating in the Chincoteague mud. Catch your own at the waterfront near Memorial Park, or off the middle of the bridge leading to Assateague. A piece of string tied to a chicken neck and a net are all the gear you need!

So here's a money saving tip, go out on one of the many docks, piers, marshes and coves on Chincoteague Island and bring home some crabs for dinner! What are you waiting for?

Look for some great recipes in the next edition of the Chincoteague Insider.

Until the next time...