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 - Fun on a Budget

Chincoteague Island Vacations - Fun on a Budget

The Insider is still reeling from a Blueberry Hangover induced by over-consumption of nature’s tasty blue morsels in various forms at the 22nd Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival. Homemade blueberry ice cream supplied by the Island Creamery, The Ultimate Blueberry Pie from Sugarbaker’s Bakery, fresh blueberries from Dick’s Kitchen and amazing old fashioned Blueberry Shortcake from Diana James. The Insider had more than a taste of all of the above and if you weren’t there, you really missed something.

Bottom Line, the food was fantastic and when you needed to “come down” from your antioxidant and sugar high, there was Pepper Jack Grille to the rescue with substantial cuisine that included protein. The Insider’s personal favorite was the Fish Taco, but I hear the Quesadillas were awesome as well!

All in all, the 22nd Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival was a huge hit with record attendance, an amazing assemblage of Artists and Crafters, fun stuff for kid’s, music to suit any taste and the rains held off mercifully until one hour after the festival ended.

The Insider highly recommends that you place the Chincoteague Blueberry Festival on your vacation ‘to do’ list for 2010. Your family will love it, but may have to endure a blueberry hangover like mine.

Keep in touch by visiting www.ChincoteagueBlueberryFestival.com


O.K. the Insider is continuing a series of Chincoteague Island Vacation budget tips.

Today, we are going to talk about crabbing as a wonderful, low-cost, family friendly activity that can entertain for hours.

Even if you don’t have a way to cook them, catching crabs is a classic Chincoteague Island vacation pastime. The equipment is simple enough: a line to which you’ve attached a chicken neck, a net to scoop up any crabs which take your bait, and a container to store the crabs if you aren’t releasing them.

One great crabbing spot is at the Memorial Park waterfront on Chincoteague Channel. While you’re matching wits with the crabs, the kids can enjoy the park’s playground or skate park, or the basketball and tennis courts. Just remember to pack the right athletic gear!

And then there’s clamming…

Blue crabs may be legendary Chincoteague seafood, but they have nothing on the legendary Lil Nik clams. Set aside a few hours when the tide will be out, and head for Toms Cove on Assateague for your own clam-raking adventure. Both kid and adult-sized clamming rakes are available at the Chincoteague hardware stores.

And don’t forget shopping.

Remember that shopping itself is free. In downtown Chincoteague and on Maddox Boulevard you’ll find art galleries, clothing boutiques, decoy and wildlife carving shops, and even benches where tired husbands can sit! Shopping will give you a great opportunity to mix with the locals and get tips on other free, or almost-free, ways to spend your Chincoteague Island vacation.

Anyway you slice it, Chincoteague is a filled to the brim, non-stop, economical fun machine. So, get out there and enjoy yourself!

Until the next time….