Introduction
Ever since we started exploring the National Park System, we’ve been eyeing a trip to Assateague Island. Assateague is known for a herd of wild ponies that roam the island and its beaches. We’ve had the idea for this trip for almost 3 years, but never carried it out. We decided to take advantage of these days between school and camp, spending 3 nights in Ocean City, Maryland. This trip coincided with an intense heat wave, but we were able to limit our time in the sun, and maximize our time in the water.
Day 1 – Sunday
On the way down, we stopped at Coastal Wilds, a small “zoo” with about 20 animals and a more intimate animal experience. We did the animal encounter package, which includes a 45 minute guided tour of the exotic animals and opportunities to pet and meet other animals up close. We got to touch an armadillo, tortoise, millipede and more. The highlight was spending time in the kangaroo enclosure, getting to pet them and see the animals hop. It was definitely a unique experience.
After checking in to the hotel and having dinner (which we brought from home) we headed to Northside Park, where they had a live music concert followed by fireworks.
Day 2 – Monday
We spent the first full day at the Maryland side of Assateague Seashore. This NPS site has the best ranger led programs that we’ve been to, by far!! The Bay Discovery program allowed the kids to search for sea life in the water using nets, and then the ranger explained how they each contributed to the food web. We also enjoyed the crabbing and clamming experiences, where the kids got to catch crabs with bait and a net and rake for clams. They really learned a lot and enjoyed these experiences. We also did 2 short walks (stroller accessible) on the Marsh Trail and Forest Trail and got a glimpse of some of the animals and sea life in the area. We also spent some time relaxing on the beach and swimming in the beautiful ocean. Of course, a trip to Assateague would not be complete without seeing the wild horses (the reason we came!). They were literally on the sides of the roads, in the marshes and in random locations. They were beautiful to see. To end the day, we spent time on the boardwalk where Sam and the boys went on a crazy roller coaster (Tidal Wave) and the girls went on the swings at Trimper Rides.
Day 3 – Tuesday
After spending Monday in Maryland, we dedicated Tuesday to visit the Virginia side of the park. It was a little over an hour from Ocean City, and this part of the park was quieter and less busy. Chincoteague Island is nearby, and supposed to be a quaint town but we didn’t find much to do there. We ended up doing a ranger program where the kids learned to see some traces of wildlife like fiddler crabs, crab shells, and animal scat. We ended up spending most of the day on the beach, or more accurately in the ocean.
After getting back to Ocean City, we went back for one last visit to the boardwalk. Throughout the trip, the kids loved the candy at Candy Kitchen, the Fries from Thrashers, donuts from Fractured Prune, and ice cream from Dumser’s Dairyland – all classics in Ocean City (none certified kosher).
Day 4 – Wednesday
We left Ocean City in the morning, and planned to stop at Killen’s Pond State Waterpark in Delaware. This park was a perfect stop for us given the heat, and we spent a few hours riding the slides and splashing in the pools.
Afterwards, we stopped in New Castle Delaware, where we checked First State National Historical Site off our list by visiting the New Castle Museum. Allen particularly liked learning about how the justice system worked in colonial Delaware. We also learned how Delaware was the first state to ratify the constitution (not in New Castle). In 1776, the New Castle Court House served as the meeting place for the Delaware Assembly, where they voted to separate from both Great Britain and Pennsylvania, establishing the “State of Delaware”.
We then drove the 2 hours back to Jersey, ending this fun, quick and hot trip.
