As a visitor to Chincoteague, you’re likely aware of the “Misty of Chincoteague” children’s book. What you might not know is that the author, Marguerite Henry, wrote parts of the book right here on the island and that she was staying at Miss Molly’s Inn at the time.
I’m sure you have heard of love at first sight, or maybe you are lucky enough to have felt that way in your own life. Well, that is just how Marguerite Henry felt the first time she saw Misty. Marguerite knew from the moment she saw the new born foal, that the book she was about to write needed to be about Misty, no other pony would do.
You see, Marguerite Henry came to Chincoteague in 1946, with only a little information about the island and an event called Pony Penning. Lucky for her, and us all, she picked Miss Molly’s Inn as her home away from home while gathering her ideas for her book. She would often spend afternoons on the porch of the inn with Miss Molly and Captain Jack, discussing ideas for the book and getting some much needed advice.
Miss Molly told Marguerite that if she wanted to learn about the ponies, there would be no better person to speak to than Clarence “Grandpa” Beebe. Clarence was a stockman, he raised Chincoteague Ponies, and he was involved in the Fire Dept and the roundup. It seemed like a perfect fit. Immediately, Mrs. Henry was off to find the Beebe Ranch.
Did you know that you can watch an Antares rocket launch to the International Space Station from right here on Chincoteague? That’s right: the NASA Wallops Flight Facility is quite close by and Chincoteague has front row seats for every launch!
Chincoteague Island’s main claim to fame may be the wild ponies but that’s hardly the only reason to visit.
In fact, people are often surprised by how much there is right here on the island. They come expecting the beaches and the ponies but … watching a live Antares rocket launch?
2020 has been a year of challenges for us all and yet, as the new owners of Miss Molly’s Inn, it has also been a very exciting year! We’ve had a wonderful time getting to know our Chincoteague visitors and helping them to relax and explore the island.
A vacation is always welcome but, after a year like 2020, a getaway can be just what the doctor ordered. A break in your routine with a fresh set of surroundings can be instrumental in dispelling those doldrums. This is especially true when the your vacation destination is as beautiful and welcoming as Chincoteague.
Are you tired of being cooped up and ready for a literal breath of fresh air? Come visit Virginia’s Eastern shore on a Chincoteague Island getaway! Consistent with CDC guidance, Virginia does not have any current quarantine requirements for U.S. citizens arriving from outside the Commonwealth, making our area the perfect getaway.
Chincoteague Island, with its friendly, small community, wild ponies, and pristine beaches, is always good for a visit. A fact that is doubly true in times like these. Our peaceful, barrier island paradise is the perfect place to relax, recharge, and recenter one’s self around the good things in life.
Staying at a smaller inn like Miss Molly’s during your Chincoteague Island getaway, rather than a large hotel, has further advantages.
Virginia’s Eastern Shore is loaded with fun things to do and see, so many of which are right here on Chincoteague. For those who would like to do a little exploring but enjoy the small town vibe, we can hardly think of a better idea than a Cape Charles day-trip.
Cape Charles is a small, quaint town on Chesapeake Bay, near the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula. Voted one of “America’s Happiest Seaside Towns” in 2018, this quiet and cozy community has plenty to offer.
For one thing, it is home to one of the largest collections of late-Victorian and turn-of-the-century buildings on the East Coast. It’s also home to one of the nicest beaches outside of Chincoteague.
You’ve spent the day exploring the island – beachcombing, hiking the trails at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, touring town, seeing the wild ponies. Now your tummy is grumbling – but where to eat? Lucky for you, there are many excellent Chincoteague restaurants to choose from!
Chincoteague is under 40 square miles in size with a population of less than 3,000. Despite this, we have lots of good dining options right here on the island – and it’s not all seafood! Though we do pride ourselves in our fresh seafood, Chincoteague restaurants offer a wide variety of dishes.
Chincoteague Island is open and so is Miss Molly’s Bed and Breakfast – but in these uncertain times, you may be wondering what else is. We’ve broached this subject before but, with so many events cancelled, we offer a Summer 2020 edition of things to do on Chincoteague.
Virginia moved to Phase Three on July 1st, allowing for a cautious easing of restrictions across the state. Of course, Phase 3 is still not exactly back to normal and many of Chincoteague’s bigger summer events remain cancelled.
So what on earth is there left to do on Chincoteague? Plenty! In fact, reduced summer crowds are likely improve your Chincoteague experience – even though we all wish the reason for the reduction was different, of course.
At this time, a statewide Stay at Home order, issued by Governor Ralph Northam, is in effect. It will remain in place until June 10, 2020, unless amended or rescinded by a further executive order.
Only residents are allowed onto Chincoteague at the moment.
Consequently, Miss Molly’s Inn Bed and Breakfast is closed until June 11th. We will keep this post up to date as things change.
We urge everyone to take care of themselves and focus on hope and togetherness rather than fear and division. We are all in this together and that’s the best way we’ll get through it.
Be safe and we’ll see all of you soon!
From everyone at Miss Molly’s Inn Bed and Breakfast
If you’ve always wanted to see the wild ponies of Assateague up close – but not the annual Pony Swim crowds – then Spring Chincoteague Pony Roundup is your best chance.
There are lots of ways to see the wild ponies of Assateague outside the annual, summer Pony Swim. Many local companies offer wild pony tours that will take you out to see them and the many other magnificent sights around Chincoteague.
Another great way to get a good look at the island’s wild horses is during the annual spring and fall pony penning days.
You may not realize this but, along with wild ponies, Chincoteague is a great place for seeing rocket launches. With the NASA Wallops Flight Facility just five minutes away, as the crow flies, Chincoteague has permanent, front-row tickets!
Wallops Flight Facility has been in operation since 1945, making it one of the oldest launch sites in the world. The site is operated by the Goddard Space Flight Center and primarily supports science and exploration launches for NASA, NOAA, and other Federal agencies.
As a visitor to Chincoteague, you’re likely aware of the “Misty of Chincoteague” children’s book. What you might not know is that the author, Marguerite Henry, wrote parts of the book right here on the island and that she was staying at Miss Molly’s Inn at the time.
