Chincoteague Is Among 14 Best East Coast Beach Towns: Condé Nast

CHINCOTEAGUE, VA — The beauty of nature, especially wild horses, earned Chincoteague a spot on The 14 Best Beach Towns on the East Coast, according to a new list from Condé Nast Traveler.

According to Condé Nast Traveler, "You won't find bustling boardwalks, sleek hotels, or grids of cars with clunky bike racks trapped in traffic in Chincoteague. This coastal town is all about the wildlife — specifically its wild horses. Visitors flock to the island annually for the Pony Penning that has been held since 1925. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department holds the event, and it consists of a pony swim — in which the animals cross the Assateague Channel — and a pony auction."

Condé Nast Traveler added: "No one really knows how this population of horses came to be, though there are competing theories. Some say they are descendants of Spanish horses shipwrecked en route to Peru in the 17th century. Others claim they were left long ago by pirates. Still others say they are runaways from mainland farmers. The quaint beauty of Chincoteague includes trails for hiking, beaches, and a red and white lighthouse. For the best pony views, cross over on a bike to the Maryland side of Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge."

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Chiconteague island sits near Virginia's Eastern Shore, and is home to the refuge that leads to a 37-mile beach, according to its website. Activities in Chincoteague include digging for clams, saltwater fishing tournaments and watching oystermen.

The luxury lifestyle and travel magazine said the beach towns along a stretch of coastline from Maine to Florida are summer hotspots for fun and entertainment, whether vacationers are seeking places teeming with crowds or a quieter, small-town atmosphere.

“From charming, historic New England towns to tropical Southern getaways, there is so much to explore this summer,” Condé Nast Traveler said.

Organized from the Northeast to the Southeast, the 14 beach towns on the list are:

• Bar Harbor, Maine
• Rockport, Massachusetts
• Oak Bluff, Massachusetts
• Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• Newport, Rhode Island
• Montauk, New York
• Cape May, New Jersey
• Chincoteague, Virginia
• Ocean City, Maryland
• Nags Head, North Carolina
• Pawleys Island, South Carolina
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
• Tybee Island, Georgia
• Siesta Key, Florida