Chincoteague and Assateague - Where Are the Wild Ponies?

This is the final post covering our recent snowbird trip to Florida, Georgia and Virginia.  (After this, I’ll zip back to Yosemite National Park and continue the series on our third cross-country National Parks trip.)  Alan and I enjoyed the fun and frolic of our late winter escape from the snow and cold weather at home, but we really did miss our travel trailer.  I’m happy to say that spring is in the air, the cover is off the trailer and we can now prepare for another year of camping adventures.  Yay!

The final stop on our 13 day snowbird adventure was Chincoteague, Virginia, a small and quiet island off the coast of the Delmarva Peninsula.  As its name would suggest, the peninsula contains portions of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.  Although Interstate 95 is the most direct route from the northeast to the southeast, Alan and I aren’t huge fans of the busy highway.  The traffic around Baltimore, Washington (DC) and Richmond is annoying, at best, and exhausting, at worst.  If we’re traveling up and down the east coast, we’ll either take Interstate 81 to the west of I-95 or traverse the Delmarva Peninsula to the east of it.  Despite the number of times we’ve traveled the peninsula, this would be our first stay in Chincoteague, the gateway to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island.

Savannah - Hospitality with a Side of History

This post is the second of two posts related to the time we spent in Savannah, Georgia, during our snowbird adventure in early March of this year.

Because we haven’t traveled much during the winter lately, it seemed strange (but rather exciting) to see signs of spring all around us as we made our way through the southern states.  A number of trees were happily displaying their brand new buds, and some early flowers were popping up here and there.  It would probably be at least another month before we saw spring even beginning to stir in the mountains back home, so I was truly enjoying Mother Nature’s preview.  On our second full day in Savannah, with our winter coats jammed in the trunk of the car, we ventured into the “Hostess City of the South” to soak up the sun and the sights.

The Quiet Side of Savannah

Before we get into today’s post (the first of two about our adventures in Savannah), I have news to share about National Park Week 2023.  This year’s event will be celebrated from April 22^nd to April 30th.  Entrance fees will be waived on April 22^nd to kick off the week of celebration for anyone who would like to enjoy our National Parks in person.  If an actual visit isn’t an option, you can easily follow along via social media.  Find the links to the National Park Service’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Flickr, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts on the NPS website (link here).  Our amazing, educational, magnificent and spectacular National Parks properties truly are National Treasures that add extraordinary enjoyment and enrichment to our lives.  Don’t miss out!  And don’t let your kids and grandkids miss out either!    

Savannah was founded in 1733 and is the oldest city in Georgia.  Due to its charm and hospitality, it was nicknamed the “Hostess City of the South.”  In 1966, the city was designated a National Historic Landmark District – one of the largest in the country.  Cobblestone streets, a vibrant riverfront, amazing architecture and beautiful, park-like squares ensure that Savannah will remain a bucket list destination for romantics, historians and adventurers for many years to come.

Alan and I were eager to explore this lovely southern city, but we’re definitely not your typical tourists.  Personally, I think we’re a bit odd in our approach to exploration.  (I didn’t say we’re odd people, just odd in our approach when visiting a destination.  There’s a difference.)  We’re generally not interested in organized tours (such as the popular trolley tours in Savannah) or in spending much time in museums – although we do occasionally partake and enjoy.  Instead, we prefer what I’ll call a scavenger hunt.  My pre-trip research often produces a copious number of activities, attractions, oddities (there’s that word again) and regional specialties that I know we’ll find enjoyable and educational.  That list often includes stunning examples of architecture and construction, quiet places in which to enjoy nature and her wildlife, delicious samplings of regional cooking and the quirks and eccentricities that make a particular destination unique and fascinating.  While our itinerary may not be that of a typical tourist, it works perfectly well for us, and it usually leads to fun-filled days and memorable expeditions.  Here’s what we found “scavenger hunting” in Savannah . . .