Trying to decide on next year’s road trips? It may seem a bit premature, but some popular locations fill up early, so it’s actually not too early to be thinking about where you want to go.

We’ve started thinking about our travel schedule for next summer. Dates and locations of family reunions are being solidified, and then we’ll decide where else we want to go on our road trip. We’ll be heading out west for that trip, but this summer we stayed closer to home and visited the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The Eastern Shore is home to Chincoteague and Assateague, and is steeped in history and fun activities.

Awhile ago I wrote about free or nearly free family friendly activities in Assateague and Chincoteague, and now I’m back with some family friendly activities that cost money, but are still fun for the whole family.

More Family Fun in Chincoteague and Assateague

1. Rent a cruiser, bikes, or scooters

There are a number of rental companies in Chincoteague where you can rent street-legal cruisers (way more fun than a golf cart!), bikes, scooters, and so on. Drive them around Chincoteague and into Assateague NS and enjoy the ocean breezes blowing through your hair as you see the sights. Try Fun on Wheels, Island Cruizers, or The Bike Depot.

2. Go to Maui Jack’s Water Park

Maui Jack’s Water Park is located in Chincoteague, close to the causeway to Assateague NS. In fact, it’s located next door to the Chincoteague Island KOA, so you can play where you stay. You don’t have to stay at the KOA to visit the park, though. Half day, full day, three day, or season passes can be purchased, depending on your needs.

3. Play miniature golf

What’s a vacation to the beach without a visit to a mini golf course? Try Funland Amusements mini golf, which also has go karts, bumper boats, and more, or Surfside Golf, which has two 18 hole mini golf courses.

4. Eat ice cream

You also can’t go to the beach without stopping for ice cream. Island Creamery makes small batches on location every day, and has a wide variety of yummy flavors. Crowds and parking can be an issue, but the ice cream is worth the wait! Just down the road is Mister Whippy, where you can get soft serve cones, if those are more to your liking.

5. Kayak the bay

You can see the wild ponies while driving through Assateague NS, but they don’t always cooperate and come close to the road, so you can get a good view of them. Take a kayak tour of the bay and you have the opportunity to get a lot closer to the ponies as they graze on the beach. Several companies offer kayak tours, including Assateague Explorer, Assateague Tours, and Snug Harbor, which also rents paddle boards.

6. Take a boat tour

Take a pontoon boat tour to see all that nature has to offer: birds, dolphins, ponies, etc. You can even watch rocket launches from nearby Wallops Island from a boat. Some companies also have smaller boats for a more intimate tour experience. Daisey’s Island Cruises, Captain Dan’s Around the Island Tours,  Barnacle Bill’s Wild Pony Boat Tours, Capt. Bob’s Marina, and Assateague Explorer all offer boat tours of the bay.

7. Go fishing

Want to do some fishing? Captain Pete’s offers fishing trips for those in search of snapper, shark, sea trout, mackerel, etc. Capt. Bob’s Marina also does fishing tours, including blue water fishing tours (tuna, mako, etc). Capt. Bob’s Marina also offers clamming and crabbing trips for those who want to stay closer to land. Other charter boat companies can be found here.

8. Take an aerial tour of the area

For an even more unique experience, take a tour of the area by airplane. Eastern Shore Aviation is located 30 min south of Chincoteague, but is a great way to see Chincoteague, Assateague, and the surrounding areas from a different point of view.

If you visit Chincoteague and Assateague, I’d love to hear all about it!