Discover Delmarva: Assateague Island National Seashore
ASSATEAGUE ISLAND, Md. – This week WMDT headed down to one of the most unique spots on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Assateague Island National Seashore. The Island has 357 miles of shoreline and multiple ecosystems to explore, with a variety of wildlife, plant life, and terrain we’re told you can’t find anywhere else.
The Visitor’s Center has several exhibits showcasing what you may encounter during your time on the island, and we’re told they also offer interactive events with the park rangers periodically throughout the day. Lindsey Brendel, the Educational Coordinator at the park gave us a tour of the island and started by taking us to see something people from all over the world travel to experience. “Most people are coming one for recreation, but two to see these wild horses,” says Brendel.
Known for their wild horses the herd has grown with ten foals born this year, Brendel says the responsibility lies on the visitors to help keep these horses wild. “Always important to keep a distance from all of our horses young and old, that forty-foot distance helps keep them wild,” she says. This distance is important to limit human contact and maintain this one-of-a-kind wild horse population.
Brendel tells WMDT, there’s still plenty to do besides looking for the wild horses “We have beautiful sandy beaches to recreate at Assateague,” says Brendel. These beaches are pristine and open at all hours of the day. Whether you want to watch a meteor shower, have a campfire, or build sandcastles on beaches that never close, cultivating a unique spot for any recreational activity on both sides of the island.
Brendel mentions that each side of the island has its unique offering “You’ve got the amazing ocean side to the island. With all of the power of the waves, you have the bayside which is a bit quieter.” If you like the quieter side, it offers kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and crabbing – and there are plenty of animals to keep an open eye for. Brendel says the wide range of animals gives you a sense of intrigue with you wondering what you may see “Just the diversity of insects is amazing. We have everything from monarch butterflies to, sika deer, to our wild horses.”
Brendel also recommends keeping an eye in the sky for the different species flying above “Bird wise, avian wise, we are part of the Atlantic Flyway here. So got an outstanding diversity of bird life.”
The barrier island creates a one-of-a-kind ecosystem and a place that’s hard to replicate anywhere else according to Brendel “The flora and fauna diversity that we have, is truly incredible, and it’s hard to find elsewhere.”
We’re told the park remains open throughout the fall and winter months. With each season bringing something new to see on the grounds. The camping reservations open six months in advance with the weekends filling up as soon as they open.
For more information on camping accommodations, or planning your next visit, check out their website.
If you make the trip make sure to tell them you saw them on Discover Delmarva.
