Snug Harbor Marina on Chincoteague Island

06/25/2026

Learn about the world famous Chincoteague oyster on a kayak tour around the oyster beds of Chincoteague Va. Learn why the Chincoteague oyster is the best in the world. Chincoteagueaccommodations.com

06/25/2026

The most common turtles in Chincoteague include the Northern Diamondback Terrapin, Common Snapping Turtle, Eastern Painted Turtle, Woodland Box Turtle, and the Loggerhead Sea Turtle. Because Chincoteague and the adjacent Assateague Island feature heavily protected barrier island ecosystems, the area serves as an exceptional nesting and foraging location for a variety of land, freshwater, and marine turtles.In the brackish salt marshes and estuaries, you will frequently find the Northern Diamondback Terrapin, which is the most celebrated and iconic turtle in the area.

Moving inland to the freshwater ponds and impoundments within the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, the Eastern Painted Turtle can be seen basking on logs, while the massive Common Snapping Turtle often lumbers across nearby trails during its nesting season.On dry land, the Woodland Box Turtle thrives within the maritime forests and shrub thickets, using its highly domed shell to stay safe from predators.

Finally, out in the open marine environments and along the Atlantic-facing beaches, juvenile and adult Loggerhead Sea Turtles utilize the coastal waters to feed and occasionally crawl ashore on summer nights to lay eggs.

06/24/2026

Captain John Shields’s remarkable 50 years of experience is the defining factor that sets his bird-watching tours apart from standard commercial cruises. Growing up as an island local, he has spent his entire life working on, studying, and navigating the intricate waters surrounding Chincoteague and Assateague. This half-century of daily, firsthand observation gives him an instinctual understanding of the region's complex, fast-changing tidal systems. While other captains rely strictly on modern GPS, Captain John navigates by a deep, lifelong mental map of the hidden sandbars and shifting channels.

If you are looking for an epic birdwatching adventure call Captain John!

Chincoteagueaccommodations.com

06/23/2026

The marsh grass parted, revealing a hidden, glass-still channel where the tourist boats never ventured. Sitting at the helm of his custom, shallow-draft pontoon was Captain John Shields. While other captains stuck to the deep, crowded channels, John steered his boat into a maze of mudflats around Chincoteague Island. He didn't need a map. He had been navigating these waters since he was seven years old, following the paths of his ancestors who were among Chincoteague’s very first settlers. Suddenly, John cut the engine. The boat drifted into the silent, remote marsh."Look closely," John whispered, pointing toward the shoreline.

Through the lens of a beginner's camera, a massive silhouette came into focus. A flock of pelicans dropped from the sky. Nearby, a flock of vibrant herons and skimmers took flight. John didn't just point out birds, he spoke about the tides like they were old friends, sharing unscripted stories passed down through generations. He was the kind of guide who possessed a sixth sense for the wild, the same instinct that once made national headlines when he spotted an incredibly rare white dolphin in these very waters.

As the sun began to dip, casting a fiery orange glow over the water, a passenger raised their camera. Armed with Captain John's insider tip to switch the mode dial from Auto to the "Sunset" scene setting, they pressed the shutter. The camera captured the deep, blazing reds of the Chincoteague sky, framing a pair of nesting ospreys perfectly against the horizon. It wasn't just a birdwatching trip; it was an induction into the secret life of the island.

06/22/2026

Come on an unbelievable journey to Chincoteague island and tour the islands by kayak to see the world famous Chincoteague Ponies. Did you know that Snug Harbor Marina is directly across from the National Park! If you read the children’s book Misty of Chincoteague it will be a very magical experience.

06/22/2026

06/21/2026

06/20/2026

Good morning, from Snug Harbor on Chincoteague Island.

06/20/2026

Come on a Chincoteague kayak tour and experience the magic of Chincoteague island. Have you ever dreamed about seeing the wild Chincoteague ponies in their natural habitat. Snug Harbor Marina will take you to the most remote parts of the islands to see the most incredible wildlife. We specialize in birdwatching and ponywatching. Call today to plan your adventure.

Chincoteagueaccommodations.com

06/20/2026

Come on a Chincoteague boat tour with Captain John from Snug Harbor Marina. He will take you on a grand expedition around the great marshlands of the barrier islands of Virginia.

Chincoteagueaccommodations.com