Fun Things To Do On Chincoteague and Assateague Islands

In Virginia, people live on Chincoteague and only wild things live on Assateague.  In Maryland, a person can camp on Assateague, which isn't possible in Virginia.  There are a myriad of things to do and see in either state and on, or around, both islands.
    Assateague Island is a National Seashore in both states, and, in Virginia, Assateague is also the site of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR).  This confuses a lot of people.  Chincoteague ponies run wild on Assateague Island in both Virginia and Maryland - but each state has a unique way of dealing with the ponies.  All of the different kinds of wildlife on Assateague mingle and breed together - except the ponies (usually).  There is a fence separating the Maryland and Virginia sides of the island, but ponies do, on occasion, break through and mingle.  I can definitely say the ponies on the Virginia end of Assateague Island are branded and micro-chipped. The Maryland ponies are not branded.  I don't know if they are chipped or not.  A person, or family, can legally camp on the Maryland side of Assateague with a permit.  No over-nighters are allowed in Virginia.
   Chincoteague Island is located within the Virginia state borders only.  It's where people live, work and play.  If you visit Chincoteague or Assateague for the annual festivals, you know that you usually stay on Chincoteague in a hotel, motel, rental, or bed and breakfast. There are all sorts of festivals on Chincoteague.  The most widely known, thanks to Marguerite Henry's book and the 20th Century Fox movie, Misty) is Pony Penning.  There are also a Blueberry Festival, Seafood Festival, Oyster Festival, Decoy Festival, Arts and Crafts Festival, Chili Festival, the Volunteer Firemens' Carnival and multiple bird-watching festivals, throughout the year.
   If you visit the islands, be prepared for heat, humidity and mosquitoes in the summer.  Storms come from the Atlantic regularly - northeasters and hurricanes.  I can easily remember the five high tide lines on the wall paper in my Grandfather's kitchen.  A seemingly huge storm can sweep across the island in a few hours and wash everything new again.
   What is there to do on the islands?
  Well, first and foremost, Assateague is a National Seashore.  The beach is highly recommended.  Get some sun, play in the surf, or walk the beach.  There are many walks and trails available for hiking on Assateague in both states.  Check in at the respective Visitor's Centers and see what is recommended, or is off limits, for the day. (Some beach areas may be closed due to bird and/or turtle nesting.)  There is also a widely varied group of wildlife on Assateague - from over 400 different kinds of birds, including bald eagles and peregrine falcons, to otters, muskrats, the Delmarva fox squirrel, water and grass snakes, turtles and terrapins, white tail deer, miniature elk (aka Sika deer), seals, ponies, frogs and toads, butterflies, raccoons, fox, groundhogs and rabbits, to name a few.  Take a birding guide and/or a guide to wildlife tracks.  Wild turkeys are in abundance and might startle you.  With a fishing permit, you can surf fish from the beach.  And you can tour the Assateague Lighthouse from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. during the summer.
   Water activities?  There is swimming and surfing, or one can take out a canoe, kayak, paddle board, or small motorboat.  You can see all the sights on a guided tour; take a fishing boat into the bays or channels, or out into the ocean; you can fish, crab, clam and oyster - as long as it isn't on private or posted property.  You can cook and eat what you catch - flounder is running well, I hear.  On small cruises, one can take a hands-on ecological tour of the marshes and bays (with Captain Barry), tours around the island of Chincoteague with some local history thrown in, sunset cruises with champagne (with Captain Barry, and others), a guaranteed pony-sighting tour (with Captain Dan), sunrise and sunset cruises on the Miss Chincoteague, and just about anything you can imagine, or want, to do.
   On Chincoteague, the choices seem endless - walking, biking or trolley tours; shopping; eating; reading; the library; the cinema; coffee houses; the Carnival on weekends in July; Second Saturday art shows; the Saturday Farmers Market; the Chincoteague Island Museum; the Chincoteague Bay Field Station; the Chincoteague Pony Center; the Chincoteague Natural History Alliance; the Refuge Golf and Amusements Center; or just kicking back and relaxing....  There are three parks on the island where you can picnic.  And I mentioned eating a little earlier in this paragraph - the home made ice cream on Chincoteague is to die for!  The Island Creamery is known as having the best ice cream on the east coast of the United States; then there's Mueller's Ice Cream Parlor and Mister Whippy - all delicious!
   If you don't mind taking a short trip off the island, you can visit the NASA Visitors Center, go hang gliding with Virginia Hang Gliding, take an air tour with Carter Crabbe aviation, visit the Delmarva Discovery Center in Pocomoke City, or the Barrier Island Center of the Eastern Shore in Machipongo.  You can also go horseback riding at Queen Hive Farm in Assawoman.
   I never get around to doing everything I want to when I'm there - I have to pick and choose.  You will, too.

Fun Things to Do On Chincoteague - Captain Barry's Back Bay Cruises

I am heading back to Chincoteague and Assateague Islands in a few weeks - and one of the things I am most looking forward to is taking a cruise with Captain Barry Frishman.  Barry is unique among the tour boat captains of Chincoteague - he has studied marine biology, he has been an oysterman and a tugboat captain, he has kids and grandchildren, and he travels around the world visiting disaster sites as part of a relief team, giving care, comfort and hope (and teaching about the need for fresh water), as a volunteer.  Barry is a fun person to be around.  He can be funny and silly with the youngest members of his two-hour crew; he's always informative; he is an accomplished painter; and, no matter your age, or what type of cruise you take with Barry, you return smiling... because you had fun.  Both youngsters and adults have an entertaining time with Barry.  You can be as hands-on as you like, or you can just sit in a chair on deck and observe the fun.
  Barry is a native New Yorker, who moved to Chincoteague and fell in love with a 'Teaguer ( a Chincoteague native).  His wife's family has ties on the island dating back to 1643, when the first land patents were issued for the Eastern Shore lands in Virginia.  His wife's grandfather and great-grandfather took care of the Assateague Lighthouse as contractors for the US Coast Guard in the 1920s and 1930s.  Barry and Aleda have a large and thriving family, and if you happen to hear someone yelling, "Poppy!" to Captain Barry, it's one of his grandchildren...
  There are two types of trips available  from Captain Barry's Back Bay Cruises - the Sea Life Expedition and the Champagne Sunset Cruise.  I've been on both, and I highly recommend both.  On the Sea Life Expedition, you get off the boat on sandbars to dig for clams - you may be able to catch your dinner.  Then you'll head off to go crabbing, pull in crab pots and learn to identify the catch.  If you're feeling really good, Barry will teach you how to hold a live crab without getting pinched.  He usually stops at Shell Island Beach for shell collecting and identification - and then he'll take you hunting for jellyfish!  While you've been cruising the channels a trawling net behind the boat has been gathering passing sea life - you'll pull the net aboard and see what treasures have been gathered.  Then you go birding - and Captain Barry knows his birds.  On this trip you get to use all of your senses - hearing, touch, taste, sight, and smell - as well as your mind.  This is the real deal cruise to take so that you can experience the life of a Chincoteague Waterman.
   On the Champagne Sunset Cruise, all you have to do is sit back, sip your drink, and enjoy the views.  Most sunsets over the mainland are spectacular when seen from Barry's boat...  I can get drunk on them without imbibing any alcohol!  With the wind in your hair and the smell of the sweet sea air, Barry will take you away to a Chincoteague Bay paradise.  Your worries disappear, you relax, and appreciate nature and the sunset in all their glory.  This is a fantastic way to celebrate the close  of the day - and the beginning of a wonderful night. You can bring along a personal cooler, too.  This is scheduled as an Adults Only trip - the only way you can bring kids on the Sunset Cruise is to reserve the entire boat.
   Have I convinced you to take a trip with Barry?  Good!  You can call and make reservations to ship out with him at  (757) 336-6508.
  And, a little bit more.  A few suggestions about traveling on board Back Bay Cruises:
By US Coast Guard regulations, Captain Barry can only have 6 other people aboard his boat.  He has USCG approved life jackets for all kids and adults.  Folks ranging in age from newborn babies to 91-year-olds have sailed with Captain Barry.
There is a clean, beautifully renovated and easy-to-use bathroom on board.
Barry has water to drink while aboard, but you are welcome to bring your personal coolers, with whatever you want inside.
If you are participating in a "hands on" manner, you might be barefoot in the water, or you  might need a pair of water shoes (or old sneakers) for walking on shells.
Barry always wears shorts, so when he goes into the water, he doesn't have wet slacks.
Smaller children have a tendency to splash and get muddy - a change of clothing and a towel are good things to bring along for them.
It's always cooler on the water, so a light jacket, windbreaker, or sweatshirt is a good idea- especially if you're on the Sunset Cruise.
Always recommended are: sunblock or sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and insect repellent.
  Here are four quotes from previous passengers:
(1)  My older children first went out with Captain Barry about 11 years ago.  They still talk about what a blast they had.  We took the younger three out in the summer of 2013.  We had such an amazing time!  It's like a floating interactive science class, with built-in entertainment. This morning (May 2015) we had the pleasure of taking one of the first tours of the season with our 14 year old daughter and 12 year old nephew.  Captain Barry never disappoints.  We learn something new on every adventure, and the memories and learning the kids get is something that will stick with them for life.
(2)  Our group of four adults and a one year old granddaughter comprised the tour group for Captain Barry's charter.  Each of us was thoroughly delighted by the meet, greet, and even eat sea creatures right out of the water.  Our trip was at low tide which allowed us to visit exposed sand bars where we saw fiddler crabs scurrying about.  Part science, part local lore, part culinary, and through and through marvelous.  The captain was attentive, courteous, thoughtful, prepared, and lively.  Well done from start to finish.  Capt Barry, we will be back!
(3)  We loved this tour.  Definitely not your run-of-the-mill tourist experience, and well worth the money.  Capt Barry goes out of his way to entertain, engage, and teach.  The kids had a great time and can't stop smiling.  They're already asking about our our next trip with Capt Barry.  Go!
(4)  We had the BEST time! Heard so many good things and thought we should give him a try.  So glad we did.  I have never laughed and smiled so much!  He knows the area, knows what he is doing and showed us some VERY interesting things.  He is just a neat guy all around!  I have lived all over the country, seen a lot of bays, mainly San Fransisco Bay, and Captain Barry was BY FAR the best tour guide ever!  He made our Chincoteague Island trip feel like we were somewhere so perfect that EVERYONE should be there!

    So if you are looking for something fun to do, with kids, or without, I highly recommend seeing Captain Barry and his Back Bay Cruises for a fantastic time!

Assateague & Chincoteague Photos

Stallion chasing a mare in Maryland

Chincoteague watermen

Black drum (fish) molars

Captain Barry is back at The Jackspot on Chincoteague

Maryland pony remains

Sunlight on marsh waters - Assateague

Assateague National Seashore (Maryland)

Captain Barry Is Out On the Water; Boulder Is Having a Blizzard

A tale of two cities - or towns....   It's currently 63 degrees on Chincoteague Island, in Virginia.  Captain Barry, my cousin-in-law, took several cruises out yesterday, and was scheduled for three or four today.  Captain Barry's Back Bay Cruises are the best ecological, interactive cruises on Chincoteague Island - especially if you want to learn about marine life and how it affects the marsh and channels,and how the waters cause effects upon the marine life.  Now, that sounds awfully boring.  Barry loves to make the cruises as interactive as possible, so it's a true hands-on experience.  I love going out with him - I always learn something new each time.  Learn about clams, crabs, oysters, jelly fish, sponges, and almost anything that you can imagine finding in a drag net - or in and on the marsh flats.  It's a fantastic experience.  Captain Barry always books up fast, and frequently has an "on-call" waiting list during the summer.  You can call and book your experience today at (757) 336-6508.  (And don't forget his Champagne Sunset cruise, either!)
   It was in the mid-70s  yesterday, and Beatrice traveled down to Denver and was able to spend a good amount of time in the new Samurai exhibition at the Denver Art Museum.  I laughed yesterday evening when the newspaper announced that Boulder could get up to 6 inches of snow overnight.  I heard the first rain drops pelting my bedroom window at 12:35 a.m.  by 4:00, there was three inches of snow.  At the moment, 10:30 a.m., more than 8 inches have fallen, and the weather guys are saying we might get another 10 inches before the snow stops tonight...  I am not walking Rosie or Tessa today, but I am due at Rosie's for a 2-hour stint this evening.  I may end up taking a cab both to and from her house.
    Colorado needs the snow.  I am not complaining about the precipitation.  The snow plow for the apartment parking lot just went through, and I've heard the snow plows on US 36 running past about every hour.  My cousin was pretty shocked when she found out that the front of my apartment building faced US 36.  She thought I lived somewhere secluded in a very wooded area, far away from traffic.  I wish that were so.  In any event, it's the usual weird Spring weather for Boulder...

Boulder and Chincoteague

'Tis a beautiful, sunny day in Colorado.  I slept well with Rosie last night, and she has been eating like a little piglet for me.  I mention that, because she frequently acts disdainful of the food her owners give her, but not food from me.  I can't figure that out.
   After I went back to Tamarack Court last night, Beatrice informed me that Nedi decided that she was safe to get some loving from...  He stropped her ankles and purred quite a bit for her while she was using my computer.  I guess that someone sitting at the keyboard is considered "safe."
   Have had a wonderful time talking with Lynn about Chincoteague and the ponies.  She wants to see Pony Penning next year.  I have already reserved the place I stayed at this summer for next year - I am hoping and praying that my friends Carolyn and Greg can make it to the island, as well as Rabbitt, a man Carolyn and I went to school with...  Then Lynn hopes to come, also.  Luckily the house sleeps 10, and if everyone can attend, there will be one couple and three singles...
   I was able to go out with Captain Barry for a Sea Exploration cruise, as well as an after-hours trip up the neck with him, his wife Aleda, Jimmy, and Jimmy's parents. (Jimmy works with Aleda at Right Up Your Alley, a food truck behind the Village Mall on Main Street.)  Captain Barry's trips leave from a mooring spot between The Jackspot and the Fairfield Inn & Suites - and they are delightful.  If the band is playing at the Jackspot, they break for a few seconds to wish Captain Barry a "Bon Voyage," and Barry blows his conch shell horn at them...
   The new visitor centers on Assateague are fantastic - I was very impressed by them.  I also fell in love with my cousin, Karen Quillen, all over again.  I looked up to Karen as a child, and desperately wanted to please her.  I found that I still do.  Karen was, and still is, "Miss Karen" to most of the children riding the school bus on Chincoteague Island. She is full of common sense, and speaks her mind.  She gave me gifts to share with the rest of the family when I left - and I have yet to spread them around.  I also got to talk with my cousin Maureen Beebe, and with her two daughters.  It was sheer heaven.
   Back here in Boulder, I was a little nasty yesterday.  Each and every apartment in the new complex we moved into has one, and only one, assigned parking space.  Beatrice and I have number 50.  In my first three weeks here, I left four notes on four different windshields noting that 50 was my space,  I pulled in yesterday evening, and found an SUV from Oregon parked in my spot.  I sat and tooted my horn until several neighbors looked out over their balconies.  The visitor was staying (and doing a party hardy) at the apartment above mine.  He took his time in moving the car...  but I was feeling a bit cranky and wanted MY spot.  Think I was out of line?  The designated spot for that apartment was empty - so I didn't, and don't, feel badly about it.
 

Captain Barry is BEST on Chincoteague Island

While moving, my internet access was down.  Then I left for two weeks on Chincoteague Island  -  and I have to admit that I cried as I crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, leaving the Eastern Shore, and headed for the mainland.  Back in the mid-1980s, there was an extremely popular bumper sticker (on the Shore) that read, "There is no life and no intelligence west of the Chesapeake Bay."  I completely agreed with that sentiment as I was crossing the Bay itself.
  But I'm back in Boulder, Colorado now.  I see the Flatirons of Boulder, the eastern outpost of the Rocky Mountains, from my current seat.  They are gorgeous.  They are awe inspiring.  But I miss the rhythms of the sea, the call of sea birds, and the scent of marsh mud.  Had it not been for my two cats, my new year-long lease, my sister, and Rosie, I would not be here.  I'd be getting more sand in my shoes and in my soul....
   I went on several cruises and tour boat outings while I was on the island, and I spoke to a lot of tourists who had also taken the tours.  Most tours are 90 minutes to 2 hours long.  Younger children (and, me, too, at age 59) can get very bored just sitting in a boat and looking in the direction someone points while talking.  Some of the information is excellent, and some is a bunch of hogwash, depending on the Captain, or "guide," you have. If you are there for ponies only, Captain Dan's tours are the best available.  However, if you want a fun, exciting learning experience that just might encourage your youngster to do some research on his/her own, then Captain Barry is the man with the magic.
   I have to admit that I wasn't too sure that I would enjoy a two hour cruise with a 2 year-old (just turned) on board.  I guess I had forgotten how Captain Barry's charisma and charm works.  First, small children adore Captain Barry - I think they can sense his enjoyment of their company and his high spirits and true love of the water.  Barry's trips are interactive cruises, unless you take the Champagne Sunset Cruise, for adults.  The Sea Exploration cruises that Captain Barry delivers are the best to be found on the Eastern Shore - and probably on the entire East Coast of the United States.  "An incredible learning experience for the whole family," was the response I heard most often from the adults I spoke with.  The majority of the kids said that it was "lots of fun" and that they were eager and ready to go out with Captain Barry, again, immediately.
  I'll admit that it was relaxing, occasionally, to clamber aboard a boat and just sit and listen to someone else spout information.  All I had to do was tune out the other folks' conversation, and look at the birds, a few dolphins, and the ponies, as we came upon them.  Captain Barry, however had me climbing on and off the boat, going into the water, handling clams, shrimp, oysters, crabs, jellyfish, and all the creatures and things that appeared in the trawl net.  I had a wonderful time!  And Evelyn, the two year-old, was always entertained, had things to do to "help" Captain Barry and, even though it was well past her nap time, she stayed smiling and bright.  And it was Captain Barry that made it happen.  He is simply the best when it comes to cruises with kids.  Period.
  And, yes, I'll give him more free advertising!   Check out Captain Barry's Back Bay Cruises on Chincoteague Island, Virginia.  The phone number for reservations is:  (757) 336-6508.  You can e-mail him at captainchincoteague@gmail.com   If you don't believe my reviews, you can always ask the folks as they disembark from a trip with Captain Barry at the dock at old Marlin Street (west of Main Street) - where the Chincoteague Inn used to stand, and where the Jackspot is now open.  Captain Barry helped make our vacation dreams come true.  He's a wonderful man.

Chincoteague Boating Tours

I'll be arriving on Chincoteague Island in July.  I will be going home.  One of the first things that I will do is call a specific number and make a reservation for a boat tour for myself.  Then I'll make reservations to go with the rest of the family, when they arrive four days later.  I can't wait to get aboard Captain Barry's Back Bay Cruises!  Captain Barry Frishman is unique among the tour boat captains of Chincoteague - he has studied marine biology, he has been an oysterman and a tugboat captain, he has kids and grandchildren, and he travels around the world visiting disaster sites as part of a relief team, giving care, comfort and hope (and teaching about the need for fresh water), as a volunteer.  Barry is a fun person to be around.  He can be funny and silly with the youngest members of his two-hour crew; he's always informative; he is an accomplished painter; and, no matter your age, or what type of cruise you take with Barry, you return smiling... because you had fun.  Both youngsters and adults have an entertaining time with Barry.  You can be as hands-on as you like, or you can just sit in a chair on deck and observe the fun.
  Barry is a native New Yorker, who moved to Chincoteague and fell in love with a 'Teaguer ( a Chincoteague native).  His wife's family has ties on the island dating back to 1643, when the first land patents were issued for the Eastern Shore lands in Virginia.  His wife's grandfather and great-grandfather took care of the Assateague Lighthouse as contractors for the US Coast Guard in the 1920s and 1930s.  Barry and Aleda have a large and thriving family, and if you happen to hear someone yelling, "Poppy!" to Captain Barry, it's one of his grandchildren...
  There are two types of trips available from Captain Barry's Back Bay Cruises - the Sea Life Expedition and the Champagne Sunset Cruise.  I've been on both, and I highly recommend both.  On the Sea Life Expedition, you get off the boat on sandbars to dig for clams - you may be able to catch your dinner.  Then you'll head off to go crabbing, pull in crab pots and learn to identify the catch.  If you're feeling really good, Barry will teach you how to hold a live crab without getting pinched.  He usually stops at Shell Island Beach for shell collecting and identification - and then he'll take you hunting for jellyfish!  While you've been cruising the channels a trawling net behind the boat has been gathering passing sea life - you'll pull the net aboard and see what treasures have been gathered.  Then you go birding - and Captain Barry knows his birds.  On this trip you get to use all of your senses - hearing, touch, taste, sight, and smell - as well as your mind.  This is the real deal cruise to take so that you can experience the life of a Chincoteague Waterman.
   On the Champagne Sunset Cruise, all you have to do is sit back, sip your drink, and enjoy the views.  Most sunsets over the mainland are spectacular when seen from Barry's boat...  I can get drunk on them without imbibing any alcohol!  With the wind in your hair and the smell of the sweet sea air, Barry will take you away to a Chincoteague Bay paradise.  Your worries disappear, you relax, and appreciate nature and the sunset in all their glory.  This is a fantastic way to celebrate the close  of the day - and the beginning of a wonderful night. You can bring along a personal cooler, too.  This is scheduled as an Adults Only trip - the only way you can bring kids on the Sunset Cruise is to reserve the entire boat.
   Have I convinced you to take a trip with Barry?  Good!  You can call and make reservations to ship out with him at  (757) 336-6508.
  And, a little bit more.  A few suggestions about traveling on board Back Bay Cruises:
By US Coast Guard regulations, Captain Barry can only have 6 other people aboard his boat.  He has USCG approved life jackets for all kids and adults.  Folks ranging in age from newborn babies to 91-year-olds have sailed with Captain Barry.
There is a clean, beautifully renovated and easy-to-use bathroom on board.
Barry has water to drink while aboard, but you are welcome to bring your personal coolers, with whatever you want inside.
If you are participating in a "hands on" manner, you might be barefoot in the water, or you  might need a pair of water shoes (or old sneakers) for walking on shells.
Barry always wears shorts, so when he goes into the water, he doesn't have wet slacks.
Smaller children have a tendency to splash and get muddy - a change of clothing and a towel are good things to bring along for them.
It's always cooler on the water, so a light jacket, windbreaker, or sweatshirt is a good idea- especially if you're on the Sunset Cruise.
Always recommended are: sunblock or sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and insect repellent.
  Here are four quotes from previous passengers:
(1)  My older children first went out with Captain Barry about 11 years ago.  They still talk about what a blast they had.  We took the younger three out in the summer of 2013.  We had such an amazing time!  It's like a floating interactive science class, with built-in entertainment. This morning (May 2015) we had the pleasure of taking one of the first tours of the season with our 14 year old daughter and 12 year old nephew.  Captain Barry never disappoints.  We learn something new on every adventure, and the memories and learning the kids get is something that will stick with them for life.
(2)  Our group of four adults and a one year old granddaughter comprised the tour group for Captain Barry's charter.  Each of us was thoroughly delighted by the meet, greet, and even eat sea creatures right out of the water.  Our trip was at low tide which allowed us to visit exposed sand bars where we saw fiddler crabs scurrying about.  Part science, part local lore, part culinary, and through and through marvelous.  The captain was attentive, courteous, thoughtful, prepared, and lively.  Well done from start to finish.  Capt Barry, we will be back!
(3)  We loved this tour.  Definitely not your run-of-the-mill tourist experience, and well worth the money.  Capt Barry goes out of his way to entertain, engage, and teach.  The kids had a great time and can't stop smiling.  They're already asking about our our next trip with Capt Barry.  Go!
(4)  We had the BEST time! Heard so many good things and thought we should give him a try.  So glad we did.  I have never laughed and smiled so much!  He knows the area, knows what he is doing and showed us some VERY interesting things.  He is just a neat guy all around!  I have lived all over the country, seen a lot of bays, mainly San Fransisco Bay, and Captain Barry was BY FAR the best tour guide ever!  He made our Chincoteague Island trip feel like we were somewhere so perfect that EVERYONE should be there!

    So if you are looking for something fun to do, with kids, or without, I highly recommend seeing Captain Barry and his Back Bay Cruises for a fantastic time!

Chincoteague Pony Penning Photos

The Dawn Beach Walk 2014 -  photo by Highcamera.com    Patrick J Hendrickson

Captain Barry of Captain Barry's Back Bay Cruises

Chincoteague Carnival Grounds - then and now.  Photo by Patrick J Hendrickson, Highcamera.com

Dawn on Assateague - photo by Jay Diem

Mare and foal - photo by Deb Iddings Noll

Chincoteague ponies  -  Deb Iddings Noll

Two of Surfer Dude's colts 

Chincoteague's Captain Barry's Back Bay Cruises

 I admit up front that Captain Barry Frishman is the husband of my cousin, Aleda - but I think that I can write an honest opinion of Barry's cruises.  Barry is a member of the Chincoteague Island Charterboat Association, and he has run cruises and tours in the waters surrounding Chincoteague for at least 20 years.

I have never heard a derogatory remark made about Captain Barry, his boat, or his treatment of clients.  He's a happy-go-lucky soul, and especially enjoys teaching youngsters (and adults) about the marine and island ecology systems - and why they are so important to the United States, and the world, as a whole. His day cruises are fun, entertaining, and very educational.  They can be very hands-on, or you can sit back and watch your friends and family enjoy the cruise.
   Captain Barry's website may be viewed at: http://www.chincoteague.com/captainb/
   Information regarding prices and times are on the site, or you can call the reservation number - (757) 336-6508.   The e-mail address is:  captainchincoteague@gmail.com
   And you can always "Like" him on FaceBook at:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Captain-Barrys-Back-Bay-Cruises/155032211287774

   Barry's Champagne Sunset Cruises are quiet and private affairs - and the scenery is wonderful.

Captain Barry and his boat

A family in the Assateague Channel with Cap'n Barry (right)

Cap'n Barry fooling around - marsh mud and seaweed wrap, anyone?

Placing a small net out at the beginning of the cruise

Jellyfish are common catches

Dolphins may be seen

And, while Cap'n Barry does not guarantee seeing Chincoteague ponies on Assateague, there is always a high possibility of it happening...

I endorse any cruise, boating, or fishing opportunity with Captain Barry.  He's the best. Period.

Landscapes and Seascapes

Sandy beach and ocean

Altai Mountains, Russia

Boathouses - Virolahti, Finland

Salciua, Transylvania, Romania

Chincoteague Channel sunrise with Captain Barry's boat.  Photo by Aleda Frishman.