Before sharing this story, let me set the scene. It’s a gloomy day in Northern Virginia, days after Christmas. My friend Lexi, unfortunately, does not attend school in the sunshine state and desperately wanted to see the ocean. Chincoteague Island, the one with the horses, is about four hours away and probably the closest beach. So with nothing else to do on a lonesome winter’s day, off to the coast they went, far far away!
Getting up before the sun during Winter Break is an impressive feat, but Virginia does treat us with its gorgeous, and freezing, sunrises. A long drive meant an early morning, so I was ready to go by 7:30 a.m.
An uneventful trip up 495 meant we were in Annapolis an hour and a half later. I love this little city. Aside from being Maryland’s capital, it’s one of the largest sailing cities in the country and home to the US Naval Academy.
It has a very New-Englandey feel with streets that look straight out of Boston:
We walked around the city for a bit, before visiting a coffee shop my friend had bookmarked. Not only did Brown Mustache double as a bookstore, but they had the cutest outdoor area too!
I could only imagine drinking coffee out there in the summer, reading a book while the wind blows through the trees. Sadly for us, the temperature sat in the teens.
With our coffees, we walked down the tree-lined streets to the Maryland State House.
This has got to be one of the prettiest capitol buildings in the nation. I love how they brought maritime colors and fused them with colonial style architecture.
The wreaths on the windows were a nice touch.
We did a lap of the building before walking back down towards the water on Cornhill Street.
The Christmas decorations scattered around the city were quite nice, and given the frigid air, felt very on-brand. This one alley was flaked with falling snow.
While garland climbed the light poles of another street:
After half an hour in the city, we moved across the Chesapeake on the Bay-Bridge.
~SIDE NOTE~
There is a motion to turn a couple sites around the bay into a National Recreation Area, an area similar to the Golden Gate Recreational Area in San Francisco. This would place the preservation underneath the Department of the Interior and create parts of the bay reserved for future generational enjoyment. As someone who grew up venturing over to the bay, swimming in the frigid water and eating the famed blue crabs, I am entirely behind this measure. We need to save America’s treasures. I want to be sure my future children can explore and enjoy the Chesapeake to the extent I did.
Outside of humanity, it is an important ecosystem for different marine life, and also a detrimental source of water and transportation for the Mid-Atlantic. Its watershed impacts almost the entirety of Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland, and stretches into Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It also plays a large historical role in the early roots of America.
How can you help? Contact your representatives in Congress! Let them know what the Chesapeake Bay means to you and how preservation of this land will help future generations.
Here’s a basic message, just plug in your information and maybe a personal anecdote:
Dear Representative/Senator ____,
My name is _____ and I am one of your cosnituients. I am writing to voice my approval of the Chesapeake National Recreation Area and am advocating for you and your session to pass legislation protecting this land.
The Chesapeake Bay is a major economic, environmental and historical player in the United States. The National Recreation Area will set aside some land and place its protection under the Department of the Interior preserving this treasure for future generation.
<Name>
Visit the official movement at: https://united4cnra.com
~Back to Regularly Scheduled Programming~
About two hours later, Lexi and I rolled into Salisbury, the largest city on the Eastern Shore. What a place it was. Let’s go through a tour of the strange, strange things we saw in this town.
- The first red flag was this bank that somewhat resembled the Hunger Games. Like, oddly resembled Panem. It could have been the mid-century architecture, or it could have been the offsetting eagle logo. Here’s the bank:
And here’s the Panem logo from the Hunger Games:
2. One of the buildings downtown was a facade? Please don’t ask for clarification on this. If I could describe the history and reason for its existence, I would.
3. We really had to go to the bathroom, but EVERYWHERE was closed. This led us into the courtroom, which had a Fallout Shelter. Now don’t ask me why the town of 45,000 is concerned about being a target for a nuclear warhead, but in the very, VERY off chance they are, at least they’re prepared (I guess?)
4. Times Square (Salisbury’s Version)
5. The last thing we saw was actually outside the garage we parked in! A large banner advertised “We’ve Got Your Back, Mayor Day!” What the hell does this mean?! Is this a message from Mayor Day? Is this a message TO Mayor Day? Does Mayor Day have the town’s back? Does someone have Mayor Day’s back? What the hell is happening Salisbury?? Is it a threat? Is Mayor Day even the Mayor? Is this deceptive? The comma’s placement just really screws up the grammar of this sign. I want ANSWERS!
6. A BONUS! On the way back from the beach, we stopped at a Walmart in Salisbury. Yes my friends, that is a bucket full of different spices. Absolutely horrifying.
I will say, the town had a pretty cool Riverwalk by the Wicomico River.
Regardless, good riddance.
About an hour east, the farmlands turned to marsh as we approached the coast.
We crossed the final bridge and made it onto Chincoteague Island, about six hours after leaving!
The little town was as quaint as ever as we drove across the island.
Across another bridge…
…took us to the barrier islands, where the Chincoteauge National Wildlife Refuge sits. The home of the famed horses, they roam freely around this island.
Our first stop brought us to the lighthouse marking land.
Here’s Lexi and I in front of the lighthouse!
A bit down the road we saw this seagull guarding the sign.
I just love him!
AND THEN FINALLY the ocean!!!
And Lexi in the waves!
Now, I’m not excusing this, but that was the last photo I took from the day, aside from this McDonald’s (?)
I think I was documenting the mid-2000’s architecture style of the restaurants I had grown up with.
The NWR is famous for the wild horses that live around! They’re really cool to see. The park has a driving loop where you can frequently see them.
ANYWAYS… afterwards, we got ice cream from the spectacular Island Creamery on the island. (These pics were from a previous trip in May.)
This place is consistently ranked as some of the best ice cream in Virginia with a TON of flavors. It was also half of the reason Lexi and I chose Chincoteague.
After we ate our ice cream, we made our way back into Maryland to get back to Virginia!
Overall, it was a great trip! One thing about me is that I’ll never turn down an opportunity to see the ocean. It was a great time and a trip I would recommend to anyone. Be sure to:
- Stop in Annapolis
- See a Horse on Chincoteague
- Climb the lighthouse (when its open)
- Drive as fast as you can through Salisbury
Until next time!
Turquoise Skies 