On Island Time

Jill's Journal: Our days exploring Chincoteague Island have been filled with wonder and delight. Our little pony-loving girls think it’s pretty close to heaven. I do too. This place is a charming, sweet treat. A kitschy treasure. A vibrant sea community that dates back almost 400 years. And I’m in love with it. Without the ponies, it would be just a quant fishing village forgotten by time. But the ponies bring charm and beauty and history and lots and lots of tourism.

Here’s some of what we’ve enjoyed the past few days, not even counting a darling little museum that the girls loved and a tour of the Coast Guard facilities:


Beautiful lighthouse views.



Seaside dining.



"Rock beds" made of oyster shells.



Misty memorabilia at every turn.



Misty's hoofprints in front of the movie theatre (she attended the premiere of her very own movie!).



A visit to the Island Creamery, where the local ice cream got the girls’ stamp of approval.



Tour of Bebee Ranch, home of Misty. This was the world’s most famous pony’s actual stall.



And the disconcerting image of Misty herself, stuffed. In the same room is the stuffed remains of her most popular daughter, Stormy (who was featured in the Misty sequel, Stormy, Misty’s Foal).



Miss Molly’s Inn, a picture-perfect Bed & Breakfast, where Marguerite Henry was staying when she met Misty and actually contrived the idea for her book during the 1946 pony swim.



The delightful young author Jessie-Ann Friend, a California native who was mentored by Marguerite Henry herself and whose latest pony book Erika is currently enjoying.



And finally, Angel, a fifth-generation descendant of Misty. The girls sure would have liked to take her home!