Chincoteague Island

For a stay surrounded by beaches, bays and a solid serving of local attractions, have a pitstop at Chincoteague Island, near Assateague Island at the gateway to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

Wildlife spotters and scenery seekers will feel right at home here: the park is minutes from the entrance to Assateague Island National Seashore, famed for its marshland, dunes, pine woodlands and long strands of undeveloped sandy beaches. It's also at the gateway to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, home to the likes of wild Chincoteague ponies, bald eagles and flocks of migratory seabirds.

Chincoteague Island is a 200-acre coastal park, an easy walk or bike ride from antique shops, museums, parks and art galleries. It has a kayak launch for paddles around the bay among spectacular island views, and an activity programme packed with events including strawberry shortcake-eating contests, sports tournaments, themed weekends and seasonal shindigs.

Also around are a heated pool and a playground with giant trampoline around the grounds, and Maui Jack's waterpark new to Chincoteague Island for 2018 and adjacent to the campground. There's also the Sandy Dollar food truck, next to the Soggy Dollar Tiki Bar; for eats off the grounds, hire a bike and pedal into town to trawl the fab local seafood joints, settling down with tasty food as the sun sets spectacularly over Chincoteague Bay.