Snug Harbor Marina on Chincoteague Island

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

The top 5 reasons to book a tour with Captain John include:

1. Unmatched Local Expertise and Heritage-Captain John is a true Chincoteague local whose ancestors were among the first settlers on the island. Navigating these specific waters for over 50 years—having run boats here since he was just 7 years old—he infuses his tours with deep generation-spanning storytelling, personal local history, and insider knowledge that you won't find in standard travel guides.

2. Access to Remote, Hidden Wildlife Spots-because of his lifelong familiarity with the island's complex tidal systems, Captain John knows exactly how to navigate into the most remote marshlands and hidden channels of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. He bypasses the crowded tourist zones to take you directly to secluded areas where the wild animals actually live and forage.

3. Up-Close Visuals of Ponies and Marine Life-while land-based visitors are restricted by fences, Captain John’s deep understanding of local wildlife behavior allows him to track down herds of wild ponies, active dolphin pods, bald eagles, and osprey right at the water's edge. Reviewers on Tripadvisor consistently rave about getting incredibly close, optimal views perfect for photography.

4. Fast, Smooth, and Comfortable Vessels-Snug Harbor Marina operates one of the cleanest, and most immaculate pontoon eco-tour boats on the island. This specialized design means you waste less time in transit and spend far more time at the actual viewing sites, all while enjoying a smooth, shaded, and highly comfortable ride.

5. Highly Intimate Small-Group Experience-unlike mass-tourism boats packed with dozens of passengers, Captain John specializes in premium, small-group excursions. This smaller setting ensures a relaxed, unhurried, and highly conversational atmosphere where the captain can answer every single question, tailor the route to your interests, and give you plenty of time to take photos.

www.chincoteagueaccommodations.com

05/26/2026

Captain John explores the coastline of Virginia’s Eastern Shore during Memorial Day weekend and finds the world famous Chincoteague ponies.

05/25/2026

The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and the Chincoteague Refuge Friends Group is excited to announce the reopening of the Assateague Lighthouse for climbing!

The lighthouse will begin summer climbing hours on Monday, May 25, 2026 (Memorial Day). The hours will be 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Beginning Friday, May 29, 2026 the lighthouse will be open for climbing every Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. through Labor Day, weather permitting. After Labor Day the lighthouse will only be open on Saturdays until Thanksgiving weekend. We are so pleased that we have enough volunteers to cover two days a week during the summer again this year!

Please wear comfortable shoes and bring your patience as the line can get quite long at times. Also, bring your bug spray. Yes, our Refuge nibblers are back! Our volunteers will greet you at the bottom and top of the lighthouse so bring your smiles too!

Remember the lighthouse is free but donations are welcome. You can either donate in cash at the lighthouse, use the QR code located at both the lighthouse and the Bateman Visitor Center or, you can donate by credit card at the Bateman Visitor Center. As always, the book/gift shop located in the Bateman will be open. Come in and see all the new items that are being stocked daily.

Looking forward to seeing our visitors once again enjoying the beautiful view from the top of our lighthouse!

Photo credit goes to Captain John, he took this photo on his sunset tour one evening, perfect time of day to capture the beauty of the Lighthouse.

05/23/2026

Snug Harbor will give you an unbelievable vacation experience.

Snug Harbor Marina and Resort on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, serves as the ultimate waterfront launchpad for a classic summer getaway. Nestled directly along the Assateague channel, this historic resort treats guests to uninterrupted views of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and the pristine shores of neighboring Assateague Island. Its prime location is a paradise for nature lovers, who can frequently spot the world-famous wild Chincoteague ponies and diverse coastal bird species grazing along the marshy coastline right from the comfort of their private cottage decks.

Beyond its spectacular scenery, the resort is a premier hub for on-the-water adventure and coastal recreation. Boasting the island’s largest fleet of watercraft rentals, it allows visitors to easily map out their own summer excursions using high-quality motorboats, pontoon boats, kayaks, and paddleboards. Adventurous travelers can skip the crowded public boardwalks to discover hidden, secluded sandbars, cast a line for local saltwater fish, or spend a quiet afternoon crabbing in the abundant, calm waters of the bay.

The true magic of Snug Harbor peaks during the high summer season, particularly during the historic Chincoteague Pony Swim in July. As the closest resort to the pony swim lane, it offers an unmatched vantage point and exclusive eco-tours for guests eager to witness the legendary herd cross the channel. Combined with a refreshing daily thermal ocean breeze that naturally cools the property every afternoon, the resort captures the nostalgic, laid-back essence of a traditional Virginia island vacation.

05/23/2026

Nature tours in Chincoteague are unbelievable adventures because they offer front-row access to completely unspoiled barrier island ecosystems, free-roaming wild ponies, and one of the premier birdwatching flyways in North America.

Captain John will take you on a grand expedition to find the most incredible wildlife!

05/21/2026

Come on an unbelievable expedition to find the world famous wild ponies. Captain Basia leads her kayaking adventure to the wilderness of Assateague island to find the ponies grazing along the marshlands.

Today, Beach Boy reigns as one of the most famous and photographed wild stallions on Assateague island, known for his bold, striking markings and fiery presence. He has successfully secured his legacy by siring numerous wild foals, ensuring that Misty's bloodline will continue to roam the salt marshes for generations to come. Visitors and wildlife photographers frequently spot him in the refuge pastures alongside his preferred mare, Maezie, where he remains a living symbol of Chincoteague history and a favorite of Captain Basia’s kayaking tours!

Book your Chincoteague kayak tour today!
757-894-9822

05/20/2026

Captain John Shields of Snug Harbor Boat Tours is widely considered the gold-standard guide for birdwatching and pony watching on Chincoteague Island due to his unmatched lifetime of expertise and deep ancestral ties to the area. Running boats through these coastal waterways since he was seven years old, he has dedicated over 50 years to sharing the beauty of the barrier islands with visitors.

As a descendant of the island's earliest settlers, his tours are masterclasses in local history, maritime lore, and the legacy of the Assateague Lighthouse, bringing a rare depth of knowledge that cannot be found in guidebooks. He is frequently called the island's "wildlife whisperer" because of his uncanny ability to track down elusive species, once gaining international attention for spotting an incredibly rare white dolphin.

Utilizing fast and comfortable pontoon boats, Captain John navigates deep into the most remote, pristine corners of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge where larger commercial vessels cannot fit. Visitors frequently note that his hyper-attuned eyes catch tiny ripples or hidden movements in the marsh that others miss entirely, even taking guests to see the actual filming locations of the classic Misty of Chincoteague movie.

Captain John’s relationship with the local ecosystem goes far beyond standard sightseeing; it is defined by a quiet, lifelong devotion to protecting the island's fauna. Instead of forcing close encounters for entertainment, he reads the pulse of the tides and drops his engine to a soft whisper.

This careful stewardship ensures that he can maneuver close to hunting dolphins, nesting bald eagles, and the island's famous wild ponies without startling them or disrupting their natural behaviors.Having spent half a century on the water, he has witnessed generations of the wild pony herds, observing legendary stallions like Surfer Dude eventually pass the torch to sons like Riptide.

He views these wild animals not as mere tourist attractions, but as vital symbols of the island's untamed spirit. Rather than rushing through a checklist of sights, he pauses his vessel to allow travelers to fully appreciate the animals in their undisturbed habitats, treating the wilderness with the reverence of a protective guardian.