Assateague Island

Just south of Ocean City, Assateague Island is everything Ocean City is not: undeveloped, quiet, and genuinely wild. The barrier island is a national seashore and state park, with wide beaches backed by dunes and maritime forest. The famous wild ponies wander freely, appearing at the campsite, on the beach, and at parking lots with the casual confidence of creatures who have been here much longer than the tourists.

Getting there is easy — about 8 miles south of Ocean City by car, or by bike along the flat coastal road. The state park section is closest; the national seashore extends further south. Both have their own beaches (admission charged separately). The ocean beach is excellent — cleaner and less crowded than Ocean City, with slightly rougher surf. Camping is available in both sections.

things to do sight wildlife
A story
The wild ponies of Assateague are descended from horses that may have swum ashore from a Spanish shipwreck in the 17th century — or, more prosaically, from livestock put out to graze on the island by 17th-century settlers to avoid mainland taxes. Either way, about 150 wild horses now roam the island freely, and they are completely indifferent to humans.