8/17/16

Horsing around Assateague Island National Seashore, Berlin, Maryland

Updated: 6/26/23
Wild horses roam freely on Assateague Island National Seashore
We moved to the south over two decades ago. Since then, we've made many road trips back to the northeast. They're always memorable, but this particular road trip was truly unforgettable. We went in mid July, and were lucky to run into several festivals. We finally made it to the Brimfield Antique Festival, one of the largest and perhaps the best flea market in the northeast, a must-visit if you're a flea fan. There was a Sand Sculpture Festival in Revere Beach, and we met up with some college friends there and later moved on to the Folk Festival in Lowell. We took day trips to the north shore (Gloucester and Rockport), ate at our favorite seafood place on Cape Cod, and explored many neighborhood parks.

On our return trip, traffic slowed to a crawl in New York City; it took us an hour to drive 4 miles to get to the George Washington Bridge! We were to meet family for a reunion at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and traffic there was snarled up as well. August is prime time for the beach and there is only one way in. We were stuck. 
entrance to Rehoboth Beach (we made it, at long last!)
Sand castle competition at Rehoboth Beach
Known as our "nation's summer capital," Rehoboth Beach offers clean beaches and a mile-long boardwalk lined with old fashioned entertainment (Whac-a-mole, anyone?), shops (ice cream with 150 flavors) and restaurants. The place always transports me back to the good ole days, when times were slower and much simpler. You can hang out on the boardwalk or beach past midnight since the beach doesn't close until one in the morning. Just remember to bring plenty of quarters for parking!
Whac-A-Mole at Funland
mile-long boardwalk at dusk one May
Did I mention that Delaware is a tax free state, and shopping at the outlet malls is the other big attraction? As the week wore on, we were starting to feel stressed out, as we fought traffic trying to get from one place to another.

Luckily, there is the amazing Assateague Island National Seashore nearby.
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Assateague Island Visitor Center. 
At the visitor center
It was our refuge from the hustle and bustle. Clamming, crabbing, paddle boarding, kayaking and wildlife viewing are some popular activities here. Or you can swim, surf and even camp overnight on the beach. Whether exploring by car or by foot, you're bound to encounter the wild horses that call Assateague home. We enjoyed the beauty of these magnificent animals. Read about their interesting history here.
Sunny blue skies at South Ocean Beach
Wild horses taking a nap
Taking a break along the road
This area is an excellent location for a family vacation or reunion. We had 16 members ranging in age from 6 to 73, and everyone loved it - beaching, shopping, boating, crabbing, fishing and eating crabs and myriad seafood.

Assateague Island National Seashore charges $25/vehicle for a 7 day pass.