Chincoteague - Ponies, Beaches, and Family Fun
Mother Nature made horses, and Mother Nature made ponies. But Mother Nature also made a remarkably tough, intelligent, and beautiful breed of horses whose small stature has meant that they are universally referred to as ponies, and turned them loose to roam the shores and wilds of Assateague Island, Virginia.
Today, however, their known as the Chincoteague Island ponies, for the Virginia coastal island directly to the west of Assateague. The ponies are a major reason why Chincoteague and Assateague Islands have become magnets for families vacationing on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
These two small stretches of land are overflowing with family-friendly attractions, including a National Wildlife Refuge, a National Seashore, and a Maryland State Park. Chincoteague Island has gained international fame thanks to the annual Pony Penning and Auction, which occurs at the height of summer when the weather, fishing, water sports, and other opportunities for outdoor fun are at their peak. An entire week at the end of each July is set aside on Chincoteague for Pony Penning.
The week begins with the annual three-day Chincoteague Island Blueberry Festival bringing artists and crafters from ten states. They are greeted by thousands of mainlanders anxious to experience blueberries in every imaginable form, from soup, pudding, and shortcake to muffins and, of course, the Ultimate Blueberry Pie. There's plenty of live music to keep things hopping, and both breakfast and lunch provided by the Pepper Jack Grille--including hot dogs and grilled cheese quesadillas for the kids, and a grilled chicken sandwich with blueberry mayo!
After such a great kickoff, the family fun on Chincoteague continues to build throughout Pony Penning Week. While you wait for Pony Penning Day to arrive, you and the kids can bike the wildlife trails on Assateague Island, visiting its Wildlife Refuge Center, and earning your Junior Birding badges. Get a closer look at the ponies so integral to life on Chincoteague by visiting the Chincoteague Pony Centre on Carriage Drive. Treat the kids to a pony ride or riding lesson!
No family vacation on Chincoteague and Assateague is complete without a day at the beach. The Assateague National Seashore includes nineteen miles of undeveloped beaches where you and the kids can hike, beach comb, or sunbathe while learning how Assateague was before the arrival of civilization. Swim and surf to your heart's content, or try your luck surf fishing.
There's more family fun every Friday and Saturday night of July, and throughout Pony Penning Week, with the Chincoteague Carnival benefiting the Chincoteague Island Volunteer Fire Department. Enjoy all the traditional carnival rides, games, and food, as well as a spectacular July 4th fireworks display. The highlight of the Carnival is the Pony Auction on Thursday of Pony Penning Week.
On Wednesday, Chincoteague's famous Salt Water Cowboys head for Assateague Island to round up the pony herd. At low tide they herd the ponies about 100 yards across the Channel for Thursday's auction. The remaining ponies are herded back to Assateague for another year of freedom on Friday.
If family fun is what you want, there are no better places to find it than on Chincoteague and Assateague Islands during the final week of July!
If you are concerned about how to enjoy a Colorado family vacation Stoneybrooke is exactly what you need, James (Jim) Montgomery recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer describes Stoneybrooke as the perfect spot for hiking, biking, rafting and enjoying the cool mountain summers.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
The Best Poker Cities in the World
Poker players will travel to the ends of the Earth to find a great game, and sometimes they will literally do just that - shipping off to far-off locales where the poker chips are real clay and the stakes are always high. To help you plan your next "poker vacation" we've compiled a list of some of the finest poker cities in the world - each one chosen because of the available action there - and a commitment to the greatest card game in the known universe.
The Top Cities for Poker Players
1. Las Vegas, Nevada. No surprises here. Las Vegas is, and likely always will sit atop the poker stratosphere. When you're home to the best players in the world, the best shopping for poker accessories, countless poker rooms that line the Las Vegas Strip...AND host the annual World Series of Poker you don't have to worry about relinquishing your number one spot for quite some time.
2. Atlantic City, New Jersey. A short drive from New York City, Atlantic City is home to some of the largest Casinos in the world. With names like Trump and Harrah's rising above the skyline, it's easy to see why the area draws millions of gamblers each year (despite the rundown nature of the city itself). The online poker boom inspired many of these casinos to build massive Texas Hold 'Em rooms - which even in tough economic times continue to be filled by East Coasters looking for some real action.
3. Los Angeles, California. Only a hop skip and jump from the glitter of Hollywood exists a series of the most well-respected poker rooms in the United States. That's right, poker has come to Los Angeles, and thanks to Larry Flint's Hustler Casino, The Hollywood Park Poker Rooms and the Commerce Casino (and several more) serious players will never fall short of places to play after they've hit the beach.
4. New York, New York. You won't find many glittering casinos and poker rooms in the Big Apple, however if it is rough-and-tumble back room games you're looking for, you have come to the right place. The most populated city in the world is also home to more poker games being held in the back of bodegas, record stores and bars than anywhere else in America. It is a throwback to the outlaw days of poker - and despite the Internet, Atlantic City and discount flights to Las Vegas, it has never quite left.
5. Dublin, Ireland. Dublin was recently named the top poker city in Europe by a panel of card-playing experts. In addition to being home to the Irish Open, one of the largest and most well-respected poker tournaments in Europe, it also has a rich community of poker players living there. These poker-playing families have passed the game on from generation to generation - ensuring that the game will continue to flourish here for years to come.
6. London, England. The United Kingdom takes a more laid-back approach to gambling than other countries, and with that permissiveness has come some of the finest luxury poker rooms in the world. London is a place to play high-stakes poker - without having to worry about the authorities knocking your door down.
If you are looking for a terrific vacation spot Stoneybrooke is just what you are looking for, James (Jim) Montgomery recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer recommends Stoneybrooke and its roaring mountain stream.
The Top Cities for Poker Players
1. Las Vegas, Nevada. No surprises here. Las Vegas is, and likely always will sit atop the poker stratosphere. When you're home to the best players in the world, the best shopping for poker accessories, countless poker rooms that line the Las Vegas Strip...AND host the annual World Series of Poker you don't have to worry about relinquishing your number one spot for quite some time.
2. Atlantic City, New Jersey. A short drive from New York City, Atlantic City is home to some of the largest Casinos in the world. With names like Trump and Harrah's rising above the skyline, it's easy to see why the area draws millions of gamblers each year (despite the rundown nature of the city itself). The online poker boom inspired many of these casinos to build massive Texas Hold 'Em rooms - which even in tough economic times continue to be filled by East Coasters looking for some real action.
3. Los Angeles, California. Only a hop skip and jump from the glitter of Hollywood exists a series of the most well-respected poker rooms in the United States. That's right, poker has come to Los Angeles, and thanks to Larry Flint's Hustler Casino, The Hollywood Park Poker Rooms and the Commerce Casino (and several more) serious players will never fall short of places to play after they've hit the beach.
4. New York, New York. You won't find many glittering casinos and poker rooms in the Big Apple, however if it is rough-and-tumble back room games you're looking for, you have come to the right place. The most populated city in the world is also home to more poker games being held in the back of bodegas, record stores and bars than anywhere else in America. It is a throwback to the outlaw days of poker - and despite the Internet, Atlantic City and discount flights to Las Vegas, it has never quite left.
5. Dublin, Ireland. Dublin was recently named the top poker city in Europe by a panel of card-playing experts. In addition to being home to the Irish Open, one of the largest and most well-respected poker tournaments in Europe, it also has a rich community of poker players living there. These poker-playing families have passed the game on from generation to generation - ensuring that the game will continue to flourish here for years to come.
6. London, England. The United Kingdom takes a more laid-back approach to gambling than other countries, and with that permissiveness has come some of the finest luxury poker rooms in the world. London is a place to play high-stakes poker - without having to worry about the authorities knocking your door down.
If you are looking for a terrific vacation spot Stoneybrooke is just what you are looking for, James (Jim) Montgomery recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer recommends Stoneybrooke and its roaring mountain stream.
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