I received an email recently telling
me that my information on the website was wrong - dogs ARE NOT
allowed on the beach at Assateague Island. Given my motto - "often
wrong but never in doubt" - that was certainly a possibility,
but not in this case.
I don't know if there's a beach I've been to more often than
Assateague Island. In fact, dogs ARE banned on Assateague Island
- but in Assateague State Park, operated by the state of Maryland.
Dogs are welcome on the beach in Assateague National Seashore,
which shares the island with the state park.
When you cross the bridge onto the island the state park is straight
ahead and the national seashore is to the right. It is a more
natural inclination, I guess, for first-time visitors to drive
straight ahead into the state park. And if you get the bad information
that your dog is not allowed you may turn around and, assuming
the entire island is dog-unfriendly, drive off.
I hope that was not the case for this
reader.
The Assateague National Seashore is a
wonderful beach for dogs (not allowed on the three short nature
trails, unfortunately). When you go through the toll booth, drive
as far down as you can and park. Cross over the dunes onto the
beach and turn right. There is nothing but unspoiled sand ahead
of you for miles. Dogs are also allowed in the beach campgrounds
and make reservations far ahead for summer visits.
Oh, and don't led your dog near the famous
ponies that you will see on the park roadways and maybe out on
the beach. They can be nasty and the wild horses aren't for petting
as it is.
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