Nineteen miles of wild shore are set aside for sunbathers, beachcombers, and hikers so that they can experience the island as it existed before colonization (and SUVs). Ocean swimmers and surfers will no doubt delight in the Atlantic's playful waves that continuously lap the shore. If you've never surfed, this is a good place to learn because you don't have to worry about 30-foot Hawaiian tsunamis taking you on the last ride of your life.

Surfcasters can expect blues and stripers to start biting in April. The kingfish and weakfish invasion begins in May. The battle of man versus fish continues throughout the summer and into autumn. Live bunker is the old-school bait of choice.

The nearest airports are Ocean City Municipal Airport and Salisbury-Wicomico County Regional Airport. Cars can access the Assateague Island National Seashore at two entrances: The north entrance is at the end of Route 611, eight miles south of Ocean City, Maryland, and the south entrance is at the end of Route 175, two miles from Chincoteague, Virginia.