Chris Militzer/Miliman12 Photography
Horses on Assateague Island, Md.
There are times when we all need to check out for a bit, unwind, detach from the emails, say no to another Netflix binge and get back to basics.
Maybe not "check out" for long — we don’t always have the time or resources to jet off and go Caribbean island hopping — but how about a blissfully disconnected weekend?
We’re lucky to have a plethora of great camping spots within just a few hours, letting you take a quick weekend getaway with enough time to vibe with nature and let the stress go.
I can’t promise there won’t be stress with setting up the tent, but that’s another story.
Looking for such a weekend, I set my sights on Assateague Island National Seashore. Assateague checked all the boxes: clean sites, a beach, relaxing, and only about 3 hours away. Oh, and way more nature to vibe with than expected.
I was able to snag GMC’s new Sierra AT4 for the trip, and its ridiculously deep growl from that engine made me wish the drive was longer.
Chris Militzer/Miliman 12 Photography
While I was looking to get back to basics and Mrs. Militzer was on board with this, she wasn’t quite as excited to detach from the comforts of home, such as a bed. Problem solved! The GMC Sierra AT4 is actually wide enough that there are inflatable mattress kits available that will put a 12-inch deep base in the bed of the truck.
I wanted to sleep beneath the stars, but we needed something to keep us safe from the mosquitoes. Another problem solved! Enter the Napier tent, that is made to attach to that same truck bed and house the city folks trying to get away.
The whole setup made for a really comfortable stay and was commented on by more than a few camping veterans in the park, that had never seen anything like it. The truck had the incredible new Multipro tailgate that allowed it to fold down into a step to allow my aging bones easy entrance to the tent and the mattress for when we had enough nature for the day.
Chris Militzer/Miliman12 Photography
Driving to Assateague, I thought about other trips I’ve taken to spots such as the Outer Banks to see the wild horses out there. I have driven my own truck through the beaches and dunes of Corolla looking for the horses, striking out many times. I wondered if that would be the case here with everyone telling us we just had to see the horses. Would I need to test out the Sierra’s factory 2 inch lift and off road tires to hunt them down?
It became very apparent immediately upon entering the park, that we would have no problem finding these horses, and we welcomed the safety of the big truck on more than one occasion as the local residents were in the middle of a Stallion turf war.
When you check into the park, they warn you to treat the horses like you would a bear. Not to say that you will be mauled by them, but they will take your cooler and food, and eat anything you leave out. The park provides straps to lock your coolers closed, and picnic tables have lockable compartments to store other items.
These same gentle giants will also bite and kick you if you dare get too close, and I was amazed that people consistently took that dare.
Chris Militzer/Miliman12 Photography
None of this is to dissuade even the casual camper from going, but you do need to prepare for being there among the wild horses. You are guests in their home.
In fact, there were so many horses, on the road and popping out of the woods next to our campsite, that searching for these beautiful creatures is completely unnecessary. As for needing the safety of the truck, I have a healthy respect for these animals and kept a safe distance.
Still, when several very large stallions chased each other straight through our campsite at full speed, I appreciated the comfort and protection the Sierra AT4 offered.
It was one of the coolest things I’ve watched, but we didn’t need to be in the middle of the action.
The campsites are fairly big, with a large pad for your vehicles and space for several tents. There are firepits for your campfire and grills for your cooking needs, with plenty of spots along the way selling firewood before you get into the park.
The beach is wide, clean and easy to walk to from both the bayside sites and the ocean locations (of course) as well.
Chris Militzer/Miliman12 Photographer
Bayside campers have a shorter walk to water sports on the calmer waters of the Chincoteague Bay. Plenty of spots are available for bird watchers, too, or just sit back and watch the ponies roam!
This trip was just what we needed for an inexpensive getaway to recharge, talk by the fire, have a few adult beverages and pay attention to each other.
For more information on camping at Assateague Island National Seashore, visit www.nps.gov/asis/planyourvisit/marylandcamping.htm.
Chris Militzer/Miliman12 Photography
