The Virginia and Maryland shores

First Landing State Park takes its name from the first landing of English settlers on the coast of Virginia. They moved on to settle Jamestown, which is nearby.

A typical two-bedroom cabin at First Landing State Park.

Oversized Adirondack chairs adorn the beach at Kiptopeke State Park in Cape Charles, Va. (July 17, 2012)

In Cape Charles, Va., Kiptopeke State Park offers sun and beach as well as wooded trails.

A six-bedroom lodge at Kiptopeke State Park.

The quiet night beach at Kiptopeke State Park.

Wild ponies are herded into the Assateague Channel to for their annual swim to Chincoteague Island, in Chincoteague, Va. Every year the wild ponies are rounded up to be auctioned off by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. (July 25, 2012)

Wild horses graze along the roadside at Maryland's Assateague State Park. (July 17, 2012)

Visitors stop on the side of the road to photograph the wild ponies of Assateague Island, Maryland. It is against regulations for tourists to touch, feed or attract the animals. (July 7, 2011)

A salt-water cowboy waits for wild ponies to swim across the channel from Assateague Island to Chincoteague, Va. (July 25, 2012)