I paid $50 to take a boat tour around a beautiful island in Virginia filled with wild ponies. It should be on everyone's bucket list.

• I recently visited Chincoteague Island in Virginia and went on a boat tour.

• I paid $50 for a two-hour tour and saw a lot of wild ponies and other wildlife.

• Though it rained during the tour, it was a great experience that I'd definitely do again.

I love exploring places that fulfill my desire to get away without depleting my bank account. Eager to enjoy the outdoors after a chilly spring, I decided to book a trip to Virginia's only resort island, Chincoteague Island.

The 7-mile island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia is best known for its beaches, unspoiled nature, and proximity to herds of wild ponies on Assateague Island. The area's annual pony swim from Assateague to Chincoteague islands attracts about 50,000 visitors each year.

Though we didn't head to Chincoteague Island for the pony swim, I still wanted to see some of the estimated 150 ponies on the nearby Assateague Island via a boat tour. So, I booked a $50 boat ride to see the area's wildlife and the ponies.

Here's what my experience taking a boat tour around Chincoteague Island was like.

I registered for a boat tour around Chincoteague Island for $50 a person.

Research led me to Captain Dan's Around the Island Tours, which offers two-hour public and private cruises around Chincoteague Island.

Reviews raved about pony sightings in the mornings, so I booked a 10 a.m. public tour for my husband and me for $50 each. Though the ponies are located on Assateague Island, passengers can see them from the boat circling Chincoteague Island.

We drifted around Chincoteague Island through Chincoteague Bay and close to the shore of Assateague Island near the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

We arrived at the docks in Chincoteague before our departure time.

We arrived at the docks on Chincoteague Island 10 minutes before our boarding time, per the booking instructions.

One of the company's captains, Doug, was aboard a pontoon boat idling at the dock, chatting with a couple who'd already arrived. An ominous forecast threatened our trip the night before, but the morning gave way to an overcast sky that the captain deemed safe.

The earlier forecast must've deterred other guests because we scored a semiprivate tour with a total party of six and enough seating for 10, with plenty of room to get comfortable.

Our small group boarded the boat and cruised down the Chincoteague Channel.

Doug welcomed us aboard the boat, briefly stopping each passenger to confirm their registration.

After a rundown of the tour, during which he described the route we'd be taking and when we could expect to see the ponies, he steered the boat into the Chincoteague Channel.

The captain told us about the area's local history and wildlife as we drifted along.

Six minutes in, a passenger pointed out a bald eagle perched on a nearby dock. We motored past osprey, dolphins, and friendly fishermen as the captain recounted how recent storms have affected the local landmarks.

We saw the wild ponies just a few minutes into our boat ride.

Doug slowed down as we neared part of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge located on Assateague Island. He explained that two herds of ponies on Assateague Island travel in bands — smaller groups typically led by a stallion.

A band of 13 horses grazing along the bank came into view as if on cue. The captain idled the boat so passengers could take pictures and ask questions.

We even saw a second band of horses.

We then drifted toward Assateague Channel, the site of the famed pony swim. Doug explained that the ponies are paraded down Chincoteague's main street after crossing this body of water.

Then, the foals are auctioned off to control the population's size. The ponies take less than 30 minutes to cross the channel, yet the event draws tens of thousands of spectators annually.

We soon rounded the bend where the historic red-and-white Assateague Lighthouse appeared above towering pines. The lighthouse has warned passing ships of the area's shallow waters since its reconstruction in 1867. As captivating as it was, the two dozen horses in the marshy foreground stole my attention.

I felt extremely lucky to see the area's beautiful animals during the boat ride.

Doug steered us near the bank and said he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen the horses in front of the lighthouse, which made me feel lucky to be there that day.

We snapped countless photos, then continued past Chincoteague Island's northern tip.

Dark clouds rolled in while we were on the boat — and then it started raining.

Dark storm clouds quickly rolled in. The captain lifted the seats and pulled out raincoats for everyone. It soon began to pour.

I'm usually averse to rain, but I couldn't help but smile. We'd seen more than I expected — not only two groups of ponies but a part of Virginia filled with vast marshlands and a coastal village spirit that felt worlds away from the urban scramble of home.

Chincoteague Island is a dreamy destination, and I'd go back in a heartbeat.

My husband and I began talking about our next trip to Chincoteague Island before we'd even left.

Spending the morning in the presence of this charming, unspoiled area while seeing Assateague Island's iconic wild horses felt like a premium opportunity that I'd pay $50 to experience again.

These islands are now some of my favorite places — and I can't wait to return.

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