Welcome back! This is a special find and would require a whole day to truly explore all that Cumberland Island National Seashore has to offer. This is one of the barrier islands off of Georgia’s coast and features breathtaking wildlife and gorgeous ruins. The island is only 17.52 miles long, and three miles wide (at its widest point). In order to get to the island, guests have to buy a ticket and take a 30-minute ferry ride. The ferry has two arrival times and two departure times, so it is very important to make sure you know when to be there when you make your reservations. Only a limited number of people are allowed on the island every day.
Cumberland Island is known for the wild horses, miles of bike trails, historic ruins, a gorgeous beach, and beautiful old mansions. The Carnegie family is most well-known for the steel manufacturing industry, but with their wealth they were able to purchase several plantations on Cumberland Island. This is a picture of Dungeness Ruins, which was first constructed in 1884 for the Carnegie family, but suffered from a fire in 1959. From the ferry dock, Dungeness was less than a mile walk to get there through a shaded trail in the woods.
This is Plum Orchard Mansion, which is typically open for tours but was not when I went due to COVID-19. This mansion was built as a wedding gift for another one of the Carnegie sons who passed away in 1921.
There is a museum on the island in the icehouse, which displays an arrangement of the history of the island. As well as, the First African Baptist Church at the north end of the island, which was built in 1893 and was where John F. Kennedy got married. Some people we spoke with were planning on spending a few days on the island tent camping in one of the campgrounds, which is very popular in the spring and fall months. Personally, I would recommend renting or bringing a bike to be able to truly explore as much of the island as possible in one day.
My favorite part was the wild horses. When we were biking out to Plum Orchard Mansion, we were on the lookout for these “mysterious” wild horses and spotted some in a field, as well as crossing the path in front of us. The horses were smaller than I expected and very thin, which should have been expected with a diet of plants and low grasses. The bike ride was on flat, sandy gravel so it was not very difficult, but there were also several horses near the Dungeness Ruins, which is within walking distance of the ferry dock.
Overall, the island was very quiet and peaceful. This gem protects the mainland from storms and offers a safe home to a variety of wildlife. I would recommend bringing lots of sunscreen, bug repellent, and water to have a fun and safe day on Cumberland Island. This Georgia Gem exceeded my expectations, and I would love to go back and explore again!
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