Cumberland Island... A Tropical Paradise 5 Hours from Atlanta!!

Sunday morning, I stepped off a ferry boat onto a gorgeous tropical island. The trees were dripping with Spanish moss and blooming with flowers of all colors. Beautifully colored birds sang whimsical tunes and surrounded the jungle in song. I felt as though I had paid a large sum of money to visit a tropical island in the Caribbean, but surprisingly this secret island is only 5 hours from Atlanta, Georgia! Welcome to Cumberland Island, which is a National Seashore located off the coast of good ole' southern Georgia. It is about a 2 hour drive from Savannah, Georgia. The island is very isolated and there is not a bridge to the island. Visitors have to take a short ferry boat ride from the quaint city of St. Mary, GA to access the island.

Cumberland island consists of about 36,000 acres and 3 major ecosystems. This makes for a very fun and interesting place to explore. There are salt marshes, giant oak trees covered in Spanish moss, and a beautiful private beach that covers 17 miles. The animals that roam the island consist of armadillos, sea turtles, woodpeckers, turkeys, raccoons deer, and wild hogs. The island is also very famous for their population of feral horses! (I'd rather call them "wild horses"... sounds more magical, but the correct term for these horses is feral.) The horses can be found all over the island, but they tend to populate more near one of the island more popular destinations, Dungeness.

It is believed that the horses were brought over by the Spanish to be used as livestock in the 1500's. The horses were kept on the island to be used for transportation, recreation, and work. After the Civil War, many of the horses were removed from the island. The Carnegie family, a famous family which occupation the Dungeness mansion, moved back to the island in the 1800's. The family alone brought over about 50 horses to be used for riding, pulling carriages, and other work. The horses were managed as free range livestock until the 1960's. Once The Cumberland Island National Seashore was established in 1972, the horses were deemed feral. The national park estimate that about 120-150 horses roam the park.

*Guests to the park are asked not to touch horses. They have been known to kick, bite, or charge in some cases. It is best to be respectful to the animals and give them plenty of space. Dungeness is one of the most famous structures on the island. The historic mansion was constructed by James Oglethorpe in 1736 and it has been inhabited by several tenants, including the father of Robert E. Lee. During the U.S. Civil war, the home was abandoned and burned in 1866. In the 1880's, the home and 90% of the island was purchased by the famous Carneige family, but in 1959 the mansion was once again destroyed by fire. The remains of the home were donated by the Carneige family to the National Park Service in 1972. The mansion is now inhabited by the animals that roam the park. Below is a picture of the original home and a current photo that I snapped during my time there.

Now that you know some of the history of the island... it is time to visit! But how to get there?! Can you camp there? Are there food services on the island? The only way to get to the island is by taking the ferry boat that departs from St. Mary's, Georgia. Tickets cost about $28 for a round trip ride and I would advise people to buy the tickets in advance. The boat is small and the island is becoming more popular with the public. The first time my friends and I attempted to go, the tickets were sold out. The same scenario applies to camping on the island. There are several campsite available, but they do fill up very quickly. If you plan on camping on the island, try and reserve a spot a few months in advance, especially if you are trying to go during the warmer months. At the bottom of the page, you can find links to purchase ferry tickets and more information on camping on the island. I was not able to camp on the island, because I was not able to reserve a spot soon enough. I have heard that star gazing on the island is amazing! If you are able to camp there, please let me know your experience! Some other tips I have is to bring food! There are not any services on the island, besides a small bed and breakfast hotel, which is rather expensive. So if you are camping or day tripping, remember to pack plenty of water and snacks. I would also make sure to bring sunscreen and bug spray. There are also bike rentals on the island for $16, but the bikes tend to go fast. I do not think that you need a bike to explore the park. There are many trails that you will not even be able to ride the bike on. The main path is really the only path that you can ride on. I personally did not think that the bike rentals were worth the money. Save your money and explore the island on foot. Make sure to visit the Dungeness ruins and the beach. All in all, Cumberland Island is a beautiful tropical island that deserves a place on the bucket list of all Georgians.

Life is to be experienced, journey wisely. Kelly Fitzgerald Ferry Boat Tickets- https://www.cumberlandislandferry.com Camping Reservations and Additional Information- https://www.nps.gov/cuis/index.htm