Cumberland Island National Seashore Beach - Georgia

Address:Cumberland Island, Georgia
Tel: (877) 860-6787

Why did the founders of Coca-Cola, the Rockefellers, and the Carnegies have such a profound love of Cumberland Island National Seashore? Why did John F. Kennedy, Jr. choose Cumberland Island National Seashore as the secret spot for his marriage to Caroline Bessette? More than sixteen miles of 1,000-foot-wide, pristine white sands and undulating dunes. Wide expanses of stark-white stars glittering against black, skies. Wild turkeys, horses, otters, bobcats, alligators, armadillos, deer, loggerhead turtles, and more than 335 species of birds lurking along the shores and forage in the marshes and forests that border the untouched sands. Cumberland Island National Seashore is the jewel of Georgia.

Because only three hundred people (without their cars) are allowed on Cumberland Island everyday, the animals always outnumber the tourists. Stroll the island's seashores and you will meet a sand dollar, a shark's tooth, or an egret before you happen upon another human being. One of the quietest, best-preserved areas in the U.S., Cumberland Island National Seashore beaches are pure, untamed wilderness, abandoned-island paradise, exactly what every nature-loving, adventurous beach bum is looking for.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a place to explore. Giant, saltwater palmetto palms provide a fanlike fringe along the grounds. Bring your binoculars to spot herons, egrets, bald eagles, golden eagles, and pelicans plying the skies. Comb the sands after a high tide or a storm and you will likely fill your pockets with sharks teeth, ark shells, moon snails, heart cockles, and sand dollars.

Stand on the sand to watch dolphins bob out of the water, or swim Cumberland Island National Seashore's calm, tender waters. A wide sandbar runs the length of Cumberland Island breaking the waves before they hit the shores, making your swim easy and relaxing. But while the swimming is ideal, there are no lifeguards at any time; travelers are responsible for their own safety. While the Cumberland Island National Seashore's beaches are universally wide and pleasant, many travelers prefer the private beach of the island's hotel, Greyfield Inn, which offers a beachside gazebo for welcome shade.

Shore and deep-sea fishing on Cumberland Island National Seashore are common pastimes (bring your Georgia Fishing License) as is gathering shrimps and crabs from the island's salty marshes. To view the sands from the ocean, boating or kayaking are good options. You can bring your own boat or charter one on the island. You will need to bring your own kayak with you.

Nighttime at Cumberland Island National Seashore is as magical as it is at high noon. In late spring and early summer three hundred pound loggerhead turtles take a nighttime crawl along Cumberland's seashores to deposit eggs in their sandy nests. Cumberland Island National Seashore's unspoiled beaches are prime locations for star gazing, so bring along a telescope.

Getting to Cumberland Island National Seashore is an adventure unto itself. You can take a boat or ferry from St. Mary's, Georgia (book well in advance even for a day trip). There are generally two trips daily from March 1 through September 30. It is also possible to take the Lucy Ferguson or the Robert W. Ferguson, a private ferry belonging to the Greyfield Inn. The Ferguson ferries leave from Fernandina Beach, Fla, usually three times daily. Greyfield Inn can also arrange for small plane trips or air-taxis to Cumberland Island National Seashore.

With it's quiet, unspoiled beauty, Cumberland Island National Seashore is one of the best-kept, best-preserved wilderness beach secrets in the U.S.

Cumberland Island is 17.5 miles long and totals 36,415 acres of which 16,850 are marsh, mud flats, and tidal creeks. It is well known for its sea turtles, wild turkeys, wild horses, armadillos, abundant shore birds, dune fields, maritime forests, salt marshes, and historic structures. Visit Cumberland Island National Seashore for a natural experience: sun and sand, beautiful vistas and relaxing atmosphere. Be prepared with all supplies including food and water.