When you think of an island,
you probably think of tiki huts and jet skis and rum drinks with little pink umbrellas served up by
smiling locals. But you won’t find any of that on Cumberland Island – not even the locals. And that’s
what makes it so magical.
Imagine an island that was once inhabited by one of the wealthiest families in the country, whose
enormous mansion now sits in open ruins. Imagine a canopy of palms and green branches and Spanish
moss arching over you as you bike along a sandy path, its insects calling out to you in a cacophony of
chirps and its greenery hiding the wildlife that could be just mere feet away from you inside it. Imagine
winding through a trail just to find three wild horses and a foal feeding on grass, with little care that you
have found them. Imagine crossing over sand dunes until your eyes are filled with miles and miles of
untouched beaches and dolphins swimming in the distance.
That is Cumberland Island.
Traveling during the coronovirus pandemic is no easy feat. But there is likely no safer place, no
place more full of opportunities to social distance, than the Cumberland Island National Seashore, just
a few hours from Cobb County. With its rich history, unexpected wildlife and 17 acres of untouched
beaches, a visit there will make you feel as if you are an ancient explorer, descending upon a forgotten,
preserved paradise.
WRITTEN BY KATY RUTH CAMP
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG
SEPTEMBER 2020 | COBB LIFE 35
/EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG