As Spring Break roles around there is one big question in the minds of college students everywhere, “Where do we go for Spring Break?” Most students will venture to the Florida beaches and enjoy the daytime fun in the sun and the nighttime action. But why fight the rat race in Florida when there are almost empty beaches off the coast of Georgia?
Cumberland Island is off the coast of St. Mary’s in Georgia. It’s a small town, but this place offers tourists some of the best untarnished beaches that can be found. This Island has been home to pirates, houses the first African American Baptist church and was used as a base during the Revolutionary war.
Through many years of exchange the estate of Cumberland Island was passed until it ended up in the hands of Lucy Carnegie. In her will she stipulated that as long as any of her ancestors lived, her land could not be sold. Her estate is called Dungeness and is the most popular for the visitors of the Island. Her mansion was burned down during a night of debauchery by English soldiers and was never rebuilt for members of the family to live in because the upkeep is so expensive.
One of the biggest draws to the Island is the herds of horses roaming freely. In Lucy Carnegie’s will she wrote that upon her death all her horses were to be set free to roam, to this day many herds of wild horses frolic on the beaches.
The beaches around the Island are all natural and with so few people allowed on the Island you can find yourself a private beach.
Activities around the Island include hiking, swimming, sightseeing and exploring the history the Island has to offer. You can even camp for up to seven days if you really want to be adventurous on your break.
This ‘hidden’ beach might not offer the normal Spring Break action but the beautiful and untarnished appeal the Island offers more than makes up for the quiet nightlife.
The Island is only accessible by ferry so you have to reserve your spots online, and it only allows up to 110 people on it at one time. So reservations are key if you want to visit.
For more information you can visit http://www.nps.gov/cuis/index.htm or call (912) 882-4336 ext. 254 to make your reservations.