About Brunswick's Golden Isles

Cumberland Island is an amazing National Sea Shore managed by the National Park Service. An island larger than the size of Manhattan Island allowing a maximum of 300 visitors per day keeps it beautifully pristine. There was so much to do on Cumberland Island is just a day trip that I couldn't cover everything in the one post, so see my Cumberland Island, Georgia Part I - about Cumberland feral horses. Below is a photo taken from the ferry as we traveled to Cumberland from Saint Mary's, Georgia.

The view as you are arriving to the island from the ferry are beautiful.

Upon arrival, you are greeted by park rangers who give you the option of self guided tours or a guided tour. My husband and I elected to take the guided tour to hear about the island's history which is documented back 4000 years to the Timucuan Indians.

The Spanish in the 16th century set up a mission on the island. They converted the Indians to Christianity and eventually left the island. After that, most of the Indians either left the island or died from European diseases they had been exposed to from the Spanish. When James Oglethorpe claimed use of Cumberland Island for a hunting lodge which he called Dungeness after a river in Europe.

In 1783, Revolutionary War Hero Nathaniel Greenepurchased the land as to harvest the live oaks for ship building. After he passed away, his wife Catherine remarried Phineas Miller and built the home that Nathaniel Green had designed to build a four story tabby mansion which Catherine named Dungeness. After the economy's blow during the Civil War, the plantation economy deteriorated, the family moved away and the original Dungeness burned in 1866.

The Carnegie Family, Thomas Carnegie and his wife Lucy purchased land on Cumberland for a winter retreat. In 1884, the construction of a new mansion on the Dungeness site commenced. Thomas did not live to see its completion, but his wife Lucy and their 9 children had the 59 room Scottish style mansion. The Carnegies remained living in Dungeness until it burned in 1959. The ruins of Dungeness are a part of the guides tour. Lucy Carnegie made it clear in her will that she wanted Cumberland preserved and the Carnegie and Candler families worked the national park service to make the preservation of Cumberland possible.

It is still apparent that the gardens of Dungeness of and views of the river would have been a splendid backdrop for this incredible mansion.

After leaving the Dungeness Ruins, taking a walk towards the dune and the beach, there is a board walk from which you can see beautiful views including those of a feral mare and her foal. You will cross the dunes and arrive on the most beautiful beach.

The 17 1/2 miles of pristine beach (there are no trash cans on the island - what you bring with you you take back - is incredible. As you can see from this photo, you cannot see the entire beach from one location due to the curvature of the earth. (This day trip doesn't require walking but about 1 3/4 of this beach - or bring you beach towel and bathing suit and jump into the beautiful blue water.

Wildlife of every kind is abundant on Cumberland Island. You will see raccoon, white tail deer, alligators, feral horses, wild hogs, birds of all kinds including bald eagles. When you reach the next boardwalk across the dunes, you come onto beautiful oak tree lined roads.

Live oaks (Georgia's official state tree) were aptly named as they appear to retain their leaves year round leaving them with the appearance of being alive. Cumberland Island is covered with beautiful live oak trees - the canopy is a wonderful shade while walking the roads of Cumberland.

The walk back across the island take you back to Sea Camp Dock where you meet the ferry to take you back to the mainland. This is just the southern portion of Cumberland Island. As we explore more of the island, I will be back with additional posts to share this national treasure.

Golden Isles Blog

The Retreat At Golden Isles Single Family Attached Homes from the $120,000's

The Cottages at Golden Isles Single Family Homes from the $130,000's

The Plantation at Golden Isles Single Family Homes from the $150,000's

The Estates at Golden Isles Single Family Homes from the $150,000's

Sitting in a quiet, country setting among a beautiful landscaped entrance with curbed and guttered street located in Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia. Centrally located to restaurants, shopping, golf, I-95, FLETC and more. With something for everyone, and a common amenities center you can relax everything except you expectations.

Golden Isles Blog

If you are thinking of going antiquing anytime soon in Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia, here is a list to get you going..........

Brown's Antiques 1328 Newcastle St, Brunswick, GA - (912) 265-6099

Piddlers 1505 Martin Luther King Blvd, Brunswick, GA - (912) 265-0890

Market of New Castle 1624 Newcastle St, Brunswick, GA - (912) 554-7909

Victorian Place 1412 Gloucester St, Brunswick, GA - (912) 265-3175

Downtown Antiques/Collectibles 1208 Gloucester St, Brunswick, GA - (912) 264-2322

Rags & Riches Miniatures 1503 Gloucester St, Brunswick, GA - (912) 261-0771

Brunswick Repair Shop 3707 Emanuel Ave, Brunswick, GA - (912) 264-3254

Fizzwhistle Antiques 4738 New Jesup Hwy, Brunswick, GA - (912) 261-1125

Friendly Custom Upholstery 967 Old Jesup Rd, Brunswick, GA - (912) 265-6985

Antiques Etc 1601 Newcastle St, Brunswick, GA - (912) 265-3666

Memory Lane 588 Southerland Rd, Brunswick, GA - (912) 265-8570

Royal Palm Trading504 Beachview Dr # 1A, St Simons Island, GA - (912) 634-1235

Village Mews504 Beachview Dr # 1A, St Simons Island, GA(912) 634-1235

Oglethorpe Antiques & Interior106 Redfern Vlg, St Simons Island, GA - (912) 638-8083

1610 Frederica Antiques1610 Frederica Rd, St Simons Island, GA - (912) 634-1610

Low Country Walk1627 Frederica Rd # 18, St Simons Island, GA - (912) 638-1216 Olde Banque Antiques

1811 Frederica Rd, St Simons Island, GA - (912) 638-1811 Oglethorpe Antiques106 Redfern Dr, Saint Simons Island, GA - (912) 634-1999 oglethorpeantiques.com

Antiques & Interiors Inc1812 Demere Rd, St Simons Island, GA - (912) 638-9951 antiquesandinteriors.com/

Steed Antiques100 Sylvan Dr # 160, St Simons Island, GA - (912) 634-6820

Vintage Things Antiques221 Broad St, Darien, GA - (912) 437-4195

Southern Charmer Furniture1613 Ga Highway 40 E, Kingsland, GA - (912) 729-2116 southerncharmer.com/

Sassy's On Seventeen121C N Lee St, Kingsland, GA - (912) 882-3255

Sister's Antiques & Collectibles121 N Lee St # C, Kingsland, GA - (912) 729-3338

This Old House105 1st St W, Darien, GA - (912) 437-6882

For a newcomer's package on Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia, visit our website at http://www.juliechapman.com or call 1-877-221-0088 or 1-912-280-0088.

Brunswick and the Golden Islees of Georgia Blog

Whether you are a full time resident or just visiting Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia, there are a multitude of options for all ages.

Public Beach access is available on both Saint Simons Island and Jekyll Island where you can sun, splash in the waves, build a sandcastle, ride horses, use body boards or fly kites.

On Saint Simons Island, you can call Barry's Beach Service at 912-638-8053 and rent a catamaran

sailboat or a fun-cycle-a low riding pedal powered beach vehicle from Wheel Run Rentals at 912-634-0606.Another great option is to call the Island Dive Center at 912-638-6590 for Jet Ski Rentals from the Golden Isles Marina on Saint Simons Island. Ocean Motion at 912-638-5225 or Barry's Beach Service at 912-638-8053 both offers kayak trips from Saint Simons Island. Experienced kayakers may want to try the two and three-day overnight kayak trips to Cumberland and other local islands.

There is fun and educational Trolley tours on the Saint Simons Island Trolley at 912-638-8954.Tours of the Jekyll Island Historical District are available at the Island History Center on Stable Road (912-635-4036). Horse drawn carriage rides are available on Jekyll Island from Victoria's Carriages at 912-635-9500.

The Blythe Island Eegional Park offers a fully stocked fresh water lake with boat rentals, saltwater fishing piers, bike and canoe trails, volleyball, horseshoe courts, boat launch, bait shop and a small beach for swimmers.

Summer Waves Water Park features rides such as the Force 3 - where you spiral down 150 ft of fully enclosed feet of twisting slide know as Thunder or a 32 foot plunge known as Lightening for its lightening speed. The Nature's Revenge is 330 feet of a curving downward spiral. Float around the park on a tube on the Turtle River or catch a wave in the Frantic Atlantic Wave Pool. Call 912-635-2074.

Both indoor and outdoors skating are available in Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia. There are miles of sidewalks on Jekyll Island to roller blade and skate on throughout the year. And for indoor skating, try Skateland 17 in Brunswick. For information and hours calls 912-264-9466.

For outdoor playgrounds, you can visit the Pier and Mallory Park on Saint Simons Island, the musical playground at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in downtown Brunswick or the playgrounds at Selden Park and Howard Coffin Park.

The Tidewaters Nature Center on Jekyll Island offer nature walks, family kayak and canoe fun as well as aquariums and touch tanks. For more information call 912-635-5032.

The Saint Simons Island Transit Company has a taxi service between the Jekyll and Saint Simons Islands - for dolphin watching and incredible views of our waterways. Call 912-638-5678 for more information.

Historical and State Park Sites to visit.

1. Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantationoffers tours of antebellum home and beautiful grounds that include farm equipment that is a century old. For more information on Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation call 912-264-7333.
2. Fort King George located in Darien, Georgia offers outdoor exhibits, an historical museum and film, gift shop, nature trails and picnic areas.
3. Fort Fredericaon Saint Simons Island offers a 23-minute park film named "History Uncovered, self guided explorations through the archaeological site and museum area with artifacts fond at Fort Frederica.

1. Cumberland Island- The Cumberland Island National Seashore offers miles of hiking, kayaking, pristine beaches and its residents include wildlife such as herds of wild horses, wood storks, peregrine falcones, wood storks, alligators, and others. Cumberland Island is accesses by ferry. Call 912-882-4335 for more information and ferry times.
2. Sapelo Island, accessed by ferry, offers a barrier island natural community to the public. You can view the beautiful almost untouched beaches and dunes, vast salt marsh and beautifully forested uplands. For education on the natural and cultural history of Cumberland, visit the mainland Visitor Center or take island tours of the University of Georgia's Marine Institute, Reynolds Mansion, African American community of Hog Hammock and the lighthouse originally built in 1820. For mansion reservations call 912-485-2299; call 912-437-3224 for tours of the island.

These are just a few of the many things to do while in Brunswick, Georgia and the surrounding areas.....where a vacation can last a lifetime......

Brunswick and Golden Isles of Georgia Blog

Here you can walk the beach, jog on the beach, lay on the beach, walk your dog on the beach, visit historical sites such as Christ Church and Christ Church Cemetery, take a swim in the ocean, kayak, sail, wind surf, jet ski, water ski, play miniature golf, play world class golf courses (225 holes), visit the Liberty Ship model, honeymoon, get a massage, picnic on the beach, ride bikes on Jekyll along the beach, take a carriage ride around Jekyll Island, ride horses at the stables on Saint Simons Island, take a tour of the Saint Simons Island Light House, take a ghost tour of Saint Simons Island, take a Saint Simons Island Trolley Tour, take a Saint Simons Island Water Taxi and see the dolphins, build a sandcastle on the beach at Saint Simons or Jekyll Island, eat fresh seafood, visit our art galleries or take a class in painting, enjoy the Jazz in the Park on Saint Simons Island, go see a play, take a casino boat out for a day or night trip, visit the Coastal Museum of History, take a day trip to Cumberland Island or Little Saint Simons Island, learn colonial history at our many historical sites, wind surf, go shelling, visit the Bloody Marsh and learn some of our history, shop, visit Fort Frederica, play tennis, search for sand dollars, fish off one of the piers or on the beach, visit the Horton House ruins, take a sailing tour or fishing trip, and on and on and on. For a newcomer's guide and more information on what to do in Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia, visit http://www.juliechapman.com/ or call 1-877-221-0088. We would like to have you visit or become a part of our community.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/336402/Family-Fun-in-Brunswick Family Fun in Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia Part II

http://activerain.com/blogsview/345040/Family-Fun-in-Brunswick Family Fun in Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia Part I

http://activerain.com/blogsview/239860/Come-and-visit-Brunswick Come and Visit Brunswick, The Golden Isles of Georgia and Cumberland Island

http://activerain.com/blogsview/238369/Brunswick-and-the-Golden Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia Part IV Sea Island

http://activerain.com/blogsview/229684/Brunswick-and-the-Golden Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia Part III Little Saint Simons Island

http://activerain.com/blogsview/228481/Brunswick-and-the-Golden Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia Part II Jekyll Island

http://activerain.com/blogsview/200524/Brunswick-and-the-Golden Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia Part I Historic Brunswick

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