 |
Island
Events
For
Your Getaway Vacation
|
 |
Cumberland Island is the largest and southernmost
of the Georgia Sea Islands perfect for your getaway vacation or even a
honeymoon getaway. Located about 10 miles southeast of Brunswick, Georgia,
adjacent to Jekyll Island, Cumberland is bordered by St. Andrews Sound
on the north, Amelia Island, Florida to the south, and on the west by
Cumberland Sound and the Cumberland River, part of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Easily accessible to the ports of Fernandina Beach, Florida and St. Marys,
Georgia, Cumberland is a mere 40 minute boat ride through sweeping vistas
of lush coastal lowlands, a rich and scenic wildlife habitat.
|
|
|
- RATED ONE OF AMERICA'S TOP TEN BEACHES BY USA
TODAY -
For The Ideal Romantic Getaway in Georgia
Cumberland
is approximately 18 miles long and 3 miles wide, our nation's largest
wilderness island. A smooth sandy beach stretches the entire length of
the eastern shore, sometimes nearly a mile wide. Sand dunes are prevalent,
and Greyfield, the luxury romantic hotel, has a small wooden gazebo nestled
in one of them, where you can enjoy the great variety of marsh and sea
birds like great blue herons, gulls, ibis and terns.
On the south end, the stately ruins of Dungeness are all that remain of
the original estate built by Thomas and Lucy Carnegie in the late 1800's.
Younger brother and business partner of financier Andrew Carnegie, Thomas
died before Dungeness was completed, leaving his wife and nine children.
Mrs. Carnegie was a dominant figure on the island. Expanding her husband's
initial acquisitions, she eventually owned 90% of the island. She initiated
renovation of Dungeness and construction of four additional mansions built
as island homes for her children. |
|
|
"Lighthorse Harry" Lee, Revolutionary War general and friend of Nathaneal Greene, was among those buried in the Greene-Miller cemetery near
Dungeness. In 1818 while sailing north along the Georgia coast, failing health prompted Lee to seek refuge at Dungeness where he was cared
for by Louisa Shaw, then mistress of Dungeness, until his death a few weeks later. In 1913 Lee's remains were removed to the Washington and
Lee University Chapel in Virginia where they were placed alongside those of his son, Robert E. Lee. Catherine Greene Miller, her daughter
Louisa and Louisa's husband James Shaw are all buried here. Many graves within the tabby walls are unmarked, and probably one of them is
the grave of Catherine Greene's second husband, Phineas Miller.
Inland from the beach the interior island is thick with dense coastal vegetation of palmetto stands, tall pines and moss-shrouded live oak forests.
Explore Cumberland's treasures by jeep with an island Naturalist, watch for the famous wild horses or alligators sunning along creek banks, catch
a fleeting glimpse of whitetail deer or bobcat. From tales about the Carnegie family and the plantation days of cotton, sugar cane and indigo, to
Greyfield's popularity with presidents and kings, your personally created dialogue and tour will compel you to return time and again! |
|
|
January - February
Weather is usually
cool and cold at our luxury romantic hotel with a few northeast storms
that deposit large quantities of seashells on the beach. Beach combing
is most productive at this time of year. Mink and otters are active during
daylight hours and are most often seen around docks where they search
for fish. This is the breeding season for Bobcats and they are sometimes
seen on the roads up and down the island.
March - April
Beachcombing during
your getaway vacation is still good with a lot of different species and
shells coming ashore after northeast storms. March starts the breeding
season for Wild turkeys. Look for mature male birds doing their courtship
displays in open areas like Stafford Field during the early morning hours.
The deer start having their fawns by April. Reptiles become active in
April. Alligators are most often seen sunning themselves on the creek
banks during this month as well. Watch for large flocks of migratory shore
birds coming through at this time. April is another month for all around
good weather.
May - June
A beautiful time
of year for that one and only honeymoon getaway. Songbirds like the colorful
Painted Buntings start nesting activities in the Island forest. Some shore
birds like OysterCatchers nest in the fore dune areas near the beach.
By mid-May the first Loggerhead Sea Turtles start to come ashore to nest.
Their huge tracks are easy to spot on the beach. By June, Manatees frequent
the salt marsh areas and are often seen near the docks.
|
|
|
June - July
By early July, Sea
Turtle nesting reaches its peak will highlight your Georgia romantic getaway.
Surf fishing is good with a lot of redfish in the area. The salt marsh
is full of mullet, blue crabs and shrimp. Afternoon thunderstorms with
spectacular lightning displays and rainbows are common.
September - October
At this time of year
your getaway vacation will experience large bird migrations taking place.
Over 300 species of birds have been identified on Cumberland Island. Most
of them are migratory. Look for Peregrine Falcons on the beach beginning
the last week of September through the first two weeks of October. An
occasional Bald Eagle can be seen passing through as well. Look for hatchling
Sea turtles on the beach this time of year. This is the breeding season
for white-tailed Deer (the fall rut). Look for Buck Deer with antlers
along the Main Road south of Greyfield and on Greyfield Beach Road.
Wild Muscadine grapes become ripe in September and are fed upon heavily
by both Wildlife and humans. Deer, feral hogs and wild turkeys are often
seen foraging on the fall acorn crop that falls to the ground in October.
Surf fishing reaches its peak this time of year. Big redfish cruise the
shallows near shore. Fishing off Greyfield's dock at night is good for
Sea Trout.
November - December
November is one of
the best months for all around good weather and perfect for a romantic
getaway in Georgia. The days are sunny but cool, insect and reptile activity
slows down considerably. As the water cools, fish start to move out of
the salt marsh. The marsh grasses turn from green to gold. Bottle-nosed
dolphins are often seen feeding on the remaining schools of mullet in
the marsh creeks. The first week of December is usually the peak of the
fall color season. Isolated patched of color occur all over the Island
but most of it is in the fresh water swamp areas where red maples, tupelo
and hickories are most common. The first winter frost or freeze usually
develops by mid-December. |
|
Our commitment to you:
Greyfield Inn is committed to meeting and exceeding the expectations of our guests.
We are committed to providing you with the highest level of hospitality services in a setting that offers casual elegance.
If you have inquiries concerning the services of the Inn or how we may be of service,
please feel welcome to contact our Inn Manager.
Inn Manager
Greyfield Inn-Cumberland Island
C/o Post Office Box 900
Fernandina Beach, Florida 32-35
866-401-8581
seashore@greyfieldinn.com
|
 |
For reservations contact our office:
4 North Second Street
P. O. Box 900
Fernandina Beach, Florida
32035-0900
Toll Free 866-401-8581
(904) 261-6408
Email:
seashore@greyfieldinn.com
BACK TO TOP |
|
|
