One of the most beautiful and pristine coastal areas in the south east of the United States is Cumberland Island, Georgia. It is essentially a barrier island comprising of approximately 36,000 acres of forests, marshes and beaches to draw travellers. The specialty of this Island is that it is untouched and manages the undeveloped beauty of the particular area. The island covers a large area about 17.5 miles where visitors can see different kinds of landscapes such as forests, beaches, sand dunes, etc. The island is not like other coastal destinations, it’s quite different and a large part of the island remains undeveloped. Undeveloped islands attract visitors to explore and experience the purest form of nature for peace of mind. Cumberland Island attracts nature lovers, history enthusiasts and adventure seekers, where visitors can explore historic landmarks including Dungeness Ruins.
History of Cumberland Island, Georgia
At present time Cumberland Island, Georgia, is located on the coast of Georgia in the United States and in older days the island has been home to Native American communities. Primarily, it was home to the Timucua tribe, an indigenous people for thousands of years. The Timucua people lived along the southeastern coast and for survival they were dependent on the island’s natural resources. Their dependency was basically for Fishing, Collecting oysters, hunting wildlife for survival. Archaeological discoveries have shown that Native Americans had a well- established culture and trade network. Cumberland Island helped them for settlement and to utilize natural resources for a long time to survive.
Geography and Natural Environment of Cumberland Island, Georgia
Cumberland Island, Georgia is a combination of geographical and untouched natural environment to attract visitors to this place at least one time. Let’s discuss some of the most iconic places of the island in the following points.
- Beaches and Sand Dunes: These beaches are extended for miles and untouched by human development to save nature. Being untouched by human development, it is capable of preserving the natural beauty of the beach that offers travelers a chance to see a real wild coastal environment.
- Maritime Forests: The maritime forest assists the wildlife species to survive since it gives them shades and shelter and protects the soil against erosion. Cumberland Island belongs to the group of barrier islands that are located along the Atlantic coast and they were formed there thousands of years ago.
- Salt Marshes and Wetlands: It covers a large part of this island and play an important role in supporting wildlife. It provides animals and birds food, shelter and safe place to survive. It is located along the edges of the island where a rich and healthy habitat makes the salt marshes and wetlands a perfect home for many different kinds of wildlife.
- Wildlife and Biodiversity: Cumberland Island provides guests with the natural environment that is an extremely useful fact to sustain a high number of wildlife. Cumberland Island has wild horses that are roaming freely on beaches, forests and marshland. Other than this, other animals are also common like the white-tailed deer, raccoons, armadillos, wild turkeys, etc. since the area is covered with a large source of water, the beach area provides a refuge to the dolphins, fish and sea turtles.
Wildlife on Cumberland Island, Georgia
Cumberland Island, Georgia, fascinates visitors to come and enjoy exploring a large variety of wildlife species to understand other creatures of the earth. The following points will discuss different kinds of wildlife found on the island.
- Mammals of the Island: It is rich and diverse in its natural atmosphere which has the capacity to offer a natural habitat for different kinds of animals, birds and marine life. Because the island is untouched, the atmosphere helps wildlife thrive and provides all essential things to survive. The island is filled with forests, marshes, beaches and dunes that work as shelter for different kinds of species.
- Birdlife and Migratory Birds: If you are a birdwatcher then you should come here at least one time to observe different kinds of birds. Cumberland Island is a paradise for birdwatchers because the location offers views of herons, egrets and sandpipers. The island’s forests offer shelter to birds for making nests and a stop to Migratory birds during long journeys.
- Marine Life and Sea Turtles: The location is also renowned because of the presence of Loggerhead sea turtle which is greatly prevalent in the adjacent tidal waterways. Besides this, marine creatures such as fish, crabs, shrimp and other organisms can also be found in the area of the marshes located near the island that are in the sea.
Things to Do on Cumberland Island, Georgia
Cumberland Island offers a combination of lots of activities to enjoy on the beach with friends and family. Let’s discuss some popular things to do on Cumberland Island in the following points.
- Spot the Famous Wild Horses: To see wild horses freely gazing in open fields, wandering nearby historic areas and walking on shoreline is fascinating for visitors. The place offers these horses their natural habitat and to see them in that place is the most memorable experience for travellers.
- Relax on the Untouched Beaches: Cumberland Island has remained undeveloped in order to preserve the natural beauty of the site creating unforgettable experiences to travellers. Cumberland Island has beaches that cannot be compared to other beaches, it has not yet developed further to ensure that it would have a tranquil escapist in the nature. One of the most favoured destinations of visitors is the beach. Crowds are tamed in this place to ensure that the beach area is quiet and uncrowded to humorous scenes.
- Camping under the stars: It is one of the most famous activities in Cumberland Island that is open to everyone, offering a comfortable stay. In the comparison of modern beaches, we can not find hotels and resorts that make a perfect place for camping under the stars.
The Best Time to Visit on Cumberland Island, Georgia
The best time will always rely on the choices of the visitor on what type of activities they wish to undertake in the trip. Cumberland Island has some of the most appropriate seasons to visit as outlined below.
- Summer (June to August): summer’s hot temperature and sunny days make your trip a lovely to visit Cumberland Island, especially spending your time swimming in the ocean. Many times you feel high humidity, however, the beaches look very beautiful in daylight in summers. This season, give a chance to spend time with the wildlife because the season helps wildlife creatures come out of their natural habitats.
- Fall (September to November): This is a season that can be considered as a perfect season to visit since during this season the weather is colder and the dampness reduces. The island also forms aesthetic landscapes and scenery to photographers and nature lovers in this season. During summer, crows were less and wildlife was high in a serene atmosphere that attracts tourists.
- Winter (December to February): Such a season is one which is characterized by low temperatures to visit and one which is highly suitable for outdoor physical activities during travelling. During this season, you will enjoy spending your time hiking, watching wildlife, photographing and swimming on the island.
Travel Tips for Visitors on Cumberland Island, Georgia
To make it a memorable tour before traveling on any form of tour, it is more important to have known some facts concerning the weather, hotels, restaurants and transport. In the following points, there are some most significant travel trips that ought to be followed.
- Plan your transportation: You should plan your medium of transport in advance because on this island boat is only one transport medium to reach. Due to being a top destination to visit, Ferry seats are limited and many times difficult to book so always book in advance.
- Pack Essential Supplies: You should pack all your Essential stuff before going to visit the island because it offers very limited facilities. Traveling with your own essentials makes your visit comfortable and you can enjoy it without any problem. To carry drinking water, snacks, meals, sunscreen, hats and shoes is a very important thing to spend a long time on the island for a comfortable visit.
- Start Exploring Early: Cumberland Island offers home to a large variety of wild animals and migrated birds to survive and create an ecosystem atmosphere. If you want to explore all these it will be the best in daylight so start exploring early.
- Prepare for Outdoor Exploration: The place is filled with beautiful natural landscapes where almost all activities included in it to spending time outdoors. So the travellers should always be prepared for walking to explore the beaches, forests and historic sites during travel. Always carry some essential travel friendly things with you to walk on trails and other popular activities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say that Cumberland Island, Georgia, will give you hilarious, true, untouched beaches, abundant wildlife and diverse ecosystems. For visitors, the place has remarkable natural destinations offering a chance to feel the coastal wilderness while doing various activities. For visitors who are looking for adventure with natural beauty and history, it can be a great memorable journey.