Right on the Florida border, and once the private reserve of the Carnegie family, the Cumberland Island National Seashore is a 99-percent uninhabited barrier island with miles of hiking trails and primitive backcountry camping along beaches and in palmetto forests. Also here is the unique Greyfield Inn (904/261-6408), the Carnegie family mansion that’s now operated (by Carnegie heirs) as an unpretentious 17-room historic lodge that runs around $400 a night for two people, including gourmet meals and transportation from the mainland. (Bring your own bug spray!)
Unless you’re a guest at the Greyfield, Cumberland Island is only accessible by a twice-daily ferry ($12 round-trip) from the town of St. Marys, 10 miles east of I-95 exit 1. For further details, contact the Cumberland Island National Seashore information and reservations center at 912/882-4336.
