Cumberland Island's pristine, expansive and almost-empty beach runs for 17 miles. There's ample opportunity to see wildlife here. Look out for osprey, loggerhead turtles, ghost crabs and enormous horseshoe crabs. Swimming is allowed at your own risk. There are no lifeguards and currents can be strong.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Cumberland Island National Seashore
1.33 MILES
Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island is an unspoiled paradise. A campers' fantasy, place for family day trips and secluded retreat for…
10.11 MILES
Although construction commenced in 1847, rapid technological advancements rendered Fort Clinch's masonry walls obsolete by as early as 1861, when the fort…
27.87 MILES
Tour portions of the oldest standing plantation house in Florida as well as the remains of 23 tabby-construction slave cabins at this former cotton and…
Fort George Island Cultural State Park
28.63 MILES
Although the exact location of the fort erected by the British in 1736 remains uncertain, the island still bears its name. In pre-WWII glory days,…
13.41 MILES
Run by a staff of peppy University of Georgia science students, the Tidelands is a kid-friendly nature center with some neat display cases on local…
Amelia Island Museum of History
12.37 MILES
Housed in the former county jail (1879–1975), this oral-history museum is tiny but has informative exhibits exploring Native American history, the Spanish…
7.13 MILES
This derelict, but spectacular, mansion was built by Thomas Carnegie and his wife, Lucy, in 1884. It became the base of a vibrant social scene, a…
20.07 MILES
Built in 1807 and standing 85ft tall, the first lighthouse here was destroyed by Confederates when Union troops landed in 1862. The second lighthouse,…
Nearby attractions
1. Cumberland Island National Seashore
1.33 MILES
Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island is an unspoiled paradise. A campers' fantasy, place for family day trips and secluded retreat for…
6.8 MILES
Used by the Carnegies to store ice, which was cut from frozen ponds and lakes in the winter months. The structure is now a small museum with information…
7.13 MILES
This derelict, but spectacular, mansion was built by Thomas Carnegie and his wife, Lucy, in 1884. It became the base of a vibrant social scene, a…
10.11 MILES
Although construction commenced in 1847, rapid technological advancements rendered Fort Clinch's masonry walls obsolete by as early as 1861, when the fort…
5. Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum
11.16 MILES
If you have time to spare after checking in for the ferry, this little museum offers some background info on the area's military history, plus early…
11.23 MILES
Learn about St Marys 'Silent Service' through a collection of 20,000 artifacts, including vintage submarine equipment, war relics and deep-sea diving…
7. Maritime Museum of Amelia Island
12.24 MILES
This small museum on the harborfront has an entertaining collection of maritime bric-a-brac presented with a kid-friendly lashing of pirate-y flair.
8. Amelia Island Museum of History
12.37 MILES
Housed in the former county jail (1879–1975), this oral-history museum is tiny but has informative exhibits exploring Native American history, the Spanish…