Traveling back to 19th-century Georgia - Cumberland Island - Visiting every NPS Site - Ep. 2

In this video, I visited Cumberland Island National Seashore, just a short ferry ride from St Mary's, Georgia. This is episode 2 of a new series where I am trying to visit every National Park Site in the USA. Reasons: 1. Scenic Value: Overall beauty and visual impact of the landscape 10/10: Once you leave the populated, southern part of the island and enter the wilderness, you get to experience the untouched beauty of historic old Georgia. This includes massive stretches of undeveloped beaches, maritime forests, sand dunes, and salt marshes. This primitive, sparsely populated northern section of the island is breathtakingly peaceful and offers a glimpse of what early colonizers would've seen upon entering this area. 2. Biodiversity & Wildlife: Variety and health of plant and animal species, with extra emphasis on endangered species 8/10: This island hosts a wide variety of plants and animals, including armadillos, deer, opossums, as well as countless species of reptiles and migratory birds. The island also has a large wilderness area with intact maritime forests and sand dunes protecting the mainland from hurricanes. Unfortunately, the island is also home to non-native wild horses, which harm the ecosystem by feeding extensively on grasses, which can lead to the destabilization of the sand dunes, deteriorating the island itself. 3. Cultural & Historical Importance: Presence of important historical events, structures, or cultural heritage 9/10: This park protects a wide range of historical stories, including Indigenous history connected to the Timucuan people, Revolutionary War-era plantations, Carnegie-era estates such as the Dungeness Ruins and Plum Orchard, and the history of African American communities on the north end of the island. 4. Recreational Opportunities: Quality and variety of activities (hiking, camping, boating, etc.) 8/10: This park offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking, biking, kayaking, wildlife viewing, beach exploration, fishing, and even seasonal hunting in certain areas. If I ever returned to the island, I would stay at one of the primitive campsites on the north end of the island to experience its remote wilderness. However, some of the trails I explored in the wilderness area were not well-maintained and had extremely high tick densities. 5. Accessibility: How easy it is for visitors to reach and navigate the park 7/10: Despite only being accessible by ferry, the island is still relatively easy to visit, even for a day trip. The 45-minute ferry ride helps separate visitors from heavy development and large crowds, creating a much more peaceful and relaxing experience. Since Cumberland is a barrier island, it is also fairly easy to navigate once on the island. However, ferry tickets must be reserved in advance because only a limited number of visitors are allowed on the island each day. 6. Visitor Experience: Overall satisfaction and enjoyment. How many people were present? 10/10: Had a great time when I was there and will definitely return if I have the chance. The campground I stayed at was beautiful and had plenty of space. After the fairies left, the island was so quiet and peaceful. All of the people that I talked to were also very nice, and I had great conversations with all of them. 7. Educational Value: Opportunities for learning (visitor centers, guided tours, signage) 9/10: The tour of the Plum Orchard gave not only a good introduction and summary of the history of that building but also the history of the Carnegie family on the island. If you wanted to stay near the Dungeness ruins, there is an audio tour that you can take around the southern portion of the island. On the mainland, they have a reconstruction of the first Baptist Church that you can visit, as well as signage at the visitor center explaining the island. 8. Wow Factor: How unique or rare the features are. What can I see there that I can’t see anywhere else? 10/10: This place was absolutely beautiful. After leaving, the best way I could describe Cumberland Island was as a mix of Assateague Island in Maryland, the atmosphere of the TV show Outer Banks, and a Gilded Age museum all rolled into one. 71/ 80 Plan a visit: https://www.nps.gov/cuis/index.htm https://www.cumberlandislandferry.com/