Customer Reviews

Cumberland Island : A Treasure of Memories

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If you are planning to visit Cumberland Island, this is a nice book to preview what you will be experiencing. Cumberland Island is a wonderful place to visit especially if you stay at the Greyfield Inn. It is sort of like stepping back in time and you leave all the stress of the real world behind. There are no TVs and all you do is hike, enjoy nature, bike ride and go to the beach. Some people camp but I prefer the comforts of Greyfield. This book has some great pictures of the island and will give you an idea of what you will be seeing and feeling. Pure beauty and relaxation.

Cumberland Island is off the Georgia coast, just north of the Florida state line. It is roughly 12 miles long, and a good half is only 2-3 miles wide. It was once a preserve of the very rich - principally the Carnegie family. Much of its originally "pristine" character has been retained, due to the lack of motorized access. You can still go "high-end", by staying at the Greyfield Inn, but you do pay the price, which surprisingly even includes sharing a bathroom. Or, to really savor the island, camping is the obvious choice. Access is by passenger ferry, from St. Mary's (GA). There are at least 10 books which have been published about the island. This one, which was published 25 years ago, remains one of the most enticing. It screams: get out of the easy chair, and enjoy the mosquitoes! The views are worth it.

The three authors include very little text; the pictures do indeed tell the story. There are approximately 150 truly quality pictures, primarily of the flora and fauna, but also some excellent landscapes. There are a few photos of the human impact, including a wooden cottage being reclaimed by the dunes, the still standing exterior walls of the Carnegie mansion (it burned down), as well as a collection of their cars from the `20's and `30's, left to decay. My inclination leans towards the landscapes, but the excellent shots of the fauna, particularly the birds, as well as the wild flowers, provides a comprehensive view of what the visitor might expect. There is a good overall map on the last page.

It's been 40 years since I last visited Cumberland, and this book is inspiration enough to endure the mosquitoes one more time, and take a few pictures of my own. The book is only 63 pages; the message is both succinct and beautiful, and I'll be back. 5-stars for the island, and the book.