Just you, the stiff salt breeze, and the incessant strumming of the waves. Horses roam free on Cumberland Island Cumberland Island is all this and more. Just north of the Florida border, this barrier island hosts a patchwork of natural communities. Gnarled, elfin-looking live oaks shade palmettos in the maritime forest. Massive white sand dunes sparkle in the sun.
History is an important part of Cumberland Island as well.
Although some small parts of the island remain in private hands, it's now a public legacy and a great place to spend a few days, or a week, soaking up the sun and the sights. To get away from the day-tripping sightseers, set your sights on the northern end of Cumberland Island hit the Parallel Trail, and head due north. A single day's hike can get you as far north as Yankee Paradise, although many people prefer to spend their first night closer to the ocean, at Stafford Beach. Brickhill Bluff makes a great base camp for exploring the northern end of the island, including Plum Orchard, The Settlement, and the remote beaches and oyster beds. Take I-95 north from Jacksonville to Exit 1, St. Marys Road.