What better day to publish a post about a place I love than Valentine’s! I have been to Cumberland Island, Georgia four fabulous times and the following are 14 reasons I love it:
(1) The boat ride from Fernandina Beach, on mainland FL, to Cumberland Island, GA
(photo courtesy of Gabriel Hanway)
(2) The trees dripping with Spanish Moss on Cumberland Island
(photo courtesy of Gabriel Hanway)
(3) The Greyfield Inn, which is the only commercial establishment on the island. So lovely! So relaxing! Such gracious staff!
(photo courtesy of Gabriel Hanway)
(4) The Greyfield Inn’s front porch swing and rocking chairs
(photo courtesy of Gabriel Hanway)
(5) The Greyfield Inn’s living room, where cocktails and hors d’oeuvres are served before dinner, in front of the big fireplace
(photo courtesy of Peter Frank Edwards)
(6) The Greyfield Inn’s dining room, where delicious meals are served. They grow much of their own produce AND they are into it…and that enthusiasm shows. Once a week, the Inn has an oyster roast outside in front of the porch. So much fun!
(photo by Peter Frank Edwards)
(7) The GI’s 16 bedrooms
This is the biggest bedroom but all the bedrooms are decorated in this old world style.(photo by Peter Frank Edwards)
(8) The views of the marshes
(photo courtesy of David Wright)
(9) The burnt remains of the 100-year-old Carnegie mansion
(photo courtesy of Gabriel Hanway)
(10) The wild horses that peacefully roam Cumberland Island
(photo by David Wright)
(11) Biking and walking on the 17 miles of undeveloped beach…not a condo or house in sight! After breakfast each morning, go into the large kitchen to pick up your backpack filled with a sumptuous, portable lunch. You can eat it at the tables and chairs on the Inn’s big front lawn or on the beach or any old place you like.
(12) The path from the Greyfield Inn to the beach
(photo courtesy of Gabriel Hanway)
(13) Gogo’s jewelry–The only retail on Cumberland Island, besides the Inn’s tiny gift shop, is Gogo’s. Gogo creates jewelry and some candle sticks and purses in a workshop adjacent to her home and is only open when she is “in residence.” Such beautiful things! All of her creations are inspired by the nature around her. She designed the wedding rings of John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.
(14) The old slave church where John-John Kennedy married Carolyn Bessette.
(photo by Peter Frank Edwards)
Happy Valentine’s Day! xoxoxo