History by the Sea: Study & Stay on Cumberland & Amelia Islands
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At a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Discover the rich history and culture of Amelia Island at Fort Clinch and the Victorian Village of Fernandina.
- On the backwaters of Amelia Island, glide along rivers, creeks and marshes during a study cruise in search of wildlife.
- Spend two nights in the only accommodations on the island, the Greyfield Inn, which was built in 1900 by the Carnegie family.
General Notes
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon: Program Registration. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the main lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Take the remainder of the evening to prepare for the start of your weeks adventure on two islands.
Activity note: Getting on/off a trolley; riding about 7 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking 1 to 2 miles throughout the day, standing during field trips; concrete, some uneven, sandy, grassy terrain at Fort Clinch.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will be joined by a local expert for a presentation on the history of Fernandina and its eight flags. The area was first inhabited by early Native American people, the Timucua. Later it became known as the “Isle of 8 Flags” that have flown here since 1562: France, Spain, Great Britain, Spain (again), the Patriots of Amelia Island, the Green Cross of Florida, Mexico, the Confederate States of America, and the United States. It is the only municipality in the United States that has lived under eight different national flags. We will then board a trolley with our expert and ride to the downtown historic district. We’ll hear stories of the visionary whose exhilarating dream so stirred his neighbors that they agreed to move their entire town to the site of a plantation he owned, creating “New” Fernandina in the 1850s. Amelia Island has been home to diverse cultures that have left a truly exciting heritage, from the “giant” Timucua Native Americans, to Spanish and French explorers, to the lawless spirit of pirates, to the dignified air of Victorian-era residents. We will observe the uniquely gracious and historic homes of another century and learn of the efforts to preserve their nearly extinct, pristine architectural styles, as well as the small town’s fragile sense of community and historical integrity.
Lunch: At a popular restaurant.
Afternoon: After lunch, we will travel by trolley to Fort Clinch, a part of the Florida State Park system since 1935. The fort is one of the most well-preserved 19th century forts in the country, thanks to the preservation and restoration efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. While garrisoned during the Civil War and the Spanish-American War, the fort has never seen action. Civil War-period reenactors will bring garrison living to life for us.
Dinner: On your own. Group leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off vessel; riding about 3 to 5 miles, approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Walking to/from marina across street from the hotel.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After breakfast, we will ride by trolley to a marina located in the historic district. Here, we will board a vessel to cruise the rivers, creeks and marshes that surround Amelia Island with a naturalist and history expert who will give you the details of everything from the land to the sea. We will cruise by Fernandina’s shrimp boats, historic Old Towne, Fort Clinch, the wild horses of Cumberland Island, and ruins of the Carnegie Dungeoness Mansion.
Lunch: At a riverside café.
Afternoon: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: Getting on/off ferry; riding approximately 35 minutes. Getting in/out of safari truck with 4 ladder steps, bench seating; driving about 10 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking about 1 mile, approximately 1 hour; beach and wooded area, uneven, unpaved terrain that leads to the beach.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will check out of the hotel and ride via motorcoach with our luggage to the marina. Here, we will board the ferry from Fernandina Beach to Cumberland Island for the ride of about 35 minutes. Upon arrival, Greyfield Inn staff will take our luggage from the ferry to the Inn. We will then check in at Greyfield Inn and walk through the Inn with a member of their staff and get acquainted with the facilities and learn some of the Inn’s history. Cumberland Island is 17.5 miles long and comprises 36,415 acres of which 16,850 are marsh, mud flats, and tidal creeks. It is well known for sea turtles, wild turkeys, wild horses, armadillos, abundant shore birds, dune fields, maritime forests, salt marshes, and historic structures.
Lunch: At the Inn, we will pick up our boxed lunch for a picnic-style meal outside in a spot of our choice to enjoy the scenery—under some of the huge old live oaks, down by the water, and on the patio are just a few options.
Afternoon: A naturalist will take half of the group on a Jeep safari for a field trip on Cumberland Island. Ride in the back of our custom naturalist’s truck on the way to view the secrets of Cumberland: historical ruins, wild horses, and lush maritime forests. The other half will be led by a naturalist on a nature and beach field trip. During the course of the program, the groups will have a chance to swap so that we can all experience both activities. Upon returning to the inn, we will enjoy a cocktail social hour each evening, with hors d'oeuvres in the oceanfront resort inn's well-stocked bar (drinks not included), share stories with fellow guests.
Dinner: In the Inn dining room.
Evening: We will meet in the living room for a presentation by the island naturalist.
Activity note: Getting on/off Jeep. Walking over some uneven, unpaved terrain around First African Baptist Church and Plum Orchard.
Breakfast: At the Inn.
Morning: We will visit the First African Baptist Church by Jeep, where John Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette were married. We will also drive by Plum Orchard, an 1898 Georgian Revival mansion building by Lucy Carnegie for her son, George and his wife, Margaret Thaw. This mansion was donated to the National Park Foundation by the Carnegie family in 1971. We will then return to the inn for lunch.
Lunch: Picnic-style lunch outside the Inn.
Afternoon: On your own. Bikes are available free of charge for anyone staying at Greyfield Inn. Comb the beach, which is a .5 mile walk from the Inn or just enjoy the swing on the front porch with the beautiful view of the ancient live oaks and possibly a wild horse or more.
Dinner: At the Inn.
Evening: After dinner, we will share stories and bid farewell at the inn social hour. Prepare for departure in the morning.
Activity note: Greyfield Inn check-out is 10:00 am. Ferry returns guests to mainland at 8:00 am and10:45 am. Consider this when making flight arrangements.
Breakfast: At the Inn.
Morning: Staff from the Inn will gather your luggage from your rooms and load the ferry trip to the mainland at Fernandina Beach. The ferry will leave around 10:45 am from Cumberland and the Inn and arrive at 11:30 am. For those who have left cars at the Fernandina dock, you will only have to walk across the street to retrieve your car. This concludes our program.< br> We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!