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Florida/Georgia

History by the Sea: Study & Stay on Cumberland & Amelia Islands

Program No. 1379RJ
Experience beautiful Cumberland Island as you enjoy an exclusive two-night stay at the 1890 Carnegie compound and delve into 4,000 years of history on sun-dappled Amelia Island.
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Start
Regional StudiesSmall GroupAnimals & WildlifeNature & Environment
Length
6 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
2,349

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Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida
Program Concludes
Cumberland Island, GA
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
13 ( 5B, 4L, 4D )
Activity Level
Discover two Southern islands close in proximity but a world apart in character, including a rare two-night overnight on remote Cumberland Island. Begin on Florida’s historic Amelia Island in the Victorian seaport village of Fernandina Beach where you learn about the island as a historical crossroads for native peoples, European explorers and lawless pirates. Then board a ferry to secluded Cumberland Island, Georgia, a National Seashore restricted to no more than 300 visitors per day. Stay at the Greyfield Inn, a unique and historic venue that’ll give you the rare opportunity to connect with nature at its most pristine. Discover 9,800 acres of protected dune fields, forests, marshes and beaches, and hear an expert naturalist interpret the island’s sensitive ecosystem.
Best of all, you'll...
  • 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.
View Full Itinerary
General Notes
All rooms at Greyfield Inn have either one king or one queen bed. As such, we cannot accommodate requests for two beds, and roommate matching is unavailable for solo travelers on this program. No rollaway beds or cots are available. Two rooms share a bathroom. This is picked at random, by the Inn, and means there could be 3-4 people in one bath for the 2-night stay at Greyfield.
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Kevin McCarthy
Kevin grew up in Gloucester, Mass. and settled in Fernandina Beach in 1968. He spent 41 years sailing the waters of northeast Fla. and southeast Georgia. He holds a 100 ton master’s license and developed his knowledge of the wildlife and history exploring the waters that surround Amelia Island, Cumberland Island and St. Mary's, Ga. Generations of Kevin’s family have been shrimpers, and he shares with participants his knowledge of shrimp farming and the future of the shrimp industry in the U.S.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Profile Image of Peggy Benton
Peggy Benton
Peggy has traveled extensively in the United States, Caribbean, and Eastern and Western Europe. She has been the owner, operator and USCG Licensed Captain of a 48' sailboat, chartered a yacht out of St. Thomas and Tortola and taught sailing and snorkeling. She has held leadership positions that include president of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, president of the St. Thomas-St. John Navy League and vice president of the Rotary Club of St. Thomas. She currently resides in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Profile Image of Terrie Dal Pozzo
Terrie Dal Pozzo
Terrie was raised in New Orleans and moved to the U.S. Virgin Islands at the age of 18. She became the youngest woman in the Virgin Islands to obtain a Coast Guard license to operate motor and sailing vessels. Terrie skippered sailing vessels, taking guests on journeys through the Leeward Islands, teaching them to sail and snorkel and educating them on island life. She later lived in Kitzbuhel, Austria and Perth, Australia before returning to the Virgin Islands. She currently lives in eastern Tennessee.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to three miles daily on sandy paths, sand dunes and beaches. Accommodations on Cumberland Island in historic inn and surrounding cottages uses stairs to third and fourth floor bedrooms; cottages within 170 yards of inn.
Small Group (13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List (11 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
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Call 800-454-5768
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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.






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