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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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
13 meals (
5B, 4L, 4D
)
2 expert-led lectures
5 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida
Meals:
D
Stay:
Residence Inn by Marriott Amelia Island
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. 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.
Day
2
Amelia Trolley, Amelia Museum, Fort Clinch
Location:
Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Residence Inn by Marriott Amelia Island
Activity Note
Getting on/off trolley. Minimal walking/standing at Fort Clinch on uneven terrain. Slopped incline to second level of Fort Clinch with no railings.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Today will be a day of fascination and historical adventure. On our trolley field trip, we will explore the downtown historic district of Amelia Island as our expert shares the story 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, thereby creating "New" Fernandina in the 1850s. 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, Amelia Island has been home to diverse cultures that have left a truly exciting heritage. Expect the rare privilege of observing the uniquely gracious and historic homes of another century. Afterwards, on a visit to the Amelia Island Museum of History, allow yourself to get in touch with efforts to preserve the nearly extinct, pristine architectural styles within a small, gifted American town struggling to retain its fragile sense of family and community as well as its birthright 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:
At hotel.
Evening:
We will watch a video in preparation for our trip to Cumberland Island.
Day
3
Shrimping Industry, Amelia Island River Cruise, Free Time
Location:
Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Residence Inn by Marriott Amelia Island
Activity Note
Getting on/off a trolley; driving 8 miles roundtrip, approximately 25 minutes riding time. Getting on/off pontoon boat for cruise including ramp with grade and elevation dependent on tide. Minimal walking.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
In the conference room, start the morning off with a presentation by a local shrimper whose family goes back generations in the industry. He shares his knowledge of shrimp farming and the future of the shrimp industry in the U.S. Travelling by trolley, we will meet our captain for a morning boat cruise. As we cruise the backwaters of Amelia Island and Cumberland Island on a covered pontoon boat, we’ll enjoy the spectacular views while watching for rare birds, dolphins, manatees, and other wildlife. We’ll glide back in time along the rivers, creeks, and marshes that surround Amelia Island. Commentary along the way will be provided by a local expert.
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:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
4
Ferry to Cumberland, First African Baptist, Plum Orchard
Location:
Cumberland Island, GA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Greyfield Inn
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 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. 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. 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.
Day
5
Field Trip with Naturalist, Free Time
Location:
Cumberland Island, GA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Greyfield Inn
Activity Note
Walking over some uneven, unpaved terrain around beach and wooded area, uneven, unpaved terrain that leads to the beach.
Breakfast:
At the Inn.
Morning:
A naturalist will take the group on a beach/maritime forest field trip. Walk rolling sand dunes, encounter hidden freshwater sloughs and take in the beauty of the island. Interior trails through the maritime forest offer a true wilderness experience. 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.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Cumberland Island, GA
Meals:
B
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!
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