Previously a private residence built in 1900, this mansion became an inn in 1962 providing the public with a taste of the lifestyle enjoyed of its former occupants. Located on Cumberland Island, visitors must travel by public ferry or a private boat to access Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island that is located north of Jacksonville and south of Savannah.
This is a get away that will truly make you happy to leave behind your laptop, limit your constant glimpses at email and break your habit of switching on a TV (I don't know that any exist at the inn). Take a nap on one of the comfy couches on the porch. Bring that book you've always wanted to read or look through the library for an interesting title. Borrow one of the fat tired bikes to go exploring, slip into a kayak (but time your trip to make the most of glassy water) or just find a hiking trail or head for the beach.
That is just a sampling of the activities that await.
A short walk from the dock brings guests along a path where horses lazily graze to the main house which has 16 rooms as well as nearby cottages. Some rooms have shared baths but that was not an issue for the five women and couple who seemed to manage making one bathroom accessible to all during the weekend we were there.
The staff members are exceptionally helpful, upbeat and accommodating whether they are replenishing the tea, lemonade and water dispensers, discreetly keeping the property clean despite what must be a constant battle with tracked in sand from the beach or keeping the food and wine flowing throughout dinner.
The room I shared had two twin beds which were quite comfortable but a bit narrow. Toiletries and towels were always in abundance and each room had plenty of closet and drawer space.
Breakfast is served in the dining room, lunches are packed in charming baskets that travel well by foot or bike and dinner is a bit of a dressy affair back in the dining room.
Set menus are posted on chalkboards each day. If dietary restrictions or food allergies are a concern it would be best to share that information in advance of your visit so that substitutions can easily be made.
I found the food delicious and more than ample for my appetite but wondered if the portions served were enough for all.
Since meals are included in the rate, along with the recreational equipment already mentioned, beach chairs and towels, guided tours that cover a lot of ground - and a lot of history - and a gratuity for the staff, there is little need for cash. However alcohol is a separate charge and the beers, wine and cocktails offered are not cheap. Wine pairings with the three course dinners we enjoyed while there tacked nearly $50 more on the bill (a glass of a fine wine with each course) but even the most modest glass of wine ran about $10 so it was an investment I was willing to fund.
Next to the main house are gardens where produce is grown for guests' consumption and bees are at work making honey that can be enjoyed here as well.
I focus mainly on the inn because the island can also be visited by day guests and overnight campers. Cumberland Island is exceptionally beautiful so whatever way you can visit you will be glad you did.
This marks another historic lodging I have enjoyed and I would happily return and try a cottage or a room with a private bath. I felt comfortable roaming through the rooms and floors in my hiking clothes during the day and even in my bathrobe the one time I ventured from my second floor room to the shower located in a stand alone, fully enclosed building behind the residence. Note there are no elevators in the house and stairs are needed to access the dining area, kitchen and the second and third floor guest rooms.
The scale of the property, the sense of having an island almost entirely to ourselves and the friendliness of guests and staff alike made this a memorable stay I will always remember and long to repeat. read more