Sunrise on America’s eastern shore casts light on a landscape shaped by the most awesome forces of nature. Rising tides, crashing waves, and powerful currents have been at play for centuries carving and building a coastline as serene and beautiful as it is rugged and wild. The events of human history have also left their mark on the islands, beaches, and estuaries along Georgia and Florida’s seaside.
This stretch of coastline bears the footprint of Timucua and Guale Indian villages, Spanish Missions, English colonial towns, American plantations, Confederate forts, freedmen’s colonies, and extravagant estates. Through times of peace and conflict, illness and abundance, liberty and enslavement, the cultures of this corridor were tried, tested, and yet endured.
This unique blend of heritage is still displayed in the art, food, architecture, and stories of the peoples who have called this corridor home for generations.
- Step back in time with a visit to one of the best preserved American Civil War forts and see the damage inflicted during its bombardment.
- Uncover the story of a conflict that decided the fate of the Georgia among the foundations of a town built by English, Scottish, and Germanic colonists.
- Ferry to an island once owned by wealthy industrialists and tour what remains of their family estates.
- Explore miles of hiking trails or relax on a vast expanse of undeveloped beach.
- Hear the voices of history brought to life for a story that will challenge your understanding of plantation life, freedom, and identity.
- Witness the demonstration of fire power from an impregnable fortification that protected the oldest city in America.
- Celebrate peoples unbroken by hardship and enslavement, who created anew an American culture which lives on in language, family, and ties to the land.
DAY: 1
NAME OF LEG OF JOURNEY: FORT PULASKI NATIONAL MONUMENT AND SAVANNAH
TRAVEL INFORMATION: 12 MILES, 20 MINUTES DRIVE TIME
OPENING PARAGRAPH: Your trip begins in Savannah, GA, also known as the “Hostess City of the South”. Established in 1733, Savannah’s downtown is designated as a National Historic Landmark District. A short drive east on U.S. 80 will transport you to the War Between the States and Fort Pulaski. The Civil War was a time of technological advancement. At Fort Pulaski National Monument you can experience how the advancement of artillery changed the fate of this imposing fortress. Take a little extra time for a hike and then return to enjoy a night in Savannah.
DETAIL PARAGRAPHS:
Step back in time to the American Civil War and one of the best preserved nineteenth century forts in the United States. See a historic weapons firing or tour the masonry halls of this architectural wonder. See where rifled cannon were first used in battle. There are shells still embedded in the walls. See the natural wonders of the monument from one of our many trails and view the Cockspur Island lighthouse along the Savannah River. There's a little something for the whole family to enjoy.
RANGER TIPS:
- The park is more than just a fort. Check out the trails, water views, and the Cockspur Island Lighthouse at the end of a ¾ mile trail through open marsh.
HAVE EXTRA TIME?
Old Fort Jackson
1 Fort Jackson Road
Savannah, GA 31404
912-232-3945
www.chsgeorgia.org/ofj
DID YOU KNOW?
- One of the earliest photographs of the game of baseball being played was taken at the fort in 1862.
- The largest firing reproduction cannon can be found at the park.
- Robert E. Lee began his military career as an engineer at Fort Pulaski.
DAY: 2
NAME OF LEG OF JOURNEY: FORT FREDERICA NATIONAL MONUMENT
TRAVEL INFORMATION: 142 MILES, 2 HOURS 35 MINUTES DRIVE TIME
OPENING PARAGRAPH:
Leave Savannah heading south on I-95. Take exit 38 towards Brunswick, GA and follow signs to St. Simons Island and Fort Frederica National Monument. Your drive will take you about 90 minutes but you will travel back in time nearly 300 years. Here you will learn about the people and events that determined the fate of the Georgia Colony.
Take some extra time to enjoy Jekyll Island before heading south on I-95. One hour down the road you will arrive at Kingsland/St. Marys. Spend the night and be ready for your morning ferry ride to the island.
SIDE BAR:
FORT FREDERICA NATIONAL MONUMENT
Visitor Center
6515 Frederica Road
Saint Simons Island, Georgia 31522
912-638-3639
FEE FREE SITE
Open seven days a week
9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
(closed January 1, Thanksgiving, and December 25)
Activities:
Walking paths, kayaking and canoeing, living history presentations
Accessibility:
Visitor Center and some trails accessible; waterway access for kayaking and canoeing
DETAIL PARAGRAPHS:
Fort Frederica was the southern extent of British influence in the early 18th century when the control of North America was still very much undecided between England, Spain, and France. Visitors learn about the roles and hardships that colonists underwent as they tour under idyllic spanish moss laden Live Oaks on the Georgia coast.
INSIDER TIPS:
· Visitors with children should inquire about the award winning Junior Ranger Program!
RANGER TIPS:
· Dress comfortably and provide yourself plenty of time to stroll along the grounds.
HAVE EXTRA TIME?
Jekyll Island
901 Downing Musgrove Causeway
Jekyll Island, GA 31527
912-635-3636
http://www.jekyllisland.com/
DID YOU KNOW?
· The fort was built in 1736 and constructed of tabby, a type of "coastal concrete" made of oyster shells, sand, and water.
· The town and fort was named to honor Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales. Because there was already a Fort Frederick on Port Royal, South Carolina honoring the Prince of Wales, the name Frederica was chosen.
ITINERARY PAGE:
DAY: 3
NAME OF LEG OF JOURNEY: CUMBERLAND ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE
TRAVEL INFORMATION: 6 MILES, 45 MINUTES via Ferry
OPENING PARAGRAPH:
Prepare yourself for an amazing trip to an island rich in history, covered in forest, and adorned with unblemished beaches. A little preparation will go a long way to making your visit to Cumberland Island an enjoyable one. Reserve your ferry ticket in advance to be sure you get the times you want. Take time to pack all the things you will need for the day. Travel to the St. Marys waterfront to check in for your ferry. Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure.
SIDE BAR:
CUMBERLAND ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE
Mainland Visitor Center
113 W St. Marys Street
St. Marys, GA 31558
912-882-4336
www.nps.gov/cuis
FEE SITE
Open seven days a week
(closed December 25th)
8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Island open year round
Activities:
Hiking, biking, tent camping (reservation needed), swimming
Accessibility:
Park buildings and passenger ferry are accessible
Current fees:
Park Entrance
$7 adults (16+); FREE children (15 and younger)
Ferry
$28 +tax adults
$26 +tax seniors (62 and older)
$18 +tax youth (15 and younger)
DETAIL PARAGRAPHS:
A journey to Georgia’s historic, undeveloped coast is just a boat ride away. The island offers more than 50 miles of trails and roadways through live oak forests draped with Spanish moss. Explore the grounds of a Carnegie family estate on a ranger guided walk, or travel seven miles by foot or bike to tour Plum Orchard Mansion. Swim and enjoy the serenity of a 17 mile long, totally undeveloped beach. Home to alligators, bobcat, manatees, dolphin, nesting sea turtles, and over three hundred species of birds throughout the year, the island offers the opportunity to view wildlife in a variety of native habitat.
The island can only be accessed by ferry or private boat. The Cumberland Island Ferry operates seven days a week from March 1st through November 30th. During December, January, and February there is no ferry service on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Advanced reservations are encouraged. To see a full schedule, pricing, and to reserve your spot visit www.cumberlandislandferry.com.
INSIDER TIPS:
- For a day visit, start at the Dungeness Dock. Explore the historic district and follow the boardwalks through the marsh and dunes on your way to the beach. Walk north on the beach until you reach the Sea Camp crossing where a short trip across the island leads to the Sea Camp Dock to catch the ferry back to the mainland. This 3.5 mile loop displays the history of the island and its variety of environments.
- Consider reserving a spot on the Lands & Legacies Tour for a concessioner guided van ride to the north end of the island. There is an additional cost, and space is limited, so reserve in advance.
DAY: 4
NAME OF LEG OF JOURNEY: TIMUCUAN ECOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC PRESERVE
TRAVEL INFORMATION: 82 MILES, 2 HOURS 15 MINUTES DRIVE TIME
OPENING PARAGRAPH:
Return to I-95 and head south to Florida. This leg of the trip will take you to several stops that make up the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve. Head to Amelia Island and turn south on A1A along the coast. Take time to visit Big Talbot Island, the Kingsley Plantation, and Fort Caroline to learn about the rich heritage and its ties to the ecology of this beautiful area. Travel the short distance to Jacksonville or find lodging along the coast.
SIDE BAR:
TIMUCUAN PRESERVE VISITOR CENTER
Fort Caroline National Memorial
12713 Fort Caroline Rd.
Jacksonville, FL 32225
KINGSLEY PLANTATION
11676 Palmetto Ave.
Jacksonville, FL 32226
FEE FREE SITE
Open seven days a week
9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Activities:
Audio tour, beach access, short walks, hiking trails, kayaking
DETAIL PARAGRAPHS:
In one of the Atlantic Coast’s largest urban areas, the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve offers glimpses of Old Florida. Here you can wander in the footsteps of the Timucua, the native people of Florida whose shell mounds dot the preserve. The Theodore Roosevelt Area allows hikers to explore maritime hammocks, swamps and salt marsh. You can also kayak through pristine estuaries or become a Junior Ranger at our historic sites. Although the Kingsley Plantation’s natural setting along the Fort George River is calm and beautiful, these grounds represent a tumultuous and unjust time in the area’s history, which can be felt walking among the slave cabins along the property’s edge.
INSIDER TIPS:
· Weekend house tours on the planter’s home are available for free by reservation; call early because they fill up quickly.
· Kayaking is the best way to explore the back waters of the 46,000 acre preserve, kayaks can be rented at several locations on Big Talbot Island.
RANGER TIPS:
· Hear the voices of Kingsley Plantation brought to life on their immersive audio tour. Audio devices are available free of charge at the visitor center. They will recount the story of free and enslaved inhabitants as they guide you around the site.
DID YOU KNOW?
· The planter’s house at Kingsley Plantation is the oldest still standing plantation house in Florida.
ITINERARY PAGE:
DAY: 5
NAME OF LEG OF JOURNEY: THE FORTS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE
TRAVEL INFORMATION: 41 MILES, 50 MINUTES DRIVE TIME
OPENING PARAGRAPH:
The final day of your trip will take you further south on I-95 to the oldest city in the U.S., St. Augustine. Travel I-95 south and take exit 318 east on SR16 until it dead-ends on San Marco Ave. Turn right on San Marco and travel 1.5 miles to this coquina fortress that rises along the water’s edge. Though this imposing stronghold was occupied by different nations throughout its long history, the fort was never successfully taken by force.
Take time to visit Fort Matanzas a short distance to the south. Learn how this monument once protected the Castillo’s southern approach and how it continues to protect the barrier island’s ecosystem from modern development.
SIDE BAR:
CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS NATIONAL MONUMENT
11 S. Castillo Dr.
St. Augustine, FL 32084
904-829-6506
www.nps.gov/casa
FEE SITE
Open seven days a week
8:45 A.M. - 5:00P.M.
(closed Thanksgiving and December 25)
Activities:
Ranger talks, historic weapons demonstrations, self-guided tour, 15-minute orientation movie, Junior Ranger program
Accessibility:
Lower level of the Castillo and many walkways are wheelchair accessible.
Current fees:
$10 adults (16+); FREE children (15 and younger)
DETAIL PARAGRAPHS:
The Castillo de San Marcos was built by the Spanish to protect the land they had claimed in 1513 and the area we now call Florida. The fort, completed at the end of the 17th century, is not only a monument of stone and mortar but of human determination and endurance. Ceded to the United States in 1821, the Castillo was renamed Fort Marion and used to hold Native American POWs during the Seminole War, was occupied by Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War, used to imprison Plains and Apache Indians in the 1870s and 1880s, and was used as a military prison during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Transferred to the National Park Service in 1933, the Castillo has remained steadfast within St. Augustine and along the bank of the Matanzas for well over 300 years.
INSIDER TIPS:
· Make sure you check out the City Gates at the north end of St. George Street, on the west side of the fort green. These historic pillars that once marked the entrance to the city are also protected by the National Park Service.
· Traveling with kids? Ask about our Junior Ranger program! It's a great way for the kids to get engaged in their visit, learn some cool facts, and earn a badge.
RANGER TIPS:
· The weapons demonstrations are scheduled for 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Keep in mind these demonstrations depend on the weather and staffing.
DID YOU KNOW?
· The fort is made of coquina, a stone made up of seashells that have been cemented together over many thousands of years. Because coquina has millions of microscopic air pockets, when cannonballs would hit the thick walls the stone compressed instead of shattering.
· It is the oldest masonry and only still existing 17th century fort in North America.
· Although the Castillo was decommissioned in 1900, it went back to war with the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. The NPS allowed them to use four rooms as classrooms, hold graduation ceremonies in the courtyard, and do drilling and marching on the gun deck and the grounds around the fort.
SIDE BAR:
FORT MATANZAS NATIONAL MONUMENT
Visitor Center
8635 A1A South
Saint Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 471-0116
FEE FREE SITE
Open seven days a week
9:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. (park grounds open until 5:30 P.M.)
(closed Thanksgiving and December 25)
Activities:
Ferry ride and tour of fort (weather and staff permitting), beach front and nature trails, Junior Ranger program
Accessibility:
Visitor Center, restrooms, dock, nature trail are wheelchair accessible; ferry boat and fort are not accessible
DETAIL PARAGRAPHS:
While Castillo de San Marcos protected St. Augustine’s main waterway, Fort Matanzas protected the southern approach to the city. Coastal Florida was a major field of conflict as European nations fought for control in the New World. As part of this struggle, Fort Matanzas guarded St. Augustine’s southern river approach. The colonial wars are over, but the monument is still protecting—not just the historic fort, but also the wild barrier island and the plants and animals who survive there amidst a sea of modern development.
INSIDER TIPS:
· The ferry ride and tours of the fort are free, but boarding passes must be picked up in the Visitor Center prior to departure. There is a limit of 35 people per tour. The ferry service depends on weather and staffing. Please visit website for current park information including ferry operations.
RANGER TIPS:
· Pets on a 6-foot leash are welcome in the park including on the beach and trails, but are not allowed in buildings or on the ferry.
HAVE EXTRA TIME?
Spanish Coquina Quarries at Anastasia State Park
300 Anastasia Park Road
St. Augustine, FL 32080
904-461-2033
www.floridastateparks.org/park/anastasia
DID YOU KNOW?
· Fort Matanzas is one of only two forts in the world made of coquina. The other is Castillo de San Marcos located just 14 miles north.
