Cumberland Island & Fernandina Beach
Today was a diverse mix of nature and human history, with a number of diverse environments spread over two states.
This morning the National Geographic Explorer dropped anchor off Cumberland Island National Seashore, on the southernmost boundary of the state of Georgia. As bottlenose dolphins patrolled nearby our guests embarked the tender Cumberland Princess for the trip to shore under the guidance of National Parks rangers.
This barrier island is home to oak and palmetto forests with a range of wildlife, and our naturalists were keen to get under the green canopy and explore with the guests. A tour was provided of the Dungeness ruins, once an impressive holiday home owned by the wealthy Carnegie family but now nature is rapidly reclaiming this site as its own.
Certainly Mother Nature did not disappoint with appearances by a variety of birds; wild turkey, red cardinals and egret. The famed feral horses, descendants of a herd of mustang released in the 1920s, were also seen grazing in the area. The curious Nine-banded Armadillo was also spotted and one individual was happy to pose for photographs. The name comes from the Spanish for ‘little armoured one’ and this suit of dermal scales (called ‘scutes’) means the animal will sink in water if it does not inflate its stomach with air. Thankfully I don’t have to do this when I go diving!
The afternoon saw the Cumberland Princess disembarking our enthusiastic guests ashore in the lovely Florida town of Fernandina Beach. The streets of this picturesque town are lined with historic homes and stately moss-filled oaks. Time was spent in the local museum and discovering the quiet delights of interesting shops.
The balmy weather complemented the relaxed nature of this town, where strolling was preferred to hiking and the locals welcomed us ashore with amiable conversation.
Today was a diverse mix of nature and human history, with a number of diverse environments spread over two states.
This morning the National Geographic Explorer dropped anchor off Cumberland Island National Seashore, on the southernmost boundary of the state of Georgia. As bottlenose dolphins patrolled nearby our guests embarked the tender Cumberland Princess for the trip to shore under the guidance of National Parks rangers.
This barrier island is home to oak and palmetto forests with a range of wildlife, and our naturalists were keen to get under the green canopy and explore with the guests. A tour was provided of the Dungeness ruins, once an impressive holiday home owned by the wealthy Carnegie family but now nature is rapidly reclaiming this site as its own.
Certainly Mother Nature did not disappoint with appearances by a variety of birds; wild turkey, red cardinals and egret. The famed feral horses, descendants of a herd of mustang released in the 1920s, were also seen grazing in the area. The curious Nine-banded Armadillo was also spotted and one individual was happy to pose for photographs. The name comes from the Spanish for ‘little armoured one’ and this suit of dermal scales (called ‘scutes’) means the animal will sink in water if it does not inflate its stomach with air. Thankfully I don’t have to do this when I go diving!
The afternoon saw the Cumberland Princess disembarking our enthusiastic guests ashore in the lovely Florida town of Fernandina Beach. The streets of this picturesque town are lined with historic homes and stately moss-filled oaks. Time was spent in the local museum and discovering the quiet delights of interesting shops.
The balmy weather complemented the relaxed nature of this town, where strolling was preferred to hiking and the locals welcomed us ashore with amiable conversation.
