Cumberland Island Multisport

Cumberland Island Multisport Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Welcome to St. Marys! Meet your guides and fellow adventurers at the Spencer House Inn and enjoy a delicious southern dinner.

  Your Cumberland Island adventure starts this evening in the historic coastal town of St. Mary's, GA. Complimentary shuttle service is provided from Jacksonville International Airport to St. Mary's and will be departing the airport baggage area at 5:00 p.m. If arriving by car, please check in and settle into your rooms at the Spencer House Inn in St. Mary's between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. (200 Osborne Street, St. Mary's, GA 31558). We'll then meet our guides in the lobby of the Spencer House Inn at 6:30 p.m. for a group orientation. Our guides will discuss gear, packing, and what to expect for the next three days. At 7:30pm, we'll head out for a short walk to Lang's Marina Restaurant for a delicious seafood dinner. Meals provided: Dinner at Lang's restaurant.

• Day 2 Meandering through the marsh, the "Queen" transports us to Cumberland Island, where we'll enjoy some lunch before beginning our exploration of the island.

  A fantastic meal at our cozy inn kicks the day off in proper fashion! We'll get an early start, as our group needs to check in with the National Park Service by 8:30 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m. ferry transport aboard the Cumberland Queen. The "Queen" meanders through tidal marshes on this 12 mile (45 minute) trip down the St. Mary's River before landing at the Sea Camp Dock. After we set up camp and enjoy some lunch, we'll hike to the south end, walking through maritime forests on the way to viewing the ruins of Dungeness. Our return hike will be along the Atlantic Ocean on Cumberland's pristine and protected beach. Upon returning to our camp, we'll finish the day with a wonderful dinner and perhaps a moonlit walk along the beach. Meals provided: breakfast at the B&B, lunch in camp before the hike, dinner in camp.

  Hiking Distance: 5 miles

• Day 3 Today we'll kayak the beautiful tidal creek used by the Carnegie family for on-water access to their summer mansion.

  Our guides will start us off with a wholesome breakfast before the day's kayaking adventure! Today we'll focus on exploring the Cumberland Sound and Beach Creek, a tidal creek that was used by the Carnegies for on-water access to their Dungeness summer home. We'll have the opportunity to see wild horses and a variety of bird species as we paddle our kayaks along the Cumberland Sound and in this meandering tidal waterway. The paddling trip includes a stop for lunch and a potential hike to see the Dungeness Ruins and historic sites of the south end.

  Kayaking Distance: 6-8 miles. Potential Hiking Distance: 3 miles.

• Day 4 Today we'll peddle our cruiser bicycles out to the Plum Orchard Mansion, making our way through the heart of the island.

  After breakfast and breaking camp, we'll ride our bikes to the Plum Orchard Mansion. Open when volunteer caretakers are on site, this estate was completed in 1898 for George Lauder Carnegie and was built with the most modern conveniences of the time. Just as fascinating as the destination is the bike ride to and from the estate. We'll be riding through the heart of the island under a canopy of Live Oaks across forest floors packed with palmetto, through tall stands of stately pines, over open fields, near tidal creeks, and fresh water wetlands. We will return to Sea Camp dock by 4pm, in time to catch the 4:45pm ferry back to the mainland. Upon arrival in St. Marys, transportation is available to the airport in Jacksonville. We plan to arrive in Jacksonville by 6pm, though we strongly recommend you do not schedule any outbound flights until 7:30pm or later. Meals provided: Breakfast and lunch.

  Biking Distance: 12 miles.

  Note: Because weather will dictate our itinerary for Day 4, it's not possible to provide a definite end time for today's activities. It's anticipated that if we paddle we'll likely be out of the water by 3pm. In addition, due to the proximity of Fort Clinch State Park to Jacksonville, FL, if kayaking today we will transfer directly from Fort Clinch back to Jacksonville. For those who have left a vehicle in St. Marys, a transfer back to St. Marys will immediately follow the drop off in Jacksonville. If paddling is not an option we'll be finished with the day's activity around 1pm. To accommodate either of these daily itineraries, we recommend not making flights out of Jacksonville or travel arrangements for earlier than 5:30 pm on day 4.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule above, the itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control, including weather and terrain conditions. For Days 2, 3 and 4 of this itinerary, the biking, hiking, and kayaking activities may be rearranged in order to accommodate tidal currents (which change daily) and weather. Your guides are expert sea kayakers and will arrange the activities to give you the most pleasurable experience possible.

Contact REI Adventures prior to purchasing your airline tickets to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted above. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is one half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single accommodations available.

Group transfer to/from Jacksonville airport; All accommodations (based on double occupancy), meals as noted in the daily itinerary; professional guiding; taxes and inn gratuities; ferry transport aboard the Cumberland Queen, on-trip van transportation to and from trailheads when required.

Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; insurance of any kind; alcoholic beverages; guide gratuities and items of a personal nature.

Major: Jacksonville, FL – 32 miles; 45 min>

Complimentary shuttle service is provided to and from Jacksonville International Airport to St. Mary's, GA. The shuttle will depart Jacksonville Airport at 5pm on day one and return at approximately 6:00pm to the Jacksonville Airport on day four.

This trip is rated Moderate  [3] as the hiking portions of the trip involve carrying a daypack over terrain with elevation gain and loss of around 5-8 miles daily. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip and to avoid sore muscles, we suggest that you engage in a regular exercise regimen beginning at least three months prior to your departure. Most important to your overall enjoyment is your overall fitness level.

Daytime temperatures usually range between 60 - 80 degrees F, with evening temperatures dropping to the 50s and 60s. Early- or late-season trips will experience a wider range of temperatures. Thunderstorms are a possibility at any time in the mountains, making adequate raingear a necessity.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. This gear list has been created to help you in choosing your equipment for the trip. Try to bring only what is necessary, as this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

Daytime temperatures usually range between 60 - 80 degrees F, with evening temperatures dropping to the 50s and 60s.

Gear Checklist