Cumberland Island - Paradise Found on Georgia's Coast

Cumberland Island is more than just Georgia's southernmost barrier island; it is a place of peaceful refuge and tranquil escape.

Nearly four and a half decades ago, as a young boy from inner city Atlanta, Nomad's Lens stepped foot on the sandy shores of Cumberland Island after traveling from Saint Marys to the Sea Camp Dock.

The ferry traveled through relatively calm waters to finally dock 30 minutes later at the ranger's station on the island. Nomad's Lens suggest reserving and planned stay on Cumberland Island months in advance (www.cumberlandislandferry.com) for $28 adult and $18 for children under age 15 years.

At age ten years, the weeks spent exploring Cumberland Island completely changed my life. The life transformation was more than just experiencing the unparalleled beauty of the campsite and sand dunes.

Cumberland Island is truly magical. It was if the worries and struggles of inner-city deprivation, ubiquitous in southwest Atlanta, was restricted from the island and not allowed to disembark onto the island's western shores.

Time spent on Cumberland Island was filled with countless hikes along the majestic trails, hours playing on the white sand beach, and swimming in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The annual trips to Cumberland Island sponsored by the neighborhood activity center helped hundreds of children see beyond the confines of societal limitations. The horses, wild boars, and animals all roamed freely and peacefully across the land.

After traveling back to Cumberland Island as an adult, the trip brought back vivid memories of fearless exploration and a child's belief if limitless possibilities.

Forty-five years later, the island had not changed. It is as beautiful and peaceful as I remembered from my childhood. As an adult (and Nomad's Lens for that matter), I now carry with me a Nikon 7200 with a variety of lens through which I could capture the beauty and spirit of this wonderful place.

Over the next several blogs you will see and experience Cumberland Island through the eyes of an unapologetic dreamer.....through Nomad's Lens.

Nomad's Lens suggest that you add "visiting Cumberland Island" to your bucket list. Trust me; you won't regret it!