Cumberland Island National Seashore
Right on the Florida border, and once the private reserve of the Carnegie family, the Cumberland Island National Seashore is a 99 percent uninhabited barrier island with miles of hiking trails and primitive backcountry camping along beaches and in palmetto forests. Also here is the unique Greyfield Inn (904/261-6408, around $425 and up), the Carnegie family mansion now operated by Carnegie heirs as an unpretentious 16-room historic lodge; a stay here includes gourmet meals, cocktail hour, gear rentals, and transportation from the mainland. (Bring your own bug spray!)
Unless you’re a guest at the Greyfield, Cumberland Island is only accessible by a twice-daily ferry ($28 round-trip plus $7 entrance fee) from the town of St. Marys, 10 mi (16.1 km) east of I-95 exit 3. For further details, contact the Cumberland Island National Seashore information and reservations center (877/860-6787).