There's a secluded island near Florida where beautiful horses roam freely. Cumberland Island is just a 45-minute drive plus a 45-minute ferry ride away from Jacksonville, FL. Take a short road trip to Cumberland Island away from the hustle and bustle of city life. You may spot wild horses if you're lucky enough. Cumberland Island is a large barrier island off the coast of Georgia. Florida visitors coming from Jacksonville can drive to St. Mary's, GA, and from there take a ferry to the island. The ferry is available from March 1 to September 31, making this trip the perfect warm-weather getaway. The wild horses on the island are feral, meaning they used to be domesticated but became wild over time, according to the National Park Service (NPS). Today, the horses on Cumberland are not managed and roam free, the NPS reports. If you spot these wild horses, remember to stay a safe distance away and refrain from feeding them. View this post on Instagram Cumberland Island camping. 🐴🚴🏼♂️🐎💕 #cumberlandisland #cumberlandislandgeorgia #camping #biking #wildhorses #horses A post shared by Katie Walker (@kay.walking) on Jun 18, 2018 at 5:13am PDT The island also has historic ruins to explore. Called the Dungeness Ruins, the building seen below used to be a mansion owned by the Carnegie family in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, according to Atlas Obscura. View this post on Instagram Instagram vs. Reality 🌧 ☔️ 🌊🏰 🚲 🌴 A post shared by Melly Chanthaseng (@melly_xo) on Oct 7, 2019 at 5:37pm PDT You can visit one of the many pretty beaches on the island for a relaxing island experience. There are also many trails to explore, including Dungeness Roadways, River Trail, Nightingale Trail, and Parallel Trail, according to the NPS. View this post on Instagram The horses on Cumberland Island can be traced back to the 1700s, although it's believed the animals likely occurred in the area even earlier, during the Spanish missionary period in the 1500s. #wildhorses #georgia #beachwalk #exploringnature #atlanticshore #nikond850📷 #bornfree #sandralaforgephotography A post shared by Sandra LaForge Photography (@sandralaforgephoto) on Nov 13, 2019 at 5:18pm PST You can roam among ruins and spot wild horses at Cumberland Island this spring and summer. For more wildlife encounters, check out this wolf sanctuary in Florida and this firefly encounter in Florida. Cumberland Island Ferry Price: $28 ferry ride Address: 113 St Marys St, St. Marys, GA 31558 Why You Need To Go: Take a ferry to Cumberland Island this spring for an incredible island adventure. You may even see wild horses roaming the beaches. Website We strongly advise that before you go swimming or visit any location, you check the most recent updates on potential hazards, security, water quality, and closures. If you do plan to visit a location, respect the environment.
