This is a beautiful former home, with an abundance of history. You are well-cared for with full breakfast and dinner and a picnic lunch to enjoy in the dining room or take wherever you choose. The 7 am birding tour is not to be missed. Sunrise over the dunes and the salt marsh is stunning. There's less wildlife in January, but a snowy egret, herons and a number of eagles were still there, and wild horses everywhere. The staff takes care of everything, from luggage to a daily weather forecast. The naturalist who provides several different tours daily is a wealth of information, both of nature and history. Bikes are available or you may walk any number of trails. It's a short walk to the beach on the sea side of the island.. If you cannot live without TV or Internet, this is not for you. For the rest of us, it was a wonderful escape. Artists and photographers will love every minute here. I will return, often. The first visit was just an introduction. It was the perfect New Year's Eve as well, opening with an oyster roast, some champagne after dinner, followed by gathering around a bonfire. I haven't downloaded any photos yet.

We recently spent 2 nights at Greyfields after visiting Charleston & Savannah. It was an enjoyable addition to our trip. We hoped there would be a lot of nature, and there was (great birdwatching, deer, and of course the lovely wild horses, plus lots of empty beaches and pathways for roaming). The house itself is charmingly antique with a huge verandah for lounging. We had the Library Suite, which was fine. Be warned the plumbing and heating, though adequate, is antique and quirky (several rooms do not have private baths, but ours did). The food was excellent and plentiful. I was disappointed that the inn does not overlook the ocean - it is beside the ocean but faces away from the water, and there are many trees that block views even from the back. The biggest surprise we had was that we thought this would be more of a "hosted" experience, like we are used to from most safari/nature lodges and private home/hotels we have visited. We did receive a brief orientation from a very young employee, who seemed to be new, but we never met the owners/managers, even though the hotel is very intimate. The people working around the hotel were busy doing their jobs and did not really engage with guests. So, although the island is a truly unique and fabulous experience, Greyfield was pleasant but not as warm as we might have hoped. We would return because of the uniqueness of Cumberland Island, but felt Greyfield is quite expensive for the actual experience provided (I suppose you are paying for the priviledge of having that whole lovely island virtually to yourself, but the inn could be more extraordinary if there was more of an effort to welcome guests to what really is a private home).

Greyfield Inn is a one-of-a-kind "bed and breakfast" experience. This was our first trip to both the Inn as well as Cumberland Island and it was a perfect fit for my wife and I. The things we loved about this place included the rich history of the Inn and the island, the food (they provided breakfast, picnic lunch, snacks throughout the day, and a 3 course dinner), the attention to detail, and an unparalleled natural experience. There are several really interesting historical sites on the island including the Inn which is over 100 years old and still owned and operated by Carnegie family members. The food was plentiful and really good! The kind staff at the Inn took care of every detail of our trip from taking care of our luggage to customizing meals around food allergies. And words can't describe the beauty of this untouched barrier island which is full of unique plants and animals. If you are expecting luxury and/or modern amenities, this isn't the place for you. However, if you want to be pampered in a beautiful, historic, stress-free environment, I'm not sure there are many that do it better than Greyfield. It is much more than a place to stay, it is an experience!

This was our second trip to Greyfield and Cumberland Island. I was glad to see that things had remained the same. It is one of the most stress free places I have been. Everything is taken care of for you. This island is so unique that we had to share it with our two grown children and their families. One word of warning, if you cannot be happy without shopping, cars, golf courses, tennis courts and whatever then you probably shouldn't go. However, if you like to be pampered with good food, relax on an undeveloped beach, see barrier islands as they were intended, and a touch of history then by all means I would not hesitate to go.