Travel opportunities are tough to come by in these times. With social distancing, varied hours of operation, and travel restrictions, many of us are stuck at home. Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need, and a weekend getaway might just do the trick. When leaving Charleston or the lowcountry, the majority of folks flock to Asheville, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, or Savannah. If you dig a little deeper on that last one, you’ll find a small beach community in the barrier islands outside of Savannah, GA. We took the two and a half hour drive down the coast to see what Tybee Island was all about and here’s what we found.
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Where to Stay?
You won’t find any chain hotels here. Everything is mom-and-pop places all the way down to the retail shops and restaurants. You’ll find a handful of adorable hotels and B&B’s to choose from like the Tybee Island Inn, The Georgianne Inn, or the Surf Song Bed and Breakfast.
There are a ton of vacation rentals managed by a handful of property managers. We found one through Tybee Vacation Rentals who have everything from hotel style condos to private homes that host the whole family.
What to Do?
Head to the Beach! Sun or not, Tybee Island Beach is a beautiful place to take a walk down down the pier or go hunting for sharks teeth. If you’re a history hound, head over to Tybee Island Light Station and Museum. It’s Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse and yes you can climb all 178 stairs to the top! There’s a few shops here and there on the island but no trip to Tybee is complete without a stop at T S Chu Department Store. This local staple has your souvenir t-shirts, beach floats, and trinkets, but it also has a hardware section, home decor, and locally made jams. Their motto is “if it’s something you use, you’ll find it at Chu’s”. If you’re looking to see more of the island from a different perspective, you can book an inexpensive tour with Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventure. You’ll be able to catch stunning sunsets, unique island views, and of course… dolphins.
Insider Tip: Ride-share car services can be difficult to get so call a Breezy instead. It’s a local service that uses old pink and white taxis to take you anywhere on the island for three bucks a head!
Where to Eat?
Start your day at the Breakfast Club. If it’s busy season, expect a line and get there early because they close at 1pm or once they run out of food… whatever happens first. If you’re not a big morning eater or don’t have time for standing in line, grab a smoothie at Ripe Ingredients to start your day. There’s a couple other breakfast spots and a handful of coffee shops too.
A great island style lunch served with a side of suds can be found at Salt Island Fish & Beer. Grab a burger, local seafood, and wash it down with the largest offering of craft beers and cocktails. We lucked out with a really special lunch at Tybee Bakery featuring Cafe Miss Korea. This one you definitely need to plan ahead for, but it’s an experience. By day, it’s a bakery with exquisite desserts from chef Simon… think homemade cakes, pastries, or house made ice cream and fudge! The Korean lunch or dinner is a little unorthodox. When you make your reservation, you plan out a menu together. Upon arrival, it’s more like you’ve been invited to dine at someones house… and they happen to be a phenomenal Korean chef!
For dinner you’ve got plenty to choose from! A-J’s Dockside Restaurant While it still has some touristy vibes, it offers waterfront dining with a fresh seafood hitlist and one of the only spots offering snow crab legs as of late. It’s mostly outdoor dining so don’t plan it when the weather is iffy, but do refresh your palate while sipping a watermelon margarita while you patiently wait for your table. A personal favorite is just on the edge of leaving Tybee. Drive down the dirt road (or arrive by boat to either of these spots) to Bubba Gumbo’s Another seafood heavy menu that focuses on shrimp, but don’t forget the baked scallops appetizer served in a cream sauce with parmesan.
Tybee and the surrounding Islands are the perfect place to slow down and take it easy.
