Georgia Vacation Guide {Part 1:} Tybee Island

So, it’s taken me a while to get this post series going, as it’s been a busy summer! But I’m excited to share the first installment of my Georgia vacation guide. Let’s explore the best of Tybee Island!

The largest portion of our trip this August was spent in Tybee. It was my second time to the island after first going with the Youth Marketing team for a company retreat back in 2017. Tybee is a small, super cute barrier island just 30 minutes outside of Savannah. It’s comprised of beautiful beaches, a scenic pier, and even has a little bit of history with concrete batteries and the Tybee Island Light Station + Museum. The neighborhoods on the island are lined with colorful rental houses and the main streets are filled with restaurants, surf shops, and ice cream parlors. All in all, Tybee is a great place to relax and enjoy an eclectic piece of southern culture.

Let’s dive into a list of where we stayed, ate, and explored on the island!

Where to Stay

For this trip, we went straight to Airbnb to find a place stay. We quickly settled on the Sunny Daze Tiny Cottage due to it’s charming decor and reasonable price. We arrived to find the place exactly as expected: quaint, cute, and perfect for two. Throughout our stay, Gina was an incredible host. She provided recommendations for places to go in the area and was even kind enough to receive/deliver a package of contacts for me when I realized I was out just days before vacation. She really went above and beyond to make sure we have everything we needed. I would highly recommend this listing!

Where to Eat

There is no shortage of kitschy places to grab a good bite. The Crab Shack is surely one of those places. Every table has a hole in the middle for you to toss dirty paper towels (of which you need several with this grub) into a trash can below. The patio is shaded by winding trees and old barrels converted into lamps. The shack sits right along the water and we watched a man and his dog boat off into the marsh after finishing their meal. There’s also an alligator pond at the front entrance, which was cool to explore.

The Deck Beach Bar + Kitchen is (believe it or not) Tybee’s only beachfront bar and restaurant. There is a private entrance straight onto the sand lined with cozy pink and blue couches. It’s attached to the Beachside Colony Resort and has a relaxed menu with food inspired by Australia, coastal Mexico, and Hawaii. We enjoyed dinner at sunset with the company of gorgeous cat curled up in the corner of the patio.

Unassuming on the outside yet stylish on the inside, 80 East Gastropub was a delightful surprise on the island. We went to early and beat the dinner crowd. Our server was chill and helped us choose favorites from the menu. They were also bringing out the nightly specials for the staff to try while we were there and all of them looked so good! I went for the fried chicken and waffles, a personal favorite, and was not disappointed. Would highly recommend this gastropub for a really solid meal.

Finally, while we didn’t get any food there, Wet Willie’s is a must. This frozen daiquiri bar is such a treat. There are over 15 flavors to choose from there is something for everyone, including non-drinkers like myself. I was able to try the “Weak Willie,” which was a yummy non-alcoholic mix of blue raspberry and watermelon. Darren went for the mango and I think his face below says it all.

What To Do + See

For just $5, you can explore the Tybee Island Marine Science Center down by the pier. Filled with various sea creatures and lots of turtles (Tybee is a favorite nesting spot for various species), the science center offers hands-on education on the local sea life.

Just outside the science center, the Tybee Pier + Pavilion is great for a peaceful walk and people watching. Many enjoy fishing off the end of the pier. There are often events and performances at the pavilion, though we didn’t experience any during our stay since our Airbnb was on the opposite side of the island. I personally love going underneath the pier and watching the waves crash. It’s great for photos as well!

We were staying on the North Beach side and enjoyed several hours soaking up the sun during this trip. However, my favorite night was when we biked over just before sunset for a walk along the water. It really showed off the beauty of the island.

Despite the heat, we climbed 178 steps to see the beautiful views atop the Tybee Island Lighthouse. We did this on one of our last days on the island and it was cool to check out the top after passing the lighthouse every day on our way to the beach.

A few other places that we enjoyed in Tybee:

Huc-a-Poos Bites + Booze – Super casual. Amazing pizza – we got the Hawaiian. Fun atmosphere. A must!
Tim’s Beach Bike and Beach Gear – We rented bikes for the week and it’s SO worth it! Best way to get around and save money.
Tybean Art & Coffee Bar – A great place to grab a quick coffee or smoothie in the morning.
The Breakfast Club Tybee – A popular breakfast spot that was recommended to us several times. Darren loved the grits!
The Sugar Shack – When we first arrived, I wasn’t used to the heat and needed an ice cream – STAT. Vanilla soft serve at The Sugar Shack hit the spot!
Seaside Sisters Gift Shop – This adorable shop has a ton of hand-made gifts and souvenirs.

Stay tuned for two additional installments in this Georgia Guide: Savannah + Atlanta!