Tybee Island: Uncrowded, unhurried
Posted on November 30, 2014 by bob in Travel
Biking along one of Tybee’s beaches. Photo by Geoff L. Johnson, courtesy Visit Tybee.
by Kara Ford
Drive 20 minutes east of Savannah, Georgia, through a few miles of wide sky and salt marshes, and at the end of the road is beautiful Tybee Island. One of Georgia’s 17 barrier islands, Tybee is one of the most laid back, authentic southern beach towns on the East Coast.
Named after a Native American word for “salt,” Tybee Island has been a popular destination for more than a century. In the 
early 1930s it welcomed up to 20,000 people each weekend to its serpentine shoreline for daytime beach fun and dancing under the stars. For decades, Tybee was one of the busiest seaside resorts in the Southeast. Its appeal is timeless, and people come here for slightly different reasons than they once did. Today, it’s a place where just “being” is enough.
This quirky oceanfront community has a rich and fascinating history. Over the years, a number of different flags have flown over the island, claiming this coastal paradise for Spain, England, France, the Confederacy and even bands of pirates.
“Tybee Island has a fascinating past,” said Sarah Jones, executive director of the Tybee Island Historical Society. “There’s so much more to Tybee’s history than meets the eye, from Native American history to 19th and early 20th century military influence to unique barrier island architecture, especially what is known as the historic Tybee ‘Raised Cottages.’”
Known as “Savannah’s Beach,” Tybee Island first became a popular vacation destination in the 1800s, when ocean breezes were recommended as a remedy for a host of ailments. In the years following the Civil War, visitors arrived by steamship. In 1897, the Central of Georgia Railroad built a line from Savannah to Tybee Island, making the beach more accessible. By the 1920s the road now known as Highway 80 connected Tybee Island with the mainland, and auto transportation became the preferred mode of travel.
Raised cottages are signature historical Tybee Island dwellings.
With its spacious dance floor, the popular Tybrisa Pavilion on the strand served as a frequent stop for popular musicians including Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway. Although the original pavilion burned in 1967, the Tybee Pier and Pavilion was rebuilt and re-opened in 1996, and is once again one of the most visited and visible attractions on the island.
“Tybee is unhurried and uncrowded,” raved best-selling author Mary Kay Andrews, who owns a beach cottage on the island and has written several popular novels about Tybee. “Tybee Island is the perfect place to go when you crave a slower, simpler pace.”
Only four of Georgia’s barrier islands are developed and accessible by bridges, including Tybee. But you can still enjoy wild, unspoiled beaches on nearby Little Tybee, Ossabaw and Wassaw Island, each just a short boat ride away.
“There’s something magical about exploring these primitive sea islands rich in native coastal wildlife, maritime forests, protected marshes and more,” said Sara Lane, director of Visit Tybee. “Birding enthusiasts will find native coastal birds like egrets, herons and osprey year-round, as well as wood storks and other migrating birds.”
Kayaking on Tybee Island. Photo by Geoff L. Johnson, courtesy Visit Tybee.
History buffs will be enchanted by Tybee Island Lighthouse, built in 1773. It has the distinction of being one of America’s most intact lighthouses as well as Georgia’s oldest and tallest. It has guided mariners safely into the Savannah River for more than 270 years and remains a functioning navigational aid. The station’s light, courtesy of a first order Fresnel lens, can be seen 18 miles out to sea.
Active adventurers can climb its 178 steps to enjoy one of the most breathtaking views in Georgia. Visitors can also drop by the Tybee Island Museum, located in an 1898 coastal Georgia artillery battery at Fort Screven, for impressive artifacts and enlightening exhibits about the island’s rich history.
Coco’s Sunset Grille. Photo by Geoff L. Johnson, courtesy Visit Tybee.
Northwest of Tybee Island is Fort Pulaski National Monument. The historic 1847 fort played a key role during the Civil War, when Union troops bombarded this Confederate fortification with rifled cannons. Visitors can still see the damage caused by the cannon fire. With its unique military history, daily cannon firings and miles of pet-friendly hiking and bike trails, Fort Pulaski offers a full day of fun and exploration.
Days on Tybee Island are as active, or lazy, as the mood demands. Explore local galleries and shops, ride bikes across the island or down the Rails to Trails crushed stone path, kayak or paddle board on Tybee’s Back River, or simply kick-back on the beach and watch the ships come into port from the Atlantic Ocean into the Savannah River. An easy drive will take you into beautiful historic Savannah for a taste of true Southern decorum and plenty of boutique shopping along bustling Broughton Street.
Bright, airy interior of Mermaid Cottage. Photo by Beth Bryan.
Many of the raised beach cottages, one of Tybee’s defining historic architectural styles, are available for rent by the day or week. From cozy beach bungalows, to luxurious oceanfront homes and condos, to B&Bs, most lodging accommodations are a short walk or bike ride to the beach and other local attractions, including popular restaurants.
Seafood is fresh, plentiful and delicious on Tybee, with an array of restaurants and bars ranging in atmosphere from beach-chic to dining dives. There’s no pretense, and flip flops are a wardrobe staple.
A visit to Tybee Island provides an authentic southern beach town experience, where you can kick off your shoes and cast off the worries of the week. It’s a place where kids can ride their bikes to the local ice cream parlor and families can spend quality time together. Many visitors come back year after year, even generation after generation. Before long, they find themselves looking for a little place to call their own.
(For more information, visit http://visittybee.com/.)
