Categories: TRAVEL

Things to Do While Visiting Tybee Island, Georgia

When thinking about a beach vacation a lot people have never heard of Tybee Island, Georgia. Tybee Island is right off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. Tybee is a small island but it is packed full of activities for everyone who visits. After our first trip there, Tybee Island quickly turned into the perfect summer vacation destination for my own family. We have already been to Tybee Island for summer vacation for the last two years and have yet to see and do all that is available. If you are interested in learning more about this beautiful island, here are just a few of the things to do while visiting Tybee Island, Georgia.

Of course the first thing you think of when you talk about any island is the beach. Tybee Island has a beautiful beach. On the beach you can play in the water or just lounge about. There are even beach rentals like umbrellas, lounge chairs and rafts available for you to rent on a daily basis to make you playtime on the beach even more enjoyable. The sound of the waves will just pull you right in. On our first trip to Tybee we had arrived too early to get into our hotel room so we just picked up our blanket and headed to the beach. The beautiful sound of the water is hard to resist.

If you would like to get even closer to nature, there are many companies on Tybee Island that offer dolphin tours. The bottle nosed dolphins love to frolick in the waters around Tybee Island. The tours are a great experience for everyone in your family. Who doesn’t like dolphins?

If you are a fisherman, feel free to bring your rod and reel. For a small fee you can throw your line into the ocean and fish for those beautiful and colorful ocean creatures. Many people love to fish off of the pier on Tybee Island. Heck, I just like to stand out there and see all of the unique ocean fish that everyone reels in.

If you would prefer to enjoy nature without really being in it then the Tybee Island Marine Science Center is the place for you. The center has several aquariums and touch tanks filled with local amphibians and reptiles, including an American alligator. The Tybee Island Marine Science Center also offers nature walks throughout the year. The center is open daily from 9am-5pm but closes at noon on Tuesdays. Admission is only $4 per adult and $3 for children over the age of 3. So this makes for a cheap and enjoyable adventure for the whole family.

Lighthouses are always part of a beach setting and Tybee Island is no different. The Tybee Island Lighthouse and Museum is a great place to visit while you are on Tybee Island. This beautiful lighthouse has been guiding ships to shore for over 270 years. Don’t forget to check out the gift shop. They even have real postal stamps with the Tybee Island Lighthouse on them.

If you are interested in civil war history then the Fort Pulaski National Monument is the place for you. This is a huge fort that is set up for you to visit and walk through. It is filled with history and information for you to enjoy. There are pieces of history scattered all around the fort. Things like cannons, rifles, furniture and many other items are on display for you to see. You can walk through the underground tunnels and even climb to the top of the fort walls and look out across the land. For Pulaski National Monument is open daily from 8:30am-5:15pm. There is a $3.00 entrance fee per person 16 and over. All children 15 and under are free. That makes Fort Pulaski a cheap, yet enjoyable place for you and your family to visit while on Tybee Island.

If you are still looking for more things to do while on Tybee Island there are many shops to browse through, there are sea kayak rentals for you to enjoy, there are public parks, bicycle trails to explore and there is even a fabulous casino cruise ship that goes out into the ocean every night. If you are looking for nightlife there are several bars and pubs scattered all over Tybee Island, including the Dolphin Reef Lounge at the Ocean Plaza hotel. Let’s not forget one of the best places in town to eat…..The Crab Shack. This is my families favorite resturant to eat at on Tybee Island. My husband would eat there for all three of his daily meals if it were possible to do so.

If all of that isn’t enough to keep you busy while visiting Tybee Island, Georgia then remember that the beautiful city of Savannah, Georgia is only about thirty minutes away. Savannah is filled to the brim with things for you to do and enjoy so make sure that you make a day trip over to Savannah while you are visiting Tybee Island.