Hotels in Tybee Island, USA

Tybee Island, Georgia, United States: Low Tide and High Expectations

As the easternmost barrier island off the coast of Georgia, Tybee Island sits at land’s end. There’s one bridge leading to this little slice of paradise and a simple trip across will leave you wishing you were marooned and stranded for life. Tybee Island is that perfect island vacation, with a value on fun and relaxation in a location that’s only eight square kilometres. The island is a vacation hotspot that’s managed to keep a sense of community in place. Here, the expectations are high for fun and the only low spot to the entire holiday will be low tide.

Living That Beach Life

Much of Tybee Island real estate is offered as vacation rental homes, but there are also many boutique hotels offering southern hospitality and charm. A considerable amount of the beachfront area is exclusively for vacation accommodations with side streets allowing for easy walks to the beach. Hotel Tybee is the perfect example of this community feel and has been on the same site for over 125 years. The beachfront also has restaurants and pubs, as well as five kilometres of uninterrupted public beach ensuring access to those staying inland. There are also quaint inns and bed and breakfasts, as well as a camping and RV site at Rivers End Campground. Snowbirds, those escaping the harsh northern winters, can get reduced rates during the off season. The downtown area of Tybee is also pedestrian friendly and almost any site can be easily walked to.

Becoming a Beach Bum

If you’re serious about the beach lifestyle, Tybee Island has plenty for you to explore, both on and off the water. Tybee Pier and Pavilion on the south end of the island has spots for fishing and swimming and the north end of the island includes Tybee Lighthouse and Museum. The lighthouse is open for tours and visitors can hike to the top for amazing views of the surrounding waters, which might allow sightings of bottlenose dolphins that frequent the area. A better way to see the local sea life is with a dolphin tour or sea charter. Other fun beach activities include renting bicycles or two-, four-, or six-seater electric carts which can take you all over the island. Aspiring beach bums will want to make sure to visit Tybee Island during May for the Beach Bum Parade, featuring homemade floats and an island-wide water fight with squirt guns and hoses.

The Marsh

Tybee Island is bordered just off the coast by salt marshes that play host to a series of activities and adventures. Some water sports, such as surfing, can be found on the beach, but the quieter marsh waterways allow for paddle boarding, kayaking, and jet skis. While the deep-sea fishing ventures around Tybee Island is well known, chartering fishing boats for the inshore can provide unique catches from the lowland area. The Tybee Marine Science Center gives year-round programs to educate visitors about this unique natural area. Walking along McQueen’s Island Trail will also give a close-up view of areas not touched by tourism. The trail was built along a historic railroad line and offers nine kilometres of pathways with glimpses of native wildlife, including river dolphins, American alligators, and birds, like the osprey and red-tailed hawk. Hotels, motels, and rental units can also be found on the marsh side.

Savannah’s Beach

Tybee Island has long been referred to as “Savannah’s beach” because of its proximity. Savannah is a city steeped in history and visitors will be able to wander down cobblestoned streets leading to cleverly-designed parks, such as Forsyth Park, with fountains and statuary highlighted throughout the historic district. There are also more structured activities, like architectural tours, Civil-War re-enactments, and ghost tours in what is known as “America’s Most Haunted City”. The Old Town Trolley Tours of Savannah will allow guests hop on and off privileges throughout the city and will give humorous lectures of city history. While in Savannah, be sure to stop by and see the Juliet Gordon Low Birthplace, the home of the founder of the Girl Scouts of America.