Tybee Island Information
Tybee Island is located 18 miles east of Savannah, this small barrier island boasts a wide, 3-mile long beach that’s backed by sea oat-covered sand dunes and is perfect for sunbathing, people-watching and frolicking in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The island’s south-end pier and pavilion is a splendid venue for strolling above the ocean, people watching and fishing. Although vacationers are lured to Tybee mainly because of what it provides in the way of recreation and relaxation, those with a love of history won’t be disappointed.
Tybee offers: Fort Screven, The Tybee Island Lighthouse (dated 1773), an intriguing museum, and Fort Pulaski National Monument which is just west of the island on Hwy 80. While Tybee is a resort town complete with a full range of restaurants, modern hotels and motels, luxurious condominiums, and quaint inns and cottages, it’s also a residential area stocked with its share of colorful characters. It’s an atmosphere considerably more laid-back than that of glitzier, larger beach towns to the north and south.
What to Do
Tybee Island offers a wide range of things to do while visiting, whether just a day trip or a week with the family there are activities to enjoy. Outdoor activities are at the top of the list including kayaking, fishing, jet skiing, para sailing, dolphins tours and more. We have listed some of the top to-dos below.
Lazaretto Creek Marina
Family owned and operated since1992, Lazaretto Creek Marina and Capt. Mike’s Dolphin Tours have been offering the best in dolphin tours, sunset cruises, and inshore and deep sea fishing from the serenity of Tybee Island, Georgia.
www.tybeedolphins.com
Sea Kayak Georgia
Sea Kayak Georgia, located on Tybee Island, Georgia, offers the finest service in the kayaking community.
www.seakayakgeorgia.com
Tybee Jet Ski & Watersports
We offer the best in Jet Skiing and Watersports activities. Only minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, it is the perfect location for serious Watersports Fun.
www.tybeejetski.com
Tybee Island Wedding
Tybee Island Wedding, Inc., offers many unique, fun, romantic and very meaningful ways to exchange your wedding vows.
www.tybeeislandwedding.com
Additional Things you can do while staying on Tybee Island
- Rent beach cruisers and explore the beach
- Bird Watching
- Tybee Turtle Tour
- Get a fishing license and fish from the Tybee Island Pier
- Get in a workout at the YMCA
- Shopping on Tybee Island: Atlantic Beacon Gallery and The Shops of Tybee Oaks
- Enjoy a picnic in a park, Click here for Park Listings
What to See
Located just 18 miles from Historic Savannah you will have more to see than you can fit in just one vacation. Tybee and Savannah have plenty to offer. We have listed some of the must see’s below.
Tybee Island Lighthouse Station
Tybee Island Light Station has been guiding mariners safe entrance into the Savannah River for over 270 years. The Tybee Island Light Station is one of America’s most intact having all of its historic support buildings on its five-acre site.
www.tybeelighthouse.org
Tybee Island Marine Science Center
The mission of the Tybee Island Marine Science Center is to promote the appreciation, conservation, and understanding of the marine ecosystem of coastal Georgia through education and service.
www.tybeemarinescience.org
Fort Pulaski
The Battle of Fort Pulaski in April 1862 marked a turning point in military history. It featured the first significant use of rifled cannons in combat. These accurate, long-range weapons shattered Fort Pulaski’s walls from over a mile away.
www.nps.gov/fopu
Cockspur Lighthouse
Situated on an islet off the southeastern tip of Cockspur Island marking the South Channel of the Savannah River, the Cockspur Lighthouse is stands twelve miles east of the port of Savannah.
www.nps.gov/fopu/historyculture/cockspur-light.htm
Trolley Tours
Stunning natural beauty, magnificent architecture, fascinating history and warm southern hospitality have lured millions of visitors to Savannah each year.
www.trolleytours.com/savannah
Paula Deen Tour
Paula’s Rags to Riches story, join us on this tour thats features great stops including Uncle Bubba’s Restaurant.
www.oldsavannahtours.com
Bonaventure Cemetary
Bonaventure Cemetery is a public cemetery located on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River, east of Savannah, Georgia. The cemetery became famous when it was featured in the 1994 novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, and in the movie, directed by Clint Eastwood, based on the book. It is the largest of the city’s municipal cemeteries, containing nearly 160 acres.
www.bonaventurecemeterytours.com
Sixth Sense Tours
I created the Sixth Sense Savannah tour as a response to a saturated marketplace that had absolutely nothing new to offer the interested public. This tour represents not only the first step “out” of overdone tourist areas, but the stories on this tour are entirely exclusive.
www.sixthsensesavannah.com
Wormsloe State Park
A breathtaking avenue sheltered by live oaks and Spanish moss leads to the tabby ruins of Wormsloe, the colonial estate of Noble Jones (1702-1775), a physician and carpenter who arrived in Georgia in 1733 with James Oglethorpe and the first group of settlers from England.
www.gastateparks.org
Savannah River Boat
Savannah is a river town, so what better way to get an overview of her harbor and port than to cruise with the River Street Riverboat Company!
www.savannahriverboat.com
Island Mini-Golf
Our facility is clean and very family friendly. We promote a casual laid back atmosphere for all ages to enjoy. Winner of the 2009 Family Choice award from the readers of the Coastal Family Magazine for The Best Miniature Golf in Savannah.
www.islandminigolf.com
Tybee Beach Rules
Where to Eat
Tybee Island has countless places to enjoy a quick bite for lunch on the beach or a exquisite sit down dinner. Tybee was voted the Healthiest Beach in the U.S. by Health Magazine and has the restaurants to back it up. We also have the restaurants that don’t want to be on that list, for the people that just want some delicious fried seafood. We have listed some of the top where to-eat’s below.
AJ’s Dockside
AJ’s Dockside Restaurant has served the finest seafood on Tybee Island since January 2003. We are located at 1315 Chatham Avenue on Tybee’s beautiful Back River.
www.ajsdocksidetybee.com
The Breakfast Club
The chefs here at the Breakfast Club consider food one of the great passions in life… we use only the freshest ingredients available.
www.breakfastclubtybee.com
The Crab Shack
2008 Best Seafood by The Readers of Savannah Magazine.
www.thecrabshack.com
Fannies on the Beach
Oceanfront with lots of great options for food and drinks.
www.fanniesonthebeach.com
Huc-A-Poos
Great Local food with a local vibe!
www.hucapoos.com
Macelwees
MacElwee’s Seafood House has built a culinary history based on Southern hospitality.
www.macelweesontybee.com
North Beach Grill
Located near the lighthouse. Great food just steps from the beach.
Sundae Cafe
Don’t overlook an opportunity to eat at Sundae Cafe and Deli.
www.sundaecafeattybee.com
Sunrise
Breakfast and lunch at unbeatable prices.
www.sunrisesavannah.com
Tybee Island
Testimonials
We have been visiting Tybee for the past three summers. We have stayed at DeSoto Properties each time. We have never been disappointed. Nice and clean accommodations, very friendly and helpful staff, on the beach, what more could you ask for!?! My family looks forward to this each year.
DeSoto Hotel – Stayed: June 2017
- Family Vacation didn’t disappointMiss Debbie is simply the sweetest person and made our staying amazing. We stayed in the Atlantic room. It has a partial ocean view, which is like advertised. The fully cooked breakfast was so good each morning(eggs cooked to order, pancakes, waffles, or French toast, hash browns, cereal, yogurt, toast, bagels and more). We rented 2 chairs & umbrella and sat on the beach one day. It was a great vacation and would stay again(If the hurricane doesn’t destroy)+
Angela C.
DeSoto Bed & Breakfast – Stayed: September 2017