Tybee Island, Georgia: Our Secret Hideaway

There is a beautiful island that is a wonderful place to spend the winter with five miles of beautiful sand beaches and friendly people. It is a place where you can be alone to wander the beach in quiet solitude or you can spend a day wandering through gift shops and art galleries. There are some very nice restaurants and you are only minutes away from one of the most beautiful cities in America.

We have spent four winters on Tybee Island, GA and we can recommend it as an alternative to the much more expensive and now perhaps spoiled beaches of Alabama and Florida. Admittedly, not quite as warm as further south, for those who come from the frozen north, it is still a treat to be in the high 60’s or low 70’s.

Tybee is a barrier island off the northern coast of Georgia just east of Savannah. The island has one grocery store and a permanent population of 3392 in the 2000 census. The name “Tybee” is the Euchee word for salt and it is believed that the Euchee tribe inhabited the island before it was discovered by the Spanish in the 1500’s. It was a hiding place for pirates and they used its waterways as a source of water for their ships. In 1733, James Oglethorp settled on Tybee before moving on to found Savannah.

Most of the island is taken up by beach houses and condominiums, which are owned by seasonal residents and available for rent. In the off-season, which is the winter months, some real bargains can be had for long-term rentals.

There is one bridge onto and off the island and it is about seventeen miles to downtown Savannah, GA.  As you come off the island, the next place toward the mainland is Wilmington Island where you can find several shopping centers and restaurants within fifteen minutes of your home on Tybee.

Just seventeen miles away is the wonderful city of Savannah, which can provide entertainment, shopping, culture and history to your heart’s content.

With a five-mile long beach to walk and hunt for shells, you can entertain yourself for hours. Just sitting and reading a book in one of the swings on the beach while you soak up the sun and watch the birds can fill a day. For more organized activity, there is usually some activity planned on Tybee. The local art group, The Tybee Arts Association, sponsors plays, artist workshops, special shows and events throughout the year.

The Tybee Marathon is run every February. In addition, there are street fairs and parties throughout the year. One of the biggest events is the annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, which attracts approximately one million people to the greater Savannah area each year.

In nearby Savannah, there is a multitude of cultural events, at galleries and restaurants to choose from. Check out the Telfair Museum and Paula Dean’s restaurant. One of our favorite places is One of our favorite places is Molly McPherson’s Scottish Pub in downtown Savannah.

The range of possibilities for accommodations ranges from the very basic traditional cottage on the marsh side of the island to luxurious, multi-million dollar villas on the beach. You can find some secluded cottages and you can find condominiums located right in the middle of the action. The choice is yours. There are several rental companies on the island. I find them to be helpful and understanding of individual requirements such as handicapped access and traveling with your pet. Let them know what you need and they will usually work to find the right match.

The secret that makes Tybee so appealing for retired people is that, for the locals, winter is the “low season” when rates are at their lowest for the year. According to Beachside Colony, the seasons break down as follows:

High Season:

1 May - 11 June

Peak Season:

12 June - 17 August

Low Season:

18 August - 31 April

Except for the Christmas- New Years period and the week of St. Patrick’ Day, the rates are lowest when snowbirds want to be there. This can work to your advantage. They will negotiate prices of rentals because there are many empty rentals all winter. Do not expect to pay the posted prices on the websites. Call and talk to the people and you can get a good rate for a condominium fully furnished with linens and utensils.

Consider wintering on Tybee but don’t tell anyone else. Let’s keep this secret!