Family Friendly Activities in Tybee Island

Tybee Island is a laid back resort town that offers a wide variety of activities for every member of the family. This Georgia community located outside of Savannah offers a relaxed environment of southern hospitality, sand, sun and fun.

The Tybee Island lighthouse and museum, commissioned by General James Oglethorpe, Governor of the 13th colony back in the early1700’s, is one of the oldest active lighthouses in Georgia and one of the most complete in the United States with all of its support buildings still intact. Visitors can climb the 178-step spiral staircase of the 154 foot light tower to see the 9-foot tall lens, 1000 watt bulb and incredible views. Take the kids and visit the gift shop, the museum and even become a volunteer for a day.

Fort Pulaski, now a national monument, was established during the Civil War. The fort was considered state of the art in defense at the time and was the test site for the new James Rifled Canon, which rendered brick fortification obsolete. Visitors to the fort can watch a historical video presentation before roaming the 5,600 acre property on self guided tours.

There’s also much to see and do at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, located right on the beach. Here you can view aquariums full of marine species native to the area, touch underwater creatures in the open tank and learn of the environmental impact on fragile marine life in the pollution exhibit. The center offers guided beach walks, guest lectures and there is even a summer sea camp for children. A great way to start off your Tybee Island vacation would be to take a beach walk with one of the center’s educators to gain a better understanding of what goes on with the indigenous life of the area.

At the south end of the island, the Tybee Island Pier & Pavilion is one of the area’s most popular attractions. The pier is free and open to the public for family picnics, a morning cup of coffee or just gazing out at the beautiful ocean views. The pier extends out 700 feet into the ocean, making it an ideal place to drop a line and fish for an afternoon. Below the pier you will discover an entire ecosystem of clams, mussels and other marine life.

Tybee is very big on outdoor activities. Forget the car for a day and rent some bicycles for the family and explore the island; it’s a fun way to see the sights and a safe way to get around due to the low number of cars. Tybee also has a full service campground on the north end of the island, only three blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. For a very relaxed atmosphere that fosters fun for all age groups with the entire family in mind, Tybee Island is hard to beat.

Chad Rutt is the Director of Marketing for the online lodging site http://www.abetterstay.com and the Managing Editor of its accompanying Vacation Blog http://www.abetterstay.com/blog