After spending a glorious long weekend in beautiful Tybee Island, Georgia with some of my favorite people last week, I’m here to report back on the top ten things you should do while vacationing in Tybee Island. Trust me, after you see these pictures, you’re going to want to book a vacation at this gorgeous slice of heaven called Tybee. Here is the backstory: Twenty bloggers were invited to stay in six different Mermaid Cottages scattered across the tiny three mile wide island. The homes ranged from cute little beach cottages perfect for two people up to massive beach front mansions that could easily accommodate 10 or more. Every single home was decorated perfectly, especially Whitecaps cottage on Officers Row, where I stayed with my friends Rhoda, Lucy and Jenn. Rhoda has shown the tour on her blog, so head over there for a visit to see just how gorgeous it was! Kari, Heather, Vanessa and Laura stayed in Mary Kay Andrews home called Ebbtide, which became our gathering spot for the whole weekend since it was large enough to hold all 20 of us and our loud mouths. Kari, Rhoda and Laura have spotlighted that home already, so be sure to take the tour of it here. Or see more of it over at Rhoda’s Feature Friday today! Also go check out The Screened Inn review by Pretty Handy Girl. This cottage was decorated by the amazing Layla Palmer of The Lettered Cottage.
To see our photos from the amazing weekend, follow the hashtag #tybeesleepover on instagram or twitter. It was SUCH a fun trip to do with a group of girlfriends.
Since you’re bound to see amazing photos of all the cottages that each blogger stayed in while on Tybee, I wanted to take a different approach and give you my Top Ten Things To Do in Tybee. When I’m planning a vacation I always like to hear an insider’s perspective on the best places to eat, shop, drink and relax.
So, let’s do this.
1. Eat a fish taco at The Tybee Island Social Club. Seriously, it was the best fish taco I’ve ever eaten. White fish topped with bacon and a pear chorizo salsa? I ate like 5 while we were in town. I ate them so fast I didn’t even stop to take a picture of how beautiful they were. And still I crave them. Even if you don’t like fish tacos, you will not be disappointed by this local establishment that oozes with character in every corner. We ate here for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and enjoyed a different live music genre with every single meal. I scooped cheese fondue from an iron skillet while listening to the beautiful Nikki Talley croon out beautiful acoustic ballads. Excellent food, service and live music? It was my idea of perfection. Try The Best Smoked Vodka Bacon Bloody Mary if you’re feeling brave or the Porch Punch if you prefer a sweet, easy cocktail.
2. Take an Eco-Beach Walk with Dr. Joe. Tybee Island Ecology Trips with Dr. Joe Richardson is the perfect opportunity to learn about the local marine life and discover beach treasures that you otherwise would have stepped right over. As a bonus, you’ll also work off all those fish tacos and cheese fondue while walking along the beach! We got to poke around in the sand, dig for treasures and learn interesting bits of biology from Dr. Joe. This pretty pink barnacle that he is holding just showed up on Tybee in recent years, but typically it’s only found in the waters of the Caribbean. My six year old would have loved this nature walk on the beach! Perfect thing to do on a family vacation.
3. 3. Do some front porch sittin’ with a good book and a glass of wine. Need the perfect beach read? Anything written by Mary Kay Andrews fits the bill nicely! Her book Ladies Night is about a blogger with a juicy personal life that makes mine look positively boring. It makes for some great entertainment and the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon on vacation.
4. Shop the Local Boutiques. If shopping is more your speed, be sure to stop by Seaside Sisters shop and browse all the pretty collectibles and fun vintage finds. I fell in love with these Vintage Do Not Disturb door hangers. I couldn’t resist buying a vintage Florida tablecloth and a few cute vintage Valentines (that might be up for grabs at the end of this post!) How many more times do you think I can say the word vintage in one paragraph? Seriously cute stuff in this shop!
5. Spend a day in Savannah. So, I realize that Savannah could easily take up an entire week long vacation all by itself, but since it’s just a 30 minute drive from Tybee it’s like you get a two-fer vacation wrapped up into one great deal. You can head over to Savannah and shop til you drop at the Antique stores, then be back on the island in time for sunset! We visited Habersham Antique Market, The Paris Market and Alex Raskin Antiques. The latter was definitely more of a window shopping kind of place, but it was SO worth seeing antiques packed into four stories of a Savannah mansion that took up half a city block.
6. Eat at The Lady and Sons. Oh y’all. This one has been on my bucket list for a long while, and it was worth every single bite. If you grew up with a southern Granny who cooked every single meal from scratch then you must go eat at this place and reminisce about your Granny’s fried chicken and collard greens. The banana pudding? Lordy mercy it was delicious. Like licking heaven off a spoon.
7.Take a bike ride. After eating and eating and eating some more, you gotta expend some energy the fun way by taking a bike ride around the island. At just three miles wide, Tybee is the perfect size for bike riding. If you don’t have your own, you can rent a bike from Tim’s Bike and Beach gear and have it delivered to your cottage. Super convenient, and it’s so much fun!
There is no better way to see the gorgeous homes that dot the back streets of Tybee than on bike. Be sure to pack your camera so you can stop and snap some pictures of the cute cottages along the way. I love the outside of The Breeze Inn, with it’s white picket fence and perfect aqua paint color.
8. Have a drink with the locals. With no cover charge and bottles of beer for just $2.00 a piece, Hucapoo’s on the north end of island is the perfect spot to spend a late night rubbing elbows with the locals. It’s where all the locals go after work to listen to some live music, do a little dancing, and belly up to the bar. Go make some new friends while playing a game on the deck. It’s THE place to go on a Friday night (or even Sunday Funday, if you’re up for it!)
9. Throw a picnic on the beach. Whether it’s planned or impromptu, it’s always fun to channel your inner Ina Garten and head down to the windy beach with some friends and a cooler. Even though it was chilly, we spent a few hours lounging around, sipping on a cocktail and eating some cheese and crackers. There is just nothing better than getting a group of friends together on the beach for a meal.
10. Finally, go chase the sunset. Beach sunsets are the epitome of the perfect ending to a perfect day. Whether you watch the sun go down from the beach, the Tybee lighthouse, or from the back porch of your rental cottage, there is no such thing as a bad sunset on Tybee.
Seriously, have you ever seen a more gorgeous sunset?
Ok. So, have I talked you into going to Tybee yet?
For all you HUGE Mary Kay Andrews fans out there, let me say that she is just as cool in person as you imagine her to be. This lady was so hilarious, and super generous to host all of us along with Diane at Mermaid Cottages this weekend. Thanks so much, Mary Kay and a HUGE thanks to Mermaid Cottages for sponsoring this awesome giveaway for my readers. I have fallen in love with Tybee, and I plan to make the trip back over there very soon.
Just in case you are ready to plan your trip, you can get a very sweet deal by contacting Diane at Mermaid Cottages and using the code “UNSKINNYBOPPY” to get 20% off your Mermaid cottage booking. Contact Diane at (912) 313-0784 or send an email to [email protected] for more information.
This post was sponsored by Mermaid Cottages of Tybee Island. I was given a free stay in a Mermaid Cottage in exchange for promotion of the beautiful Tybee Island. All opinions and recommendations about the best things to do on Tybee are my own.
Jeanne Bell says
I have been to Tybee Island once for just a few short hours……please give me the chance to go back!
Pat says
Take an Eco-Beach Walk with Dr. Joe.
Donna says
I am craving beach time! Enough of the brutal winter; I just want to walk along the shore 🙂
Amber says
I would love to take a bike ride around Tybee. Your pictures are beautiful!!
SUSAN says
Would love to go to Lady and Sons!!!!
Kathy Y. says
Beth….you hit the nail right on the head…top 10. I could add a few more
Kelly says
How awesome. I’ve read several of Mary Kay’s books, but admittedly have never been to Tybee as long as I have lived in Georgia.
carolyn buniski says
This is the best give away.
[email protected] says
I would head to the beach, that white sand looks just amazing!
vicki says
have a drink with the locals!
Dina Farmer says
Amazing! I loved Tybee Island when I lived in GA it was such a beautiful place to visit!!
Lynn b says
I want to go to tybee social club and try those fish tacos! Yum!!!!
Parke Quesenberry says
I love the lighthouse and anything near the beach.
Tardevil says
I’m glad you had fun! Love Paris Market! I’ve never done the ecology tour and Seaside Sisters was closed when we were there. Would also like to get into Paula’s restaurant next time, as the lines were too long when we were there. We did go to Uncle Bubba’s, and that is really good, too. I think Mary Kay would be fun to meet! So did you find any good treasures? ;o)
Crystal Joyce says
I would definitely sit on the porch with a good book and a glass of wine, reading away. Then I would shop the local boutiques. What a wonderful way to spend a vacation!
Judith North Pavlick says
It has been this Northern Girls dream to visit Tybee Island and stay @ Mermaid Cottages. I read many Southern authors and love the laid back life style they describe. Mary Kay Andrews and Dorothea Benton Frank are my favorites.
I want to try it all, but if I have to pick just one, I pick the bike ride 🙂
Carla says
I would do some front porch sitin’ with a good book & a glass of wine.
Tammie says
Thanks for the informative post! I love the beach! I’d like to do the eco-beach walk, and the beach, sit in the rocking chairs, and the beach, and the beach!
Cyndia says
I adore Tybee, and always stay at a Mermaid Cottage! First thing to do is head to the Crab Shack!
Linda@Coastal Charm says
What an awesome giveaway! I think #4 bike ride would be the first thing that I would love to do on Tybee.
Blessings,
Linda
Pam says
My parents on Tybee Island 55 years ago and so I have always wanted to go there to see the place my parents met and fell in love.
Carol Adams says
Nice giveaway!!
Lynne Sullivan says
Just love Tybee and Mary Kay! Looks like a fun weekend was had by all.
keri @ shaken together says
Beth – Tybee is one of my favorite places! The beach is always my first stop!!
Jamey Taylor says
I would love to sit on the beach all day reading a Mary Kay Andrews book and then spend the evenings sitting on the porch with a glass of wine! Totally wonderful relaxation!!
TracyK says
Visiting Tybee Island has been on my list of things to do for quite awhile!
Heather says
Antique stores!
Lisa says
LOVE Tybee, have been wanting to go forever since reading Mary Kay Andrews Books!! Sounds like a dream!! I would sit on the beach with a picnic first thing, and then bike around the island! Just beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Paula@SweetPea says
I’ve always wanted to go to Tybee Island after reading about it in one of Mary Kay’s books. The first thing I’d probably do when I arrived would be eat a fish taco.
Gina says
I have been wanting to visit Tybee for a few years now but just never seem to get around to it. To win a stay there would be awesome! The discount is great too and mat just have to plan a get-away soon. The first thing I’d do in Tybee would be visiting the Social Club and trying those fish tacos! Watching the sunset while eating would be heaven! Thanks for the chance to win!
ann says
First thing I would do is eat at The Lady and Sons.
Becky Bixler says
I will be in Savannah on a mother/ daughter trip for 3 days. Looking forward to the Top 10!
Louise says
I would love to enjoy a slow, relaxing few days in a warm sunny spot right now instead of dealing with another snow storm – HELP!
Sheila says
This would be a great girl’s weekend……..shhh, don’t tell my husband! 🙂
Martha says
My daughter went to tybee last year on spring break and loved it. She came home and told me all about mermaid cottages. Sooo cute
Beth D says
I’d love to do the Eco-Beach walk with Dr. Joe. Not only do I love nature, but a love to eat and so I will need to walk off some of the calories! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Martha says
I would love to do it all!!!
Susan M. says
Shop!
Awesome giveaway – thanks so much for the opportunity!
JoAnn says
Our 25th wedding anniversary is approaching in August. I’m thinking Tybee would be perfect to celebrate with a sunset on the beach!
Darla says
Once we get settled in, I’d want to hang out on the porch and take it all in. What a blast!
Karen says
Sitting with a good friend, a good book and a glass of wine on a lovely cottage porch sounds like heaven to me!
Bonnie says
You had me at the fish taco!
Kay Woodward says
Can’t wait to try the fish tacos!
Susan Delaney says
Spent a week in Tybee in October. I love this place. Would love to go back! My sister and I have read all of Mary Kay Andrews books and I’m sure I could talk her into spending more time on Tybee. We have done 9 out of the 10 top things to do in Tybee. And could do them all over again and more!
Jolie C. says
All of it sounds heavenly!! I think picnic on the beach would be at the top of my list.
Kati kiefer says
I would love a few moments of down time rocking on the front porch! My hubby and I were just discussing summer vacation plans…haven’t ever had a vacation just the two of us (excluding the honeymoon). What a treat!
allison k says
I would love to win this giveaway!!! I love Mary Kay Andrews books and would love to see Tybee Island!!
Bliss says
In desperate need of some family time, so I would drag along the husband and sons to the antique stores. Nothing says bonding like doing what mom wants to do!
allison k says
Left this part off— I would shop the local boutiques!
kristin says
WOW, so pretty, what a dream trip. So glad you had such a great time with amazing friends.
XO
Kristin
Sharon @ BlueWillowHouse says
I have wanted to take a trip to Tybee and Savannah for ages. Your post made me want to go even more. Thanks!