Tybee Vacation Rentals Concierge and Tybee Information Site

Tybee Island and Savannah are beautiful–lots of history, charm and beauty; but not far away you can get similar good things. Beaufort, South Carolina is only about 1 1/2 hours from Savannah–easily reachable for a day trip from our area. It is filled with Revolutionary War and Civil War history, and is even older than Savannah, founded in 1711. Many plantation and estate antebellum houses still exist there, and you can take a carriage ride to hear the history and tales of the area.

Several houses are so old there, that they still have the musket holes in the walls where settlers use to fight Indians. Pirates roamed the waters, and you can see another home where the proprietor hosted the pirates so that they wouldn’t rob her and burn her home. You can visit the house where the decision to secede from the Union took place (South Carolina was the first state to secede). You can see the stately mansions that face the harbor, take a stroll down the waterfront, see the houses where some famous movies were shot (Prince of Tides, The Big Chill, Forrest Gump), and see the old Beaufort church with their interesting graveyard. The denouement is the Chocolate Tree–a delectable shop filled with chocolate delights. In short, it’s a jewel of a city.

One of the great events the city runs is the Fall Festival of Houses & Gardens being held October 22-24. You can get a peek at some of the private homes and mansions, and view the spectacular gardens of the old South.

The Candlelight Walking Tour will be held on Friday, 10/22 from 5:00-7:30 and 6:00-8:30. For Continue Reading »

One of the most popular questions the visitor centers get is where are the plantations? The answer is, we don’t have that many anymore. Many around Savannah were destroyed by Sherman during his march to the sea (Savannah was spared by Lincoln) and never rebuilt, some were destroyed when the Ports Authority was built, and one remains (Wormsloe) but it has someone living in the plantation house itself, but you can visit the ruins there.

There is one plantation house, though, that you can still see: the Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation near Brunswick, GA.

The Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation represents the history and culture of Georgia’s rice coast. In the early 1800’s William Brailsford of Charleston carved a rice plantation from marshes along the Altamaha River. The plantation and its inhabitants were part of the genteel low-country society that developed during the antebellum period. While many factors made rice cultivation increasingly difficult in the years after the Civil War, the family continued to grow rice until 1913. When that began to wain, the family resolved to start a dairy rather than sell the family home. The efforts of the Dent family led to the preservation of their family legacy. They left the plantation to the state of Georgia in 1973.

When you visit the plantation, you can see a film on the plantation’s history and then take a guided tour to see the antebellum home, the collection of silver and the furniture and Cantonese china. There’s a nature trail and lovely natural beauty. The hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 9-5; Sunday 2-5:30. For information call 912.264.7333 or go to www.georgiastateparks.org.

Wormsloe Plantation is an exceptional place to visit just for the drive up the driveway. Reminiscent of Tara in Gone with the Wind, the mile-long drive is lined with beautiful, overhanging live oak trees. Once you reach the buildings, you can see a film about Wormsloe and visit their wonderful museum. Afterward, walk out onto the trails to see the ruins of the former plantation, the graveyard of former residents, the mock-up village displaying what life was like for the early settlers, and more. Often they have live demonstrations of tanning, cooking, making soap, blacksmithing, and so forth. Call 912.353.3023 or visit: www.georgiastateparks.org.

Did you know that Georgia has 48 state parks to choose from? You can reach a state park no matter where you are in Georgia within about 50 miles. Raise your heartbeat on a hiking trail, toast marshmallows around a campfire, pitch your tent and sleep with the sounds of the night, or pretend you’re an Indian–mostly just go out and enjoy some of the most beautiful and treasured places in our state and get a healthier and happier lifestyle.

Georgia offers several “clubs” to help you get in the mood for visiting parks. There’s the Canyon Climbers Club for those who have scaled Amicalola Falls, explored Providence Canyon, braved Tallulah Gorge and conquered Cloudland Canyon. There the Muddy Spokes Club where at the finish of 69 miles through some 11 parks with bike trails you get a fun mud-splattered T-shirt. You can get your Georgia Badge if you are 7 to 14 years old and you complete the activity book. And there are more opportunities to challenge yourself.

Like to golf? We have state parks with courses. We have shoreline parks right on the ocean. Some with lakes that stretch for miles. We have backcountry camping, Yurts (a canvas and wood tent-like shelter), group gathering places, swimming, fishing, boating, horseback riding, 14 historic sights, and more.

The closet parksto Tybee Island are Skidaway Island State Park (52 Diamond Causeway, Savannah, GA 31411), Fort McAllister State Historic Park (3894 Fort McAllister Rd., Richmond Hill Ga 31324), and Sapelo Island (Route 1, 1700 Landing Road, Darien GA 31305). The closest historic sightsare Fort King George State Historic Site (1600 Wayne St., Darien, GA 31305), Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation (5556 U.S. Highway 17 N, Brunswick, GA 31525) and Wormsloe State Historic Site (7601 Skidaway Rd, Savannah, GA 31406). 

For information on these opportunities go to www.GetOutdoorsGeorgia.org.

The Georgia State Park system also monitors several Plantation sites. Click Here: Plantations for information.

Savannah made the top 10 list of best cities in the U.S. and Canada for the first time, according to an interactive poll conducted by Travel+Leisure magazine for their World’s Best 2008 awards.

So come stay at Savannah’s beach, Tybee Island, and tour one of the best cities in the U.S. and Canada.

The 2008 list for U.S. and Canada top cities:

1. New York

2. San Francisco

3. Chicago

4. Charleston

5. Santa Fe

6. Quebec City

7. Montreal

8. Vancouver

9. Savannah

10. Victoria, British Columbia

Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is just n.e. of I-95 exit 102 at 175  Bourne Avenue in Pooler. The 90,000-square-foot museum engages visitors in the story of American air power from World War II through today. Features include the recently renovated Escape and Evasion, a replica of an underground escape network  for downed pilots; a 7,000-volume library and archives containing oral  histories, period photographs and wartime journals;  Memorial Gardens; and the Chapel of the Fallen Eagles, which honors the 26,000  Eighth Air Force members who died in battle during World War II.

    During the “Mission Experience” multimedia presentation, which includes actual footage of a Berlin bombing run, visitors can relive a day in the life of a B-17 crewman. An interactive waist gunner exhibit encourages visitors to test their skills at aerial combat. Static aircraft displayed include an F-4C Phantom, a B-47 Stratojet Bomber, a Russian-built MiG-17, and a PT-17 Stearman Kaydet bi-plane.

    Allow 2 hours minimum for visit. Food and kid-friendly menu available 11-2. Museum hours daily 9-5/closed Jan.1, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Dec. 25.
 Admission $10; $9 (senior citizens); $6 (ages 6-12). AX, DS, MC, VI. Phone (912) 748-8888 or http://www.mightyeighth.org..