Tybee Vacation Rentals Concierge and Tybee Information Site

Recently I visited the UGA Marine Science Center on Skidaway Island. It’s a great little gem, worth a visit especially if children are with you. They have a wonderful set of aquariums, featuring over 200 animals that represent 50 species native to Georgia’s coastal waters, where you can see and study marine life up close and personal, and they have a touch tank where guests can pick up and touch marine animals.  Their displays include a nurse shark, a loggerhead sea turtle and seahorses. They are located on the Intercoastal Waterway, and you can bring a picnic lunch and sit at the picnic tables and lull away an afternoon watching the water. Birds land a take off there, so if you are a bird watcher, it’s great, for that as well. I sat under a pear tree, enjoying the breeze and reading a book while I waited for my group. They do special programs for groups using microscopes, marsh walks and films to illustrate marine life and to teach guests about environmental issues; I was the tour leader for one of those groups.

They have a myriad of posters that are FREE, some of which make wonderful works of art, if framed (Georgia’s Salt Marsh Official Habitat). Some are great for kids rooms (Marine Fishes of Georgia), and they have a great map of the Coast of Georgia. We framed the latter and have it hanging in our rental unit—it always gets interesting comments. We also have a framed copy hanging in the Concierge’s office at Tybee Vacation Rentals.

One particular poster caught my eye.  It was titled “Marine Debris from Land and Sea—In the Environment a Long, Long Time.” I was appalled at the information it provided. It featured a beach and shore, and the shore water had items one might commonly find in the ocean—that is, those things that people toss away–and how long it took for those things to break down.

Did you know that those plastic beverage holders take 400 years to “breakdown” to nothing? Four hundred years!!!!! And people toss these out all of the time. Disposable diapers? Continue Reading »

 Thrive,  a carryout cafe located on Whitemarsh Island, has become the first certified green restaurant in Savannah, Georgia.  Now certified by The Green Restaurant Association, Thrive strives to set an example for other restaurants to follow more green minded practices.  To become green certified Thrive Cafe was evaluated on the following: waste reduction and recycling, water efficiency, sustainable food, energy, disposables and chemical and pollution prevention.  Successfully passing the evaluation Thrive Cafe looks forward to continually adding and practicing more green minded practices each and everyday.  

So how is Thrive A Carryout Cafe Green?  Thrive Cafe pays for a full recycling program implemented in the Cafe.  All compostable scraps from the kitchen are composted by local garden Bethesda Garden.  Thrive uses as many local and organic ingredients as possible in all their prepared foods and is an active participant and shopper at the local Forsyth Farmer’s Market.  Energy Saving lights are used throughout the store.  Low Flow aerators are present in all sinks.  Eco-friendly packaging is also present and no Styrofoam is present in the store.  These are just a few practices that will make a difference when implemented in restaurants.  This is just the beginning of Thrive’s effort to become as green as possible and we look forward to steadily increasing our green practices and improving our corner of the world.

Thrive A Carryout Cafe has been in operation since May 2008.  Located on Whitemarsh Island, stop in for additional information or check out our website www.thriveacarryoutcafe.com

Did you know that there are a number of species of aquatic life that are threatening the environment, local economies and human health? Most of these are caused by people (1) releasing unwanted aquarium plants and pets into local waterways, storm drains or sewer systems; (2) water gardeners not handling their gardens properly; (3) anglers and (4) boaters.  For example, the Red Lionfish, normally native to the western Pacific but contained in aquariums in Florida, were released in the Atlantic during a hurricane. The species became established along the Atlantic coast from southern Florida to New York. It is thought that these Lionfish are impacting commercially important native fish populations through Continue Reading »

Tybee Island is small—approximately 2 x 3 miles, and she can have tides that fluctuate as much as 10 feet between high and low. As a result, she is affected by the changes in the environment more than most other cities.  She is also a popular tourist destination which means all of those people put a tremendous load on the infrastructure of the island; garbage, water and sewer, roads, fresh water, and other environmental facets are impacted at stressful levels. In addition, Tybee is surrounded by marshlands that are critical as a nursery for birds and other wildlife and a natural protective barrier for inland residents in the event of a hurricane. It is only natural, then, that the Island should be mindful of efforts to reduce human impact on the environment.

In February, the Savannah Daily news website featured an article about Tybee’s efforts to “go green” and make a concerted effort to get residents and visitors alike to do what they can for the environment. They reported that the City has been working with its new waste hauling contractor, Waste Pro, to encourage more recycling than in the past. Significantly, Waste Pro recycles cardboard boxes, a service that was unavailable under the City’s previous contract. Waste Pro’s overall mission, says Operations Manager Michael Brucker, “is to create the distinguishable difference in our industry by Continue Reading »

Aaaahhhh. Fresh produce! There isn’t anything better for your table, and we have a wonderful spot for you to get the freshest: Trustee Garden Market on 10 E. Broad and Bay St. in Savannah.

In 1734, on a high bluff overlooking the Savannah River, James Oglethorpe planted a garden to nourish a young city in a new world.  In 2008, Charles Morris assumed the cultivation of Mr. Oglethorpe’s garden to nourish a great city for the the whole world.

The Market at Trustees’Garden is an effort to revitalize this rich legacy of Savannah. It is an attempt to reinvigorate the first experimental garden of the Unites States of America. Beginning in March 2010, every Wednesday, from 4:00-7:00 and every Saturday from 9:00-3:00 you can stroll this heritage garden where some of its attractions are:

• Local Organic Farmers
• Eco Artists
• Live Music
• Kids Activities
• Local Cuisine
• Trustees’ Garden Tours

The Market now offers kids’ activities including facepainting by the Puppet People, storytelling, arts and crafts and so forth.

For a wonderful look at this terrific venue go to:

http://www.mnn.com/food/markets-groceries/mnntv/in-the-field/in-the-field-trip-to-a-local-farmers-market .