Your Ultimate Summer Guide to Tybee Island

Tybee doesn't need an itinerary. That's kind of the point. But if you're looking to make the most of your time on the island — beyond the beach chair and the cooler — this is your guide to a Tybee summer done right.

Catch a Wave with Tybee Surf Lessons

There's no better introduction to Tybee's beach culture than learning to surf on it. Tybee Surf Lessons is the island's original surf school, founded by Turner, a Tybee native who spent years honing his craft in Hawaii before bringing it back home. Nationally certified instructors offer private lessons, group sessions, and the wildly popular Uke 'N Surf Camp — a week-long kids' program that pairs surfboard time with ukulele instruction. It's the only program of its kind in Georgia, and it books fast. Adults and beginners are always welcome too.

Hunt for Shark Teeth

Tybee's beaches have been hiding prehistoric treasure for thousands of years — you just have to know where to look. Tybee Shark Teeth Tours, led by passionate local guide Kaytelynne Brown, is a science-based fossil-hunting adventure designed for all ages. You'll learn to spot shark teeth and ancient coastal fossils among the shell beds while getting a genuine education in the island's natural history. It's one of those only-on-Tybee experiences that people talk about long after they leave.

Get Out on the Water

The water around Tybee is half the reason to be here. Tybee Island Water Sports at the marina takes it further with pontoon boat rentals and Tiki Boat charters for up to 16 guests — equal parts cruise and party. For something more serene, Sea Kayak Georgia offers guided kayak tours, SUP rentals, and paddling adventures through Tybee's marsh waterways and out toward Little Tybee Island, where dolphins are practically a given. For groups looking to celebrate, Savannah Party Cat is the regions most festive option on the water, available for private charters and perfect for bachelorette parties, birthdays, and celebrations alike.

Spot Dolphins on the Water

Bottlenose dolphins are as much a part of Tybee as the tides — and getting out on the water to see them in their natural habitat is one of those experiences that genuinely delivers. Captain Derek's Dolphin Adventure Tours departs from Lazaretto Creek and offers a dolphin guarantee, with intimate tours that take in the Cockspur Island Lighthouse, Fort Pulaski, and the Tybee Island Lighthouse along the way.

Explore the Island by Bike or Golf Cart

The best way to feel like a local on Tybee is to ditch the car. TIMS Bikes delivers rentals directly to your cottage — adult bikes, kids' bikes, tandems, and trikes — so you can pedal the island at your own pace. For a little more range, Tybee Golf Carts offers cart rentals that come with a Tybee parking sticker included, making it easy to hop between beaches, restaurants, and shops without ever stressing about where to park.

Spend a Morning at the Marine Science Center

Tucked at the end of the North Beach parking lot, the Tybee Island Marine Science Center is a small but mighty nonprofit dedicated to coastal Georgia's marine ecosystem. In the summer, their programs run daily — guided beach ecology walks, seining expeditions where you catch and release crabs and sea jellies in waist-deep water, marsh treks, sea turtle talks, and for the lucky few, the rare opportunity to observe an excavation of a recently hatched sea turtle nest. It's hands-on, educational, and genuinely unforgettable for kids and adults alike. Programs book quickly, so reserve your spot before you arrive.

Get Crafty at Glazed and Confused

At the Shops at Tybee Oaks, Glazed and Confused is a paint-your-own pottery studio that's become a Tybee staple for a reason. With over 100 pieces to choose from — mugs, bowls, figurines, island-themed keepsakes — it's a creative, low-key way to spend an afternoon and take something home that's actually meaningful. Walk-ins are welcome, and they ship finished pieces if you're heading out before they're ready.

A Tybee summer isn't just a beach trip. It's surf lessons and shark teeth, sunset dolphin tours and marsh treks, fresh-painted pottery and the feeling that you've found the best-kept secret on the Georgia coast. The only question is how long you're staying — and whether it's long enough.

We have summer specials running now, and a full collection of Tybee cottages and homes waiting to be yours. Come find your perfect Tybee summer.

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Your Ultimate Summer Guide to Tybee Island