On our last day in Savannah, my mom and I decided to get up bright and early and drive about 20 minutes east of the city to explore Tybee Island.
With our visitors guide in hand, our first stop was the beach. We arrived at the beach around 9:00 a.m., and it was pretty empty. It wasn’t too hot, and we were even able to rent two beach chairs and an umbrella, which I appreciated since my skin is basically translucent ;).
It was peaceful feeling like we had the beach to ourselves for a few hours. Going from the hustle and bustle of downtown Savannah to the laid-back atmosphere of Tybee Island in a matter of 20 minutes was such a cool experience. We set up near the pier and relaxed for a few hours.
We grabbed lunch at restaurant along the beach and checked out the pier. By 1:30 p.m., the temperature was in the 90s and the beach was packed. We decided we had had enough of the beach and were ready to check out the Tybee Island Light Station. I was super excited because I’m absolutely fascinated by lighthouses.
Right before we left the beach, we watched two people get married next to the lifeguard station. I cheered and clapped really loud after they said their vows and kissed, haha.
I’ve visited a few light houses in the Outer Banks (Currituck, Bodie Island, and Cape Hatteras) and read The Light Between Oceans, which has only fueled my interest in lighthouses. Needless to say, Tybee Island Lighthouse did not disappoint!
It was built in 1773 and was burned by the confederates in 1861. In 1867, it was rebuilt after the Civil War. What’s really amazing is that the bottom 60 feet of the lighthouse are the original 1773 lighthouse.
When I found out visitors could climb the lighthouse and explore the grounds, I jumped in line to buy a ticket. My mom decided to hang back and look for me when I reached the top because it was so hot outside.
After heading up 178 steps, I was rewarded with a gorgeous view 154 feet above sea level. It was just surreal. Viewing God’s beautiful creation from a different viewpoint was such a blessing. The picture really doesn’t do the view any justice.
After climbing the lighthouse, I was able to explore the head keeper’s cottage, summer kitchen, and 2nd assistant keeper’s cottage. There was so much history to take in, I felt like I could have spent hours wandering around the light station grounds.
Something funny happened as I was walking around. One of the workers noticed I had a Pittsburgh Pirates hat on and told me the head boss of the light station was from Pittsburgh. We chatted for a bit and then I continued to explore. When I walked into the gift shop, the head boss spotted my hat and told me he was from Mckeesport, which is pretty close the the area I grew up at in Pittsburgh. It’s a small world 🙂
After visiting the lighthouse, we walked around a beach shop for a little while. We then headed back to our hotel to pack up for the long drive home to Pittsburgh.
Next up, I will be discussing what we ate while in Savannah!
Living My Full Life 