Main Street Musings
Chantel Morton, Program Staff Director
TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | AUG 2018 25
By Jimmy Prosser
We are visiting Tybee on a budget and are looking for some inexpensive
or free things to do. Do you have any recommendations?
There’s plenty of free or cheap things to do on Tybee! Here’s a list of my
favorite low cost Tybee Activities!
The Beach - The beach has endless possibilities. One thing most locals
do is fill their bathing suits with as much sand as they can hold. We really
like to cram it all in there. We call it the diaper affect, it feels like you’ve
loaded your pants, except it’s cold and scratchy. Bonus, you will find tiny
sea shells stuck to your inner thigh weeks after your visit. One would think
they would come off in the shower, but they don’t.
Parking - This is low cost, high stress, and a lot of fun! My favorite part of
being on Tybee is spending $4 to park so I can run in to Wet Willies, buy
a Superman (y’all go get one, I’m drinking one right now) and get right
back in the car and head home. (Fun Fact #1: Ok, serious fact. Tybee lets
you walk around with booze in plastic, styrofoam, or aluminum. It is NOT
permitted to have open intox in a vehicle, you will get a ticket and they will
confiscate it, probably to drink, but I can’t say with certainty.)
The Light House - Built in some year long ago by swarthy immigrants,
this place offers tours six days a week. You also can enjoy it for free every
Tuesday! The light still works, and I assume is candle powered, but I can’t
be sure. I won’t go near the thing as I am terrified of heights. (Fun Fact #2:
The Tybee Light House is closed on Tuesday.)
Sunburns - Tybee’s main export is sunburns! And they’re completely free!
You just go stand outside without any SPF on and BAM! You got yourself a
free sunburn! As a pale person I can tell you they’re a lot of fun, and people
will point out to you that you’re sun burned, instant conversation piece!
Win win right there!
Drinking - If you like being drunk in public, a total dumbass, or just an
awful human being, the Tybee Island Police Department gives out free
rides in their police cars, free mug shots, free finger printing, and one free
phone call! Just be a jerk and they are happy to come pick you up!
The Marine Science Center - It is air conditioned and full of knowledge!
There’s a lot to learn plus an interactive touch tank, so you can touch
sand and water without having to be in the sand or water. They have an
assortment of living specimens on display, and this is one of the first
places I take my friends and family when they come to visit.
There it is folks. My advice for how to spend a stay on Tybee on a budget!
If you have any questions for the Beach Bum, write to us at info@
tybeebeachcomber.com.
Greetings!
Sum-sum-summertime is here! That means being outside as much as possible!
Your days may be filled with sunbathing, gardening, bicycling, spiking volleyballs,
etc., but are you also taking in the structural beauty that surrounds you? Most
of Tybee’s identity is authentic and remains progressively preserved, thanks to
contributions that you, the city’s Historic
Preservation Commission, Dev’l Authority/
Main Street Directors, Historical Society
and other partners give all year long. May
was Preservation Month. #presmonth
has been celebrated in a variety of ways
since 2007. Photos of people at historic
spots were taken and shared online and
with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a direct mail piece about Tybee’s
historic districts went to all households, panels about the history of the Girl Scout
Headquarters and Tybee Elementary School have been installed, and coloring
placemats were produced for restaurants to have for patrons of all ages. This
year, panels highlighting Tybee’s National Historic Districts are in place for even
more awareness about Tybee’s plethora of history. AND... preservation sensitive
work is underway to ensure the character of in the South End Overlay District
(AKA Down Front, Downtown, Resort Area) is protected. Since #thisplacematters,
it’s appreciated that people respect the importance of keeping Tybee authentic by
design.
Once, you’ve completed your chores, games, and exploration on the 3rd Saturday
of the month, come on over to Memorial Park for Movies in the Park! That’s right,
the summer series is underway. So, as the sun goes down on July 21, bring your
chairs, blankets and an order to go from one of Tybee’s fabulous restaurants to get
set for the free, outdoor movie. This month’s movie is Dolphin Tale, complements
of the city and Program volunteers. It will begin once the sun sets and the stars in
the sky begin to shine enough to let the stars be seen on the inflatable screen that
will be in front of the Gym wall. Keep in mind that if there is inclement weather the
movie will be moved indoors to the gym.
As always, feel free to contact members of the Development Authority/Main
Street Board of Directors or me with suggestions and/or concerns re: economic
vitality and preservation.
Take time to enjoy “Tybee time” and remember why those of us who live and
work here are “lucky enough” and those who visit love returning.
See you around town! Chantel
/tybeebeachcomber.com