Staying Fit
The splendor of a Savannah, Georgia, getaway stretches beyond the city limits, but still well within reach. These five distinct Lowcountry locales deliver beautiful beaches along with history, nature and sport. Looking for an easy day trip or a reason to extend your Savannah visit? Look no further.
1. Hilton Head: Hit the Links or Lounge Ashore
This South Carolina island packs a potent vacation punch: 24 golf courses, 12 miles of sand and nearly 60 miles of bike baths. Coligny Beach Park, one of seven public beach access points, is an ideal place to start. A brick-lined path flanked by Adirondack chairs and porch swings leads the way to the beach, where a wheelchair-accessible pathway awaits. Grandkids will go gonzo for the splash pad, and several restaurants — including a sandwich and ice cream shop — are within strolling distance.
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If golf is your game, plot your course from the 24 options. Pete Dye’s lauded Harbour Town Golf Links, home of the RBC Heritage PGA golf tournament, is one of three public courses on the expansive Sea Pines Resort. Sea Pines is also home to Harbour Town, a bustling cluster of shops and restaurants adjacent to the Harbour Town Lighthouse & Museum. In the evening, join the crowd under the giant Liberty live oak for Gregg Russell’s sing-along concerts, held every night in the summer.
Drive time: Approximately 45 minutes
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2. Tybee Island: Wander the Beach Town Time Forgot
With its kaleidoscopic, low-slung beach houses and kitschy seafood spots, Tybee Island, a Georgia barrier isle, delivers on character as well as convenience. By day, you can sun, shell and swim on the lovely beach; go fishing or people watching on the Tybee Pier & Pavilion; or climb to the top of the Tybee Island Light Station and Museum, the oldest and tallest in the state. Local businesses line Highway 80 and its side streets. Pop into Fish Art Gallerie to browse the maritime wares of folk artist Ralph Douglas Jones or hit Seaside Sisters next door for an eye-catching beach bag or summery statement necklace.
Wind down the evening at The Crab Shack, a unique Tybee spot that houses an alligator habitat and towers of steamed seafood, right by the water. A few quarters will dispense food, so you can feed the gators while you wait for dinner. From May through September, longtime tour guide Captain Mike offers sunset dolphin tours that depart from a dock next door.
Drive time: Approximately 30 minutes
