Savannah & Tybee Island: Living Like a Local, One Slow Day at a Time

A Slow Family Getaway in Savannah & Tybee Island: Unscripted Travel That Sticks

Have you ever wanted to go somewhere that wasn’t trending in your mom group or pinned to the top of every parenting board—but you still couldn’t shake the feeling it might be exactly what you needed?

A place that made you pause and wonder, “What would we even do there?”

That was Savannah for us.

It wasn’t a hot-button destination or part of anyone’s “top 10 for families” list. But something about it kept pulling at us.

So we said yes—without an agenda, without a full spreadsheet of kid-friendly activities, and with just enough groceries to make it through a few slow dinners at our Airbnb.

And what we found?

Was exactly why we always say: You don’t need to do more. You just need to arrive with your eyes open.

We always tell people: travel doesn’t need to be complicated to be meaningful.

And this trip? It was our own reminder to practice what we preach.

No jam-packed itinerary. No “we have to hit every must-see list.” Just good coffee, fresh air, bare feet, and the kind of days that feel like they breathe for you.

We started with Driftwood Beach.

The kids wandered between twisted limbs of fallen trees, and we just stood there a while, camera in one hand, nothing urgent in the other.

That’s the thing about Driftwood Beach: it slows you down without asking. You start looking closer at textures, light, movement.

Later in the trip, we spent a full day on Tybee Island. And I mean full. The kind of day that starts with sandy toes and ends with salt on your skin and a little sun still in your hair.

We chose the enterance at 19th Street. It had ample parking and exactly the pace we were craving. There’s space to spread out your towel without brushing elbows, and the dunes give it this natural, unfiltered kind of beauty.

We watched ships pass in the distance, walked the boardwalk to the lighthouse, and let the kids explore without constantly scanning for beach patrol or party crowds. It’s the kind of place where you can actually hear the waves, which felt like a gift in itself.

Back at our Airbnb, I enjoyed the most delicious tomato sandwich ( be sure to read my love letter to the tomato sandwich here!) and loved watching as the sky turned cotton candy pink.

No restaurant reservation, no rushing.

Just dinner, together. We pulled a few things from the local market—peaches, something fizzy to sip—and let the evening unfold.

We talk a lot about helping people feel at home wherever they are.

About the kind of travel that doesn’t ask you to recover from it.

This trip was that.

Not because it was perfect. But because it was real.

Simple.

Slower.

Unscripted.

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A Few of Our Favorite Local Spots 🌿

If you’re heading to Savannah and want to ease into your days the way we did, here are a few of the stops we loved most:

And to make it easy? We pulled them all together in a clickable map!

🌍 Click here to open the Savannah & Tybee Map and save it for your own slow, sweet getaway.

🏖️ Tybee Island

Our beach pick was the enterance at 19th Street. There’s plenty of room to spread out, calmer energy, and just enough of a breeze to keep the afternoon from getting too hot. It’s family-friendly without feeling overrun, and the views are picture-perfect. Great for beachcombing, reading under an umbrella, or people watching.

🌳 Driftwood Beach (Jekyll Island)

Not technically in Savannah, but worth the scenic drive. It’s eerie and beautiful—where nature left behind sculptures that feel like a poem. Don’t rush it your visit, just enjoy!

🥞 Funky Brunch Café

Make-your-own pancakes right at the table. Yep, there’s a griddle built in. It’s chaotic and hilarious and delicious, and the kind of breakfast the kids still talk about weeks later.

🍓 Mirabelle Café

Tucked across from the Cathedral, it feels like the kind of place you could write a book in. Get the peach liege waffle. Trust me.

(And take it to-go if the kids are too antsy for café vibes, although they do have the sweetest little outside sitting area.)

🌿 Forsyth Park

A perfect spot to slow the pace. Bring iced coffee and a book. Let the kids climb. Snap a photo by the fountain if you’re feeling classic. The light here is always good.

So if you’re heading to Savannah or Tybee soon, consider this your reminder: you don’t have to do it all to feel like you’ve really been somewhere.

Sometimes, all it takes is a beach towel, some grilled peaches, and permission to stay a little longer wherever the light feels just right.

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Planning your own slow escape?

I share more relaxed itineraries, cozy Airbnb stays, and family travel tips over on Instagram—come say hi and follow along @thewanderingtourists!