Beaches around Savannah, GA?

[bg]

In Late February (Sat the 24th - Tues the 27th) I'm going to fly into Savannah for the weekend and spend some time with a friend of mine stationed at Ft. Stewart (Hinesville).

I know it'll be more than a bit cool to swim, but I've never seen ocean outside of the Gulf of Mexico. Basically looking for a spot to spend the afternoon and enjoy the sunset.

So, anyone have any suggestions as to something within an hours drive that would be a good getaway? Also do I need to be aware of any seasonal beach closures?

Thanks
Bobby

[Miriam C.]

Bobby I can't tell you about the beaches but I can tell you to fly into Jacksonville Florida cause it is so much cheaper. A couple of hours away.

Jiminsava lives in Savanna and can probably give ya lots of info. Hinesville has some lakes too I think.

I might get there first.

[Podunkfla]

Bobby... Most of coastal Georgia is swamp and barrier islands, only a few of which have road access. Downtown Savannah is about 15 miles from the ocean. Tybee island is the losest developed island, but I haven't been there in years. I think the nicest place with beach access may be about 45 minutes south at Jekyll Island... A really beautiful place. Hilton Head is about an hour north and is a very popular tourist stop too. Maybe Jiminsavannah can chime in and tell you more about local places to go? AuntieM is right about flying into Jacksonville... You may save enough to rent a car and take a nice drive to Savannah. Fernandina Beach is very historic and beautiful, right on the ocean and so is S. Mary's GA, then there is Jekyll Island (mostly a state park) and St. Simons Island (too rich for me!). I've spent days just touring old Savannah... A great place to bicycle around (when it's not cold) I love historic old houses and they have plenty. Have fun... being from Jax, I've enjoyed a lot of good times up there.

[madjack]

BG, since you will be on the EAST COAST, you would probably enjoy sunrises a lot better than sunsets!!!!!!!
madjack

[Podunkfla]

BG, since you will be on the EAST COAST, you would probably enjoy sunrises a lot better than sunsets!!!!!!!
madjack

Good one Madjack! I missed that completely? Duh...

[bg]

BG, since you will be on the EAST COAST, you would probably enjoy sunrises a lot better than sunsets!!!!!!!
madjack

'Doh You're right.

Bobby I can't tell you about the beaches but I can tell you to fly into Jacksonville Florida cause it is so much cheaper. A couple of hours away.

Jiminsava lives in Savanna and can probably give ya lots of info. Hinesville has some lakes too I think.

I might get there first.

Sadly it's only $40 cheaper to fly into Jacksonville than Savannah.

Bobby... Most of coastal Georgia is swamp and barrier islands, only a few of which have road access. Downtown Savannah is about 15 miles from the ocean. Tybee island is the losest developed island, but I haven't been there in years. I think the nicest place with beach access may be about 45 minutes south at Jekyll Island... A really beautiful place. Hilton Head is about an hour north and is a very popular tourist stop too. Maybe Jiminsavannah can chime in and tell you more about local places to go? AuntieM is right about flying into Jacksonville... You may save enough to rent a car and take a nice drive to Savannah. Fernandina Beach is very historic and beautiful, right on the ocean and so is S. Mary's GA, then there is Jekyll Island (mostly a state park) and St. Simons Island (too rich for me!). I've spent days just touring old Savannah... A great place to bicycle around (when it's not cold) I love historic old houses and they have plenty. Have fun... being from Jax, I've enjoyed a lot of good times up there.

Thanks Brick, That sure is a lot to think about now. This is the first of probably 3 trips out there in the next year. I don't even remotely know the area and I'm trying to learn as much as I can before I'm out there.

[Arne]

look here... http://www.tybeeisland.com

[Arne]

look here... http://www.tybeeisland.com

We also visited fort pulaski, a very nice federal park

[sid]

The Tybee Island area always seemed "brown" to me. I guess because the Savanah River empties out there. Go just north to Hilton Head for some better water and beaches. (IMHO)

[Arne]

This past Feb on the way to FL, I saw a sign that said Hilton Head... thought I'd 'run down' and take a look, after hearing about it all these years....

Let's see, 45 minutes and 4 miles later, said screw it.. Traffic up the ying-yang, construction, traffic control signals (ha-ha).. and a new 4,000 home development going in (Sun City something or other)... and I still had 8 miles to go.... when an area gets that popular, it just gets people-cluttered.

I turned around, got back on the highway and headed to Florida. Well, actually, Savannah....

[sid]

Nice areas do have a way of getting crowded......

[asianflava]

I remember seeing signs for Jekyll Island near the FL-GA border. Never been there though.

http://www.jekyllisland.com/

[Miriam C.]

BG,
Maybe I better have someone drive me to TX to fly out. We were a lot higher going from KCI. My mom is closer so we usually leave from there. I better check better.

I sure am glad you posted this.

[Arne]

re Hilton Head... fly in on a coporate jet... it's the only way to go.

[Jiminsav]

hummm..someone should tell me when I'm needed..
anyways, yeah, Tybee pretty much sucks for beach because it's so developed.
the place to go is Jykll Island down below brunswick, which is an hour away from Hinesville.
Jykll will cost you 3 bucks for a parking permit, but thats all you have to pay, park anywhere you want, once inside the gate, go to the end of the road and go right about a mile and your see a break in the dunes to walk to the beach..it's almost empty and the water is clean, unlike tybee and it's brown water, which BTW, is cause by the savannah river and the ogeechee rivers being tannic water.
if you get off the beach and head back towards the road out, keep going around and you'll find a Tabby constructed house from the 16th century.