I’m one of those people that mourn the end of summer.  And my summer was jam-packed with travel and fun events, so I expected to be sullen and somber come September like usual.  But lucky for me this year, I had one last warm-weather trip on the books: a girls getaway to Tybee Island and Savannah with Cheri and Whitney with The Southern Coterie, Holly with The English Room and Monica with Lavin Label.  And little did I know that Kelli Boyd, our photographer planning to capture our adventures, would turn out to be the most amazing tour guide and ringleader for the next few days. 

I knew we were in for a treat with this trip; working closely with Visit Tybee Island and Visit Savannah meant we would have insider recommendations on all of the hot spots, and tips for must-try activities while we were in town.  And boy, I was right.  

First stop: Tybee Island.  Before visiting, Tybee was a mystery to me.  But upon arrival, I quickly learned that this little eclectic slice of heaven is a hidden gem for families and friends wanting to hit the beach without all the fuss.  For our two-night stay on Tybee, we shacked up at a funky vacation rental right on the water.  As the crew trickled in from all over (me from Nashville, Holly from Charlotte, Cheri from Athens, Whitney and Monica from St. Simons Island), it felt a little like an episode of “Real World” with each of us arriving at different times and rushing to claim the best bunks.  

We were antsy to explore, and AJ’s Dockside turned out to be the perfect spot to catch our first low-country sunset and fill up on local seafood. We were all amazed that the stunning sunset could get even prettier by the second, and even as a heavy rainstorm blew by, we soaked it all in and ran for cover drinks in-hand!  The vibe was great, and the food was exactly what I craved on our first night on Tybee; a half pound of crab legs and perfectly fried hush puppies!

The next morning,I knew we were in for a treat when we pulled up to “The World Famous” The Breakfast Club with its sun-bleached awning and the line stretched out the door. But with items like “The Grill Cleaner’s Special” (diced potatoes, Polish Sausage, green peppers and onions tossed on a hot griddle, scrambled with two eggs, topped with melted Monterey Jack and American cheese. Grits and toast too!) and loaded hash browns with cream cheese inside (!!!) and the best pecan waffles I’ve ever tasted…well it’s no wonder it’s world famous.  We decided to work off breakfast by walking around Tybee‘s shops and checking out the Tybee Pier and Pavilion.  We could tell the beach had died down a bit with most kids back in school, but we still got that feeling of endless-summer and the joy of sand beneath our toes. 

We then made our way to Tybee Island Social Club, a charming, beachy spot that served up the BEST cocktails.  A pitcher of blood orange sangria for the group, a beautiful Bloody Mary and a margarita or two had us all talking and telling stories in no time.  I’m not quite sure how we left room for dinner, but we found our appetites again, and I’m incredibly pleased we did.  Dinner at Tybee Island Fish Camp was perhaps my favorite meal of the entire trip; the super cozy, intimate spot served amazing food in an even more amazing atmosphere.  I’ll be talking about those baked oysters for years to come. 

It’s safe to say that I fell in love with Tybee’s dreamy, sandy dunes and sun-soaked, weather beaten boardwalks that have felt thousands of bare feet barrel down them for years.  It was just such an idyllic, almost sleepy beach that I was not accustomed to (with most of my beach trips to Florida’s panhandle). 

But onward we went, hopping in the car with Savannah in our sights, feeling giddy knowing we still had two nights left on our girl’s getaway.  Only passing through Savannah once before, I always thought it to be a sweet southern town, but upon arriving and walking the streets, I was blown away by its charming, historic feel.  I had all the heart eyes for the ivy-covered brick homes and sweeping Spanish moss.  But what really took my breath away was the historic Whitman Mansion, where we’d call home for our two-night stay.  Nestled right off Forsyth Park, this beauty was originally built in 1895 and boasted some of the most exquisite restoration and renovation I have ever seen.  The whole time we were there, I was sad we couldn’t stay longer, and kept thinking how amazing it would be to have a bridal party tucked into the beautiful space…just stunning.

Saturday we all got zhushed with hair blowouts by the ladies at Parlor Dry Bar Savannah, we visited with the amazing Emily McCarthy (I felt like we already knew each other through this small digital world!) at her expertly curated shop and enjoyed a glass or two of Whispering Angel as we made custom stationery and monogram orders.  We then shared an amazing dinner at The Collins Quarter (you MUST get the lavender martini if you go), and a few desserts and sips with the lovely ladies behind Sapelo Skin Care at Lulu’s Chocolate Bar.  It was such a treat to put faces to names as we chatted with Sapelo‘s founders Cindy and Stephanie about their exciting updates on products that I’ve come to personally adore.  

On our last day, we enjoyed exploring the streets of historic downtown Savannah, we survived the Georgia heat by ducking into Mirabelle Cafe for a lavender spritzer and authentic Belgian waffle.  There, we spent time with Jessica O’Neill, a local artist who’s story is SO inspiring and truly worth checking out.  Then, after tracking down some trolleys, and making our way to  SCAD, we met up with the delightful Ellie McNevin for a quick lunch at Gryphon, which is hands-down one of the coolest places I’ve ever eaten lunch.  To round out the wonderful day, we grabbed a cocktail at The Grey, and spent our last dinner at Elizabeth’s on 37th, and it was nothing short of incredible.  
 
I joked with friends here after the trip that I “ate my way through Tybee and Savannah” (which I’d like to add is NEVER really a bad thing), but I also gushed about the wonderful time I had with the group.  I felt lucky to have had five fun-filled days with such inspiring ladies that truly love what they do.  It was an unforgettable girls’ getaway, and it was such a pleasure to play tourist with all of them!  I’m already counting down until our next adventure.  Cheers, Kat