South and East of Savannah's historic downtown you enter neighbrohoods ruled by the water. From kayaking to fishing, sailing to swimming, there is something for those seduced by the sea.
You’ll discover a lot of amazing advantages of living in an island area. The pace tends to be slower. Families often walk or bike to school.
It pays to really understand the neighborhood where you want to buy a home, especially if you don’t already live there (and if you live there but don’t already own a home).
Which Island to choose?
The most famous island is Tybee Island. Known as Georgia's Beach, it has been a vacation spot since the late 1800's when the Tybee Railroad brought beach goers to the island. The old railroad bed is still in use as part of the Rails to Trails project. You can bike or walk it's 12 mile roundtrip.
Tybee's biggest advantage is access to the Atlantic Ocean. This is a great choice for a vacation home. About a quarter of the homes are occupied by full time residents. From retirees to young families. The charter elementary school is Tybee Maritime Academy, where children have a curriculum designed around the water and the creatures living in it.
Homes range from 1 bedroom condos and beach cottages to multi million dollar ocean front properties.
Between the city of Savannah and Tybee Island, there are several primarily residential islands. Some are tiny, consisting of one neighborhood, such as the Isle of Armstrong or Oatland Island. The largest are Wilmington Island, Whitemarsh Island, and Talahi Island which consist of neighborhoods, schools and shopping.
In South Savannah, you will find more islands and waterways. Skidaway Island holds both a state park and the large gated community of The Landings. If you are looking for a golf and marina community, The Landings has both. A waterfront lifestyle can also be found in the communities of Burnside Island and Dutch Island.
Past the gates of the historic Wormsloe Plantation, you will find the Isle of Hope. This quiet community has a marina and many historic homes and cottages.
