Tybee Island has no golf courses.  There are no amusement parks, no movie theaters.  Million-dollar houses stand proudly sheltering crumbling bungalows next door.  This island is one of contradictions. 

In your average beachside town, you would expect to find neon-lined streets that shout at you, plastic half-people in every window peddling swimsuits or rows of high rise hotels promising the perfect beach view.

But Tybee doesn’t fit this mold, and it doesn’t want to. 

Tybee offers something we’re all searching for — pure and intentional relaxation.  From the people to the shops to the food, the basic message is “come as you are and enjoy.”  And with only a few exceptions, to come and enjoy is free or cheap.

A great way to kick off the summer season is the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Sand Arts Festival.  Scheduled for Friday, May 2 (rain date May 4) near Fort Screven on the north end of Tybee, this event combines art, fun and sand.

The day in the sun is fun for beach lovers of all ages.  SCAD students, alumni and staff are invited to sculp sand into art in one of five categories:

• Gray’s Reef National Marine Institute sponsors an award for the “Best Underwater Creature.”

• Sand castles.

• Sand sculpture.  The works must be at least 3 feet high.

• Sand relief, a cross between drawing and sculpture, carved into the beach or modeled on top of it, or both.

• Wind sculpture, three-dimensional works that engage the wind.

And while you’re on Tybee, enjoy some of its other treats.

The best thing about Tybee is that a car is optional.  You can bring a bike or rent one from Pack Rat (14th and Butler), a local bike shop that has been around for 35 years.  At only $10 a day, this is an economic and earth-friendly way to see the island.  If you’re not a biker, you can bring your walking shoes.  The island is just over 2.5 miles wide, so you can get pretty much anywhere on foot.

The entire island offers views of the beach, marsh and nature.  But the best place to walk or bike is the north end.  This is where the history lives.  Pastel-painted historic homes stand in line with ancient oaks for viewing.  The atmosphere is serene, and the trees shelter many of the roads, making the heat of spring and summer more tolerable.

The Tybee Light Station is also located on the north end.  Visiting there, you step into a structure dating before the American Revolution.  It is the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Georgia.  For about 150 years, light keepers and visitors have climbed the nearly 200 steps to the top and looked out over the Atlantic Ocean.

Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-17.  This price also includes entrance to the Tybee Island Museum.  A park is located just around the corner, so pack a picnic and plan to stay the day.

A fun and free thing to do on the island is a self-guided Tybee Turtle Tour.  

Scattered throughout the island are 20 turtle sculptures, each with a distinct theme, from an ice cream-eating turtle to a sash-wearing Miss Tybee Island.  They were created by local and regional artists and are on display to increase awareness of the sea turtles that nest on Tybee beaches.

A quick stop at the Visitors Center to pick up a Turtle Locator Map, and you are on your way.

If you are an art lover, there is plenty here to feed your passion.  The island is a haven for artists and a place where many feel inspired to create their next masterpieces.

At any time you can walk into Reflections Studio Gallery on U.S. Highway 80 and catch artist David Bevill in the act of creating his next piece.  Also on the island are the Irene Sullivan Gallery, Atlantic Beacon Gallery and Gallery by the Sea.  In all of these, you can find original pieces by local and regional artists.  Take one home or just go by and enjoy the paintings and sculptures inspired by the very island on which you stand.

Tybee Island also has one of the best shopping spots for coastal home accents.  Seaside Sisters has an eclectic mix of antiques and cottage accessories.  It is owned by three Tybee women who love the island and want to share it with visitors.  With all its many treasures, this is a must stop during your visit.

An educational and relaxing way to soak up the sun is the Beach Discovery Walk hosted by the Tybee Island Marine Science Center.  All ages are welcome, and participants learn about shells, sand dunes and geology, to name just a few.  The cost is $10 for adults and $8 for children.  Prices include admission to the Marine Science Center, where young and old alike can explore the “touch tank” and “discovery room.”  Check out the baby alligators, a variety of turtles and even an Atlantic octopus.

Tybee is not the first place that comes to mind when I think of surfing.  But surprisingly, this pastime has a large community here.  The Tybee YMCA has caught the wave and is offering surf camps for children, adults and families.  Camps start as early as May 17.  More information is available by calling Haley Hill at the Tybee YMCA or online at www.YMCAofcoastalga.com.  If group lessons aren’t your thing, local surfer Alex Arnold offers individual lessons for only $25 per hour.  He boasts more than 40 years of surfing experience and is also CPR- and lifeguard-certified.  You can contact him at www.rockaway alex.com.

If getting up close and personal with the beauty of the coast sounds like a good day to you, then be sure to stop by Sea Kayak Georgia.  The regularly scheduled Barrier Island Tour is three hours of sunshine and nature with an experienced guide ready to give you an unforgettable experience.  Relaxed enough for even a beginner, this tour is fun for all ages, and parents can even ride tandem with kids ages 6-10.  They also offer instruction and custom trips, including overnight stays on the uninhabited Little Tybee Island.  Sea Kayak Georgia is owned by two Tybee locals who love the island, and it shows.

Another spot on Tybee at which to wind down is Memorial Park on Butler Avenue.  This park is home not only to a large playground for the kids and a dog park, but it also hosts local festivals including the Arts & Crafts Spring Show (May 10) and Beach Bum Weekend (May 16).  There is always an event happening somewhere on Tybee, and you can get all the details online at  www.tybeevisit.com.

One of these events is the Tybee Tour of Homes.  The tour features beautifully decorated beach dwellings and a luncheon at St. Michael’s Catholic Church.  There are seven homes on the self-guided tour, and all the proceeds benefit the Hope House, a nonprofit organization extending support to single mothers.  The tour is scheduled for June 7, and tickets are available for $25 in advance and for $30 on the day of the tour at Gallery by the Sea.

The biggest draw to Tybee remains the beaches.  Whether you visit the north end and enjoy the bird-watching or play in the tidal pools of the south end, there is nothing like burying your toes in the sand and letting the layers of life fall off.

Visiting here for a day or staying for the summer, you begin to love the quirkiness and uniqueness that is Tybee Island.  The earth turns slower here, and relaxation is the state of mind.

So come and enjoy.