Tent Camping with Kids

We went to Tybee Island for spring break and stayed at River's End Campground; it was our first family trip staying in a tent together, and I can honestly say, I can't wait to do it again! Because it was our first time doing this, I made sure that we stayed at a place that had water and electricity at our campsite; however, I'm convinced that we would have been fine without either of them. I will always want a bathhouse though. That is one thing I must have if we intend to have a multiple night trip somewhere. At River's End Campground, there was plenty for us and the kids to do, and the amenities were clean and well kept. I definitely recommend it whether you are tent camping or have a camper.

Our camping essentials:

• Tent (clearly)

• Air mattresses with sheets, blankets and pillows

• Towels and toiletries for the bath house

• Bikes for the kids

• Single use plates and utensils (I know, I know, I should do better and use reusable ones. Sorry, not sorry.)

• Trash bags & paper towels

• Wipes! This can be baby wipes, Lysol wipe or whatever you choose. It's just helpful to have in a sticky situation.

• Bug spray

• Sunscreen

• Mini gas-powered stove top

• Skillet and cooking utensils

• Tea Kettle and French press

• Wagon plus pool/beach gear

• Folding chairs

• Cooler with ice

That was pretty much it for us. We did have a solar radio and an umbrella that never got used, but it was still nice to have just in case it was too hot or rainy. Being that it was April, for us, it wasn't too hot on the beach or at the camp site. It was perfect (even though it did rain on us the first night... don't worry, we were fine.) For the most part, we ate breakfast and lunch beside the tent. Otherwise, we went out and explored Tybee for dinner!

Back River Beach

Our camping foods:

• Coffee (I forgot creamer though...)

• Capri Suns

• Mandarin oranges

• Apples

• Bread

• Peanut Butter

• Honey

• Granola bars

• Eggs

• Bacon

• Tuna packets

• Mayonnaise and relish

• Fruit snacks for the kids

One of the best things about Tybee is how walkable it is. The first night, we loaded up the wagon and walked down the path to the beach, which is the river side. If you haven't been, it's where the big cargo ships come in and out of Savannah. Depending on the time of day, the tide will be in or out; it makes for great sand castle building. We walked from our beach set up while our boys collected seashells and pointed out all of the wildlife (jellyfish and birds). They did get in the freezing cold ocean and quickly decided it wasn't a good idea. They chased the seagulls, dug huge holes and buried each other. And just like that, it was time for dinner. We all rinsed off in the bathhouses and left for Huc-A-Poos, which is a super fun hideaway spot known for it's delicious pizza. One thing to know about visiting here is that it is first come first serve. So you have to keep an eye out for a table to become available and snag it when you can! We split a house salad and The Team Banana pizza. All was delicious.

Fort Pulaski

The next day was full of adventure! We got up and went to Fort Pulaski with the boys, which they really enjoyed (even though my middle only wanted to go back and swim in the pool). We happened to be there during the anniversary of the siege of Fort Pulaski in the Civil War, and they shot off a cannon a few times. It was much louder than I expected. There was so much to see while there including underground tunnels and of course the view from atop the fort itself. You get to see Savannah in all its beauty from there. Once we made it back to the campground, we did, in fact, let the boys go swim in the pool before walking to the beach. This time we walked to North Beach on Tybee, which has a cute little restaurant that overlooks the ocean, restrooms and a snack shack. The lighthouse is right beside all of this as well. If we hadn't made the boys do so much already that day, I would have definitely made them walk all of those steps to go up top. I decided to save it for another time.

Fort Pulaski

That evening, we went to The Crab Shack, which is always a good time. They have live alligators that you can feed (we did!), and the seating is almost entirely outdoors where you get to overlook the marsh. The tables have a hole cut out in the middle so that when you crack the crab legs, you can simply toss them into the hole, which is actually a trash can. We all split some low country boil and added extra shrimp. It was all super tasty, and we had fun watching the boys crack crab legs and practically drink the dipping butter. I can't say I blame them. Not only does The Crab Shack have live alligators, but they have parrots too. It is so worth it to walk in the gift shop to have a chat with the birds. So fun!

Our final day was mostly dedicated to downtown Savannah. I was eager to get the boys downtown to have a sweet treat from one of the many candy shops and to walk under all of the trees full of Spanish moss. I was shocked at how well they did. We parked right beside City Market, which is always a good time itself; there's plenty to do just right there. Just like the rest of Savannah, it is full of entertainment, art and good food. We let the boys get a bag full of candy at Savannah's Candy Kitchen. You can always ask for a sample of the pralines because they are constantly making them there. There's plenty to do while at City Market, including hitting up some delicious pizza from Vinnie Van Go Go's, but we didn't have time for that. We had some ground to cover! We made our way down to River Street, which if you haven't been, you really need to experience it to understand the beauty. Pictures are great, but it still doesn't capture it all. River Street is full of shops and restaurants all overlooking the Savannah River where all the ships come in and out beside the Talmadge Memorial Bridge.

North Beach Tybee Island

While on River Street, we walked down all of the new section that was just recently updated, the Plant Riverside District, and it was so nice. We loved all of the new splash pads for the kids, and the JW Marriott hotel lobby full of so many fun things to look at; the kids were so entertained. I made an essential pit stop at Wet Willie's because I can't resist a good souvenir cup, and their margaritas never disappoint. By then, we decided the boys had endured enough and headed back to our car. When we asked what they wanted to do, they all agreed that they wanted to go to a park. So we did! We went to Jaycee Park, which was so much fun for us and the boys. The playground is so nice and fenced in with the rubber flooring. There is a walking path and disc golf and an obstacle course that the boys loved. I highly recommend going if you have young kids. Mine are three, five and seven right now, and they all had a blast! After the park, we took a drive down the the Tybee Island Pier, which would have been so fun to hang around and fish, but our boys were getting so tired (and so were we). The views were enough to satisfy us and put the cherry on top of our vacation.

Downtown Savannah

This trip is one that I have looked forward to for quite some time. Savannah and Tybee Island hold a special place in my heart because it's where I spent four years while in college. To take my boys to some of the places that I have memories from before I was a mom or even married makes this trip very special to me. The fact that the boys enjoyed it so much and are asking when we can go back makes it even more special. I loved our time at Tybee, and I love that we spent it in a tent. I'm pretty sure I've put all of my information in this post, but if you have any additional questions about what we did or where we went, please, don't hesitate to reach out and ask. Go see Tybee Island!