Tybee Island beaches packed with Memorial Day weekend visitors

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - Crowds packed Tybee Island beaches throughout the day as visitors stopped by for the long weekend.

Residents and tourists laid out their towels and soaked up the sun.

“Get in the water, probably see who can dig the deepest hole in the sand,” said Brantley and Colten Taylor, Tybee visitors.

From swimming to building sandcastles to grabbing ice cream, there were plenty of ways to spend the day on Tybee.

With a rainy start to the day, beachgoers were happy to be out in the sun.

“We put our feet in the sand, get in the water before we need to go, you know, back to work,” said Trevor Ferguson, a visitor.

“We thought the weather was going to be bad, but it was actually really nice,” said Messiah Horne.

As the day heated up, a dip in the ocean was a relief.

“It’s good, because it’s hot now, so the cold is good,” said Alex, a beachgoer.

The weekend marked some visitors’ first time on the island. For others, it was a trip back home. One family was returning to Tybee for the first time in eight years after spending their whole lives on the island.

“I would not rather be anywhere else, I wanted to be here and I’m glad I could be here,” said Alexis Gee, a former Tybee resident.

For some, there were a few bumps in the road.

“I thought it was fun, my friend broke his toe,” said Austin Fish, a Tybee visitor.

“The bars around here have been giving me ice to get the swelling down so it’s been really nice,” said Samuel McClain Joaquin, a Tybee visitor.

With the sun shining and the waves crashing, many took time to remember what Memorial Day is all about.

“Don’t forget why we all have the day off, always remember the fallen number one, and number two enjoy yourself and be safe,” said Briayan Alvarez, a beachgoer.

Summer marks the height of tourist season for Tybee businesses. Local business owners gear up to welcome visitors with open arms.

“I don’t call them tourists, I call them temporary locals, everyone is local when they come to Tybee,” said Allen Newkirk, owner of Boardwalk Ice Cream.