There’s nothing like hot black coffee on a quiet beach. When it’s not yet 9 a.m. and vacationers around you are still stirring from sleep, a few ambling where the waves break, or jogging, or fishing, or searching for surf. When you can plop your towel close to the water without fighting for space. When you can gaze into the waves and tap into that morning peace. Nothing like it.
That’s how I wrapped up my trip to Tybee Island, Georgia, with Rémy this weekend. I grabbed a cup of coffee from the Beachview Java & Juice while he was still sleeping before making my way to the sand. This newer coffee shop on the South End of Tybee serves coffee roasted by Rev Coffee Roasters out of the Atlanta area. Java & Juice has fancier options like mochas and lattes, but I prefer to wake up with a straightforward drip coffee – it did not disappoint. If you go hungry, the coffee shop also serves breakfast (I was definitely curious about the quiche) and “juices,” which appeared to be more smoothie-esque. Protein-infused options included.
Since Rémy and I were actually in town to attend the wedding reception of his college friends (Rémy went to UGA and spent summers working on Tybee as a teen), we didn’t do our usual eating-and-drinking tour that tends to drive our trips together. Although we did stop at two of his old favorites: Fannie’s on the Beach (loved the Fannie’s Favorite Salad, which was loaded with grilled shrimp and asparagus) and Sunrise Breakfast (if you want diner pancakes, eggs and greasy bacon, this is the place).
We stayed half a block from the beach, at the Sea & Breeze Hotel, a funky little motel with an outdoor pool in the middle and portholes on the doors of every room. It was quite pricey due to the location (we were in the mood for a post-quarantine splurge), and although it was very clean and safe, the beds felt like rocks. But it felt worth the proximity to the water, for an easy weekend.
The bride and groom got married in a small ceremony during the week, so on Saturday, the wedding party convened on the beach. After a torrential midday downpour, the sky opened up and the sunburn began. Half the group stayed in their swimsuits for Party Phase 2, at the bride and groom’s house in downtown Savannah. They had the backyard set up for lounging in their pool, a Lowcountry boil and a garage for music and dancing (complete with a fog machine and piñatas that were replicas of the bride’s and groom’s heads – so everyone could beat them with a stick later in the night). It was by far the most unique wedding reception I’ve been to – and we’ve already gone through those explosive years where all of our friends are getting married at the same time.
It was also just special to finally meet so many of Rémy’s college friends. He and I met right after college, and this was the first wedding I’ve attended with him that brought so many faces from their group together. It’s always weird – but fun – to catch glimpses of his life before “us.” Visiting Tybee gave me that, too. Plus a little sand in my clothes and sunburn on my shoulders.
