I wholeheartedly fell in love with Savannah during our August visit this summer. I mean … I could easily see myself living in this beautiful Southern town. I’m picturing it now: spending my days strolling the cobblestone streets shaded with the swinging Spanish moss hanging from the oak trees above. Let me just pretend for a moment this darling antique shop (pictured above) is actually my house and I’m headed home after an afternoon walk.
While I don’t think I’ll be picking up and moving to Savannah anytime soon, I certainly want to head back for another visit as soon as possible. This charming city, rich in colorful history, grabbed such a hold on me in the short few days we visited. I’m sharing why with my own travel guide to Savannah in today’s post! You’ll find a roundup of fun things to do in Savannah GA: the best sights to see, restaurants to try and a contemporary place to stay in the heart of it all below. Scroll down for all the info!
Fun Things to Do in Savannah GA, a Complete Travel Guide
Ride into the Past with Old Savannah Tours
One thing I always enjoy doing when visiting a new place is getting a lay of the land with a tour. Especially if my visit is just a few short days, it really is the best way to see as much as possible in a short amount of time. Old Savannah Tours guides its guests around the historic end of town in a white open-air trolley.
Throughout the tour, the trolley will stop suddenly and an actor will board the bus in full costume and character – reenacting a noteworthy person from Savannah’s past. I had no idea this was going to happen to going into our ride, so imagine my surprise when “Forrest Gump” boarded our bus right outside his infamous park bench!
Stroll through the Many Squares of Savannah
When Savannah was established as a city in 1733, it included four open squares with four blocks of homes & businesses surrounding each square. As Savannah grew, the number of squares grew with the city. Today, historic Savannah boasts 22 open squares each providing residents and visitors with a beautiful green space amidst the city.
The most famous square of all is Chippewa Square. You’ll find this one smack dab in the middle of town surrounded by restaurants, shops, an ice cream parlor, and even a theater. Chippewa Square is most notable thanks to the simple park bench housed here that the fictional character of Forest Gump sat upon in the movie.
If you thought 22 squares of greenery was not enough, Forsythe Park also sits in the heart of Savannah’s historic district. Covering 30 acres, Forsythe Park offers something for just about everyone. Annie absolutely loved the interactive playground and my mom and I could have sat admiring the park’s famous fountain for hours on end. Be sure to stop by the park on Saturdays when it hosts a local farmer’s market.
Visit the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
Juliette Gordon Low created the largest and most successful organization for girls that still exists today – The Girl Scouts. Former troop members, history buffs, and architectural enthusiasts alike will enjoy exploring her home in Savannah. A tour of the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace includes a glimpse into Juliette’s decor & tastes, but also a look into what daily life was like for someone of her status back in the early 1900s. The tour also takes visitors into the room where the very first Girl Scout meeting was held.
One of my favorite parts of the tour was seeing the famous painting of Juliette Gordon Low painted by her niece Alice. It was extra special to me because I’ll never forget seeing this portrait for the first time in my Junior Girl Scouts handbook 20ish years ago!
Have a Coffee & Pastry Break at The Paris Market
Put a bit of Parisian in your day with a visit to The Paris Market on Broughton Street. This cute little coffee shop offers up delicious pastries, Parisian inspired cookies & even houses a carefully curated shop with goods that will tempt you almost as much as the sweets!
Soak in Even More Art and Architecture at These Historical Homes
One historic home tour is just not enough for me. And in a city with such a rich history as Savannah, I, fortunately, had many different home tours to choose from! A few houses we peeked inside were the Harper Fowlkes House, the Owens-Thomas House and the Andrew Low House.
We loved seeing The Andrew Low House. Andrew Low was actually Juliette Gordon Low’s father-in-law and upon touring his family home we were really able to get a sense of the magnitude of wealth this family held onto in the 19th-century. The perfectly preserved antique furnishings, portraits and paintings, and even dining room table settings were larger than life and incredible to see up close in person.
Have (the Prettiest Pink) Dinner at The Olde Pink House
This popular restaurant in Savannah’s historic district was recommended to us by almost everyone. As one of the oldest restaurants in Savannah, diners visiting The Olde Pink House can choose to eat inside of this 18th century pink mansion’s many rooms or outside on the patio with a view of Reynold’s Square.
Many of the different dining rooms in The Olde Pink House have a style and character all their own. We were in one of the larger rooms upstairs that boasted crystal chandeliers, beautifully painted wallpaper depicting Southern scenes, and gilded chairs tucked into tables topped with a crisp white tablecloth.
We started dinner off with appetizers recommended by the staff. Sauttéed local shrimp & country ham atop cheddar cheese grits cakes were paired with half a dozen fresh oysters on the half shell. Our dinner to follow was just as delicious! My mom and I split the Pecan Crusted Chicken which featured a blackberry demi glaze with sweet potatoes and collard greens. This dinner was just about the most delicious Southern comfort food I’ve ever had!
Shop the Look:
Stroll Past the Antebellum Homes on James Street
One of my favorite parts of our visit to Savannah was just strolling the streets, admiring the beautiful architecture. I kept my camera handy around my neck all day long because the second I would put it away, I’d spot another beautiful home or building I couldn’t help but capture. Apparently, I’m not alone in these thoughts because Southern Living Magazine recently named Jones Street in the heart of Savannah’s historic district as one of the prettiest streets in all of America.
The neighboring avenues and boulevards are just as stunning and deserve a waltz down as well. I could have spent our entire trip walking up and down the cobblestone streets, admiring the view.
Grab a Latte at Maté Factor
It was one of our morning strolls that had us stumbled upon this precious little bakery just steps away from Forsythe Park. Maté Factor whips up sweet and savory baked goods, fresh coffees and lattes so delicious they’ll have you wanting to sit and stay a while.
Shop the Look:
Take a Peek Inside the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
The exterior of this Victorian Gothic cathedral is jaw-dropping by itself but upon opening the doors and stepping inside, the historic architectural details will take your breath away. Visitors are welcome daily to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist with the opportunity to take a self-guided tour of this late 19th-century church. You can pop in for a quick visit or light a candle and stay a while but it’s definitely a don’t miss when visiting Savannah. The cathedral was even named as one of the top 10 historic sites to visit in the United States!
Stay in the Center of Town at The Desoto Savannah
We absolutely loved our stay at the Desoto Savannah! Honestly, the location could not have been more perfect. It was nestled in the center of Savannah’s historic district which meant we could walk out the Desoto’s front door and be within a 15 minute walk to many of the sights we wanted to see.
The Desoto has played hostess to guests since it opened its doors in 1980. This landmark hotel does a wonderful job of mixing contemporary style with period details that resonate with Savannah’s history. One thing we absolutely loved was the rooftop pool and patio. The view of the city from above was magnificent and this spot made for a retreat that was hard to leave, even when a day of sightseeing beckoning.
Drive Under the Spanish Moss at Wormsloe
A drive under the Spanish moss hanging from the live oaks at Wormsloe State Historic Site is another can’t miss activity in Savannah. This impressive driveaway is named as one of the most beautiful drives in the entire country! The breathtaking avenue once led straight up to Wormsloe Plantation which remains in only ruins today. Guests can still visit the site and explore this beautiful property, check out the museum on site and interact with costumed interpreters during program events. Guided tours of the many nature trails are also available.
Wormsloe sits about 15 minutes outside of Savannah’s historic district. I recommend visiting the site either on your way in or out of town.
And don’t miss the opportunity to snap a shot smack dab in the center of this tree-lined avenue!
While I would have loved to include pictures of every single thing we did above, this blog post would probably turn into quite the novel. I couldn’t leave you guys hanging without mentioning a few other activities that we enjoyed and the restaurants we tried. Everything, including the above mentions, is all rounded up once more below. If you’re headed off to Savannah anytime soon, I hope these recommendations help you in planning for your trip! We seriously had such a wonderful time and I already can’t wait to come back again … and soon!
Fun Things to Do in Savannah GA: Activities
Architectural Tours of Savannah
Juliett Gordon Low (Girl Scouts) Birthplace
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
The Savannah School of Art and Design Gift Shop
Playground at Forsythe Park
Forrest Gump Bench at Chippewa Square
Tybee Island
Fun Things to Do in Savannah GA: Restaurants
—
Big thank you to Visit Savannah for hosting us in your lovely historic city this summer! We had such a wonderful time and as always, all opinions are my own.
—
xo, alice
