It might be smaller than Atlanta or New Orleans, but Savannah has so many things to do. Even after two years, we still find something new every time we visit. From the bustling River Street to the laid-back, picturesque Jones Street to the beach on Tybee Island to the historic ruins at Wormsloe Plantation, there is something for every style and budget.
HISTORIC SAVANNAH
Our absolute favorite thing to do in Savannah is simply walk in downtown and through the squares. There are 22 squares remaining from the original 24 built over the first 100 years of the city’s existence. Every one of them is different and beautiful, with people playing music, painting or crafting flowers. Most of the squares are named after a famous person or historical event and are filled with monuments, markers, memorials, statues and plaques. We have a book at the condo that details the history of each of the squares.
Forsyth Park – steps from our condo – is the city’s largest park and has 30 acres of stately live oaks, two playgrounds, a performance stage and a fragrant garden. The park was originally created in the 1840s on 10 acres and expanded in 1851. The iconic fountain at the north end was added in 1858 and is one of the most photographed places in the city. Every St. Patrick’s Day, the water is turned green to celebrate Savannah’s deep Irish heritage.
If you want to take a history tour, we recommend this free walking tour. The guides are funny and provide great local history.
Savannah is known as one of the most haunted cities in the country and ghost tours are a thriving business. Even if you aren’t into ghosts, they are still fun and usually come with more history of the city. Of the several we’ve taken, we liked the ones that focus on history such as Savannah Ghost Walks.
River Street, paved with 200-year-old cobblestones, is one of the most “touristy” place in Savannah. It is on the riverfront and has lots of cool shops and places to eat, as well as several statues and memorials. On most weekends, the sidewalks are filled with street vendors selling photographs, nuts, jewelry and other mementos.
Founded in 1883, Telfair Museums is the oldest public museum in the South. Today, Telfair Museums consists of three unique buildings: the Telfair Academy and the Owens-Thomas House, both historic homes, and the contemporary Jepson Center. Tickets can be purchased individually or as a reduced packet for the three. The Owen-Thomas house tour is reasonably priced compared to other tours of historic homes in Savannah and very interesting. For fans of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the original bird girl statue is housed in the Jepson Center.
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is beautiful and well worth the recommended $2 donation to visit. First built in the 1870s, the French Gothic architecture includes an imposing nave and breathtaking stained glass windows.
OUTSIDE THE CITY
The 1.5 mile avenue on Wormsloe Plantation (7601 Skidaway Road) is probably one of the most photographed places in Georgia. Lined with live oaks and Spanish moss, it is breathtaking in every season. The plantation was the colonial estate of Noble Jones, one of the first settlers to come to Savanah in 1733. Wormsloe’s tabby ruin is the oldest standing structure in Savannah. In additional to the tabby ruin, there is a museum with theater that provides excellent information about the site and the founding of Georgia. It is well worth a visit for the history, but a walk down to the edge of the plantation provides beautiful views of the surrounding low country.
Bonaventure Cemetery (330 Bonaventure Road) is a unique, fascinating world all its own. Formerly the Bonaventure Plantation, the cemetery is on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River, east of Savannah. It has been a world-famous tourist destination for more than 150 years due to the old tree-lined roadways, the many notable people buried here, the unique cemetery sculpture and architecture, and the folklore associated with the site and the people. You can either drive through it or walk around.
Tybee Island is a 20-30 minute drive, with a sandy beach, lighthouse and restaurants. We aren’t huge beach people, so we don’t spend a lot of time there, but it is a fun day trip.