Savannah Georgia – a City Steeped in Southern Charm

Visit Savannah, Georgia

…Enjoy true southern Hospitality

Savannah, Georgia, is one of our favourite cities in the USA to visit. It is full of history, charm, and character. With a little bit of quirkiness thrown into the spice mix for an extra dash of flavour.

Just over a year ago, my brother and his friend suggested that the four of us go on a road trip together. We tossed around a few ideas on where to go, but nothing seemed to be right. Someone suggested Savannah, and that sparked some joy into all members of the group. We had our destination, and now we had to find a mutually suitable time frame in which to go. After we figured out when it was not ideal for each person, we only had a few options left, and the one that had no conflicts at all was August 2020. So, we put it in our calendars, and let the planning commence….

And then the pandemic. 

After all of that… our trip to Savannah, GA is now off. For Now. I was so excited that everything was finally in alignment to make this road trip happen. I was finally going to get the chance to explore ALL of Savannah this time. We had hammered out some details and made the scheduling work for us. We were going to take a vacation together that has been long over-due finally. But Covid-19 had other ideas.

We have visited the “Hostess City of the South” on a few occasions, but usually, we were only passing through. Our most extended visit was a full two days on a road trip through the Southern USA, and we certainly made the most of this trip. Some highlights and suggestions we can offer you for your next trip to Savannah, Georgia.


Savannah Trolley Tours

The first thing you will want to do if you are a first-time visitor to Savannah, and only have a short time here is get your ticket for the Savannah Trolley Tours. They take you on a leisurely and informative ride throughout the city core. You will see all of the historical sites, beautiful parks, gorgeous homes, shopping districts, and find inspiration for what to you can delve into deeper. Hop on Hop off option makes this a must for any short stay.

Put a Little South in Your Mouth

The food in Savannah is fantastic. From good old-fashioned southern cooking of country biscuits, fried chicken, collard greens, sweet potato pie, pubs, fresh seafood, tacos… and much more. Savannah, GA, is a city exploding with flavour. There is no shortage of culinary delights to satisfy your cravings for good southern cooking, gourmet meals, or casual dining experiences.

The Lady & Sons

Celebrity Chef Paula Deen’s renowned restaurant is a Savannah landmark. Tourists come from all over to eat at her table—this restaurant where she made a name for herself and became the celebrity you know today. If you are looking for health food, southern cookin’ is not your go-to, and this is just good quality country cookin’ – it isn’t fancy, but it is flavourful.

Treylor Park

Tacos may not be the first cuisine you think of when visiting Savannah, but Treylor Park is here to change all of that. We checked out this cool restaurant near the River Walk during our most recent visit to Savannah. The flavour combinations of the tacos are spectacular, your jaw will drop at the site of the nacho plate, and they have a fantastic selection of excellent local craft beer and fabulous cocktails.

Parks & Rec

Savannah is one of the first planned cities in America. It is designed on a grid, with the city streets wide enough to accommodate many parks and public squares. A very walkable city, with so much to see and do along the way, Savannah has many little parkettes and courtyards where you can take a break and enjoy the beauty of the city. The many parks in the city that are spaced out about every 3 or 4 blocks throughout the core of Savannah are surrounded by historic buildings, magnificent architecture, and beautiful scenery.

Forsythe Park

The “central park” of Savannah, Georgia; Forsythe Park is a 30-acre green space in the heart of the historic district. A resplendent recreation spot enjoyed by residents and tourists, alike. Beautiful oak trees with Spanish moss line the park’s pathways as you enter and head to the Forsythe Fountain. In 1858, this fountain was erected in Forsythe Park and has become one of the most iconic (and photographed) attractions in Savannah. It is a gorgeous backdrop for photos for tourists, as well as a popular place for marriage proposals and weddings.

Haunted History of Savannah

Savannah is one of the oldest cities in America, and with that comes a rich and storied past. As such, it is also considered to be one of the most haunted cities in America. If you enjoy a ghost story, Savannah has a plethora of options for you and many ‘haunted buildings”. Maybe the Inn you are staying at is haunted?

Historic Cemeteries

Old cities like Savannah, have some cool and historic cemeteries. There are many places to explore if you enjoy visiting gravesites and burial grounds. One of the most famous cemeteries in Savannah, and the largest, is Bonaventure on the city’s outskirts. Many notable citizens of Savannah have been buried here (Johnny Mercer, for example), and this cemetery was made more famous by the book (and movie) of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”. The cemetery is a 100-acre labyrinthian site that can take a very long time to go through. The cemetery is a beautiful place to visit, with gorgeous tree-lined streets, and unique cemetery sculptures that make this a popular tourist attraction. Colonial Park Cemetery is purported to be haunted as well.

For more historic, creepy, and cool cemeteries, click HERE.

Architectural Treasures

As you walk (or take a trolley tour) through the city, you will be in awe of the glorious architectural marvels that line the streets of Savannah. Throughout the city, many architectural styles creating such a rich, colourful tapestry of artistry and history. You may want to consider taking an architectural guided tour to learn more of what makes this an architectural gem of the south.

Shopping Savannah

There is plenty of places in Savannah to enjoy some great shopping. Whether you are looking for handmade goods, unique gifts, fashions, or souvenirs, Savannah, Georgia has you covered. Our favourite places to do some shopping are:

• • • • River Street – A historic cobblestone street along the Savannah River. This district is a beautiful place to shop for souvenirs, gifts, and hand made goods. You will want to grab some sweets at the Savannah Candy Kitchen to enjoy as you take in the views of the river, the parks, and sculptures.
        • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The River Front and River Street district is a trendy destination for tourists.
      • The City Market is a popular tourist attraction, where you can find a lot of great shops, restaurants, patios, and sweet shops to explore. This 18th-century outdoor marketplace is a 4-block pedestrian mall great for relaxing, shopping, dining, or enjoying a beverage as you take in some live music.
      • Downtown Savannah has many excellent and unique shops that you will want to check out during your visit. Here, we found one of our favourite purchases – a replica of the “Bird Girl” statue that takes the place of honour in our garden at home.

Where to Stay

There is a large variety of places to stay when you visit Savannah, Georgia. There are gorgeous inns, BnBs, fancy hotel chains, budget chains, and unique boutique hotels – something for every budget.

In the past, we have stayed at a budget hotel right in town. It was last-minute and the most convenient place we could find with availability. On another occasion, we stayed at the DeSoto, and enjoyed a wonderful stay, with fantastic city views. Friends of ours stayed at the Thunderbird Inn, a place we wanted to stay, but there was no availability when we were there. They enjoyed the retro style motor hotel, complete with complimentary southern delights RC Cola and Moon Pies.

Travel Tip:

Savannah is a beautiful city, but it has an ugly past. When you visit, be sure to learn some history of the early American South when you are there. The good, the bad, AND the ugly. It may not all be fun to hear – but some stories must never be forgotten, and a history we must all learn from. 

Beyond Savannah

We have visited Savannah a few times now, and after our first trip, we took a detour to Tybee Island, just east of Savannah. Tybee is a gorgeous oceanfront spot known for its pristine beach, pier, lighthouse, and cute seaside town.

While there, we heard about a great seafood shack that we just had to check out. The Original Crab Shack is a dockside restaurant that overlooks Chimney Creek a tributary of Lazaretto Creek off the Atlantic Ocean. The Crab Shack is a beautiful spot to enjoy a delicious seafood meal in a unique setting. As you dine on fresh & local crab and seafood, you can admire the views of the marshlands, Live oak trees, and the local wildlife. While you are at the Crab Shack, kids and kids at heart will enjoy feeding the baby gators in the alligator farm on-premises.
We now visit The Crab Shack whenever we are in Savannah and recommend it to friends & family who plan on visiting the area.

We have packed a lot of southern charm into these two-day trips. However, these short visits only left us wanting more. We look forward to the day when this Pandemic is over.  To a time when travel and tourism can return to normal, and we can get back to Savannah, Georgia.