Hello Sunshines!
Being a Georgia native, I have been to Savannah countless times. It’s only a 2.5 hour drive from my hometown and one of my besties is from there! No matter how many times I travel there, I find something new to explore. If this is your first time traveling to Savannah, you will have so much to choose from. I would like to introduce you to the original Georgia city, the epitome of Southern Charm.
Where To Stay
Savannah has a ton of hotels, Airbnbs and Bed and Breakfast options. I have stayed in the Catherine Ward Inn House, which is a true Bed and Breakfast, and I would recommend choosing here or another BnB if you’re looking for a stay with history and southern charm. Catherine Ward Inn is located right by the historic Forsyth Park, and it’s walking distanced to downtown and River St. Other BnB options include Forsyth Park Inn, Savannah Bed and Breakfast Inn, Ballastone Inn, Azalea Inn and Villas, and more.
If you’re looking for something more modern, I would suggest the Perry Lane Luxury Hotel. This hotel is located right in the middle of downtown, which makes walking to anything is 10 to 15 minutes. Perry Lane is known for their rooftop, which includes a pool for hotel guests only then a bar & restaurant, Peregrin. The views from the rooftop are self-explanatory……pretty amazing. Perry Lane has two restaurants located at the bottom. One was closed during my stay, but we ate at the Emporium and it was phenomenal. The hotel also has a coffee and pastry stand called Bowerbird. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Another hotel I would recommend is the Alida Hotel. This hotel is brand new, and like the Perry Lane, they have a pool and rooftop bar. They are located almost directly on River St.
What To Do
Savannah is filled with history, and there are a lot of activities that revolve around Savannah’s history. You can take tours via bike, trolley, house and carriage, walking, boat, etc. There are tours about the history of Savannah, food and art, and even ghost tours where you ride in a roofless hearse! On my recent trip, we took two different tours.
The first was a sightseeing river boat tour through the Savannah Riverboat Cruise. This company offers several different types of cruises, and they are an hour and half long. We chose the sightseeing cruise, which was only $25, and we were allowed on the third and fourth deck of the boat. The boat has two bars and grills for you to order food and drinks during your cruise, and there is an inside area in case you need some good ole AC. They also offer brunch, lunch, and dinner cruises as well.
The second tour we took was a bike tour through Savannah Bike Tours. This tour is for two hours, and only $30. You can bring your own bike, but they have a big selection of bikes to choose from so I suggest getting there about 15 minutes before your tour time so you can get first dibs! You are given a basket and a bottle of water. They offer two tour times: 9 AM and 12 PM. If you’re in Savannah during the warm months, I would suggest the 9 AM tour. During this tour, you will stop several times to learn cool history facts about Savannah. I learned things I’ve never even know! It’s a great way to see the city and get an idea of where things are located and places you may want to eat. I would suggest this tour at the beginning of your stay. The tour guide did a wonderful job showing off the best places to eat.
Other tours include Sightseeing Trolley Tour of Savannah, Savannah Ghost City Walking Night Tour, Savannah Culinary & Cultural Food Tour, Segway History Tour of Savannah, and Savannah Candlelit Tour.
Chill by the pool. Need I say more.
Another option is you can head to Tybee Island for the day. Tybee Island is about 20 minutes from downtown Savannah. This beach has several beach accesses, parking, shopping, and eating choices. We love going to Tybee Times to grab a slushie (alcoholic). Sorry to any Wet Willie’s fans….Tybee Times > Wet Willies. But WW offers non-alcoholic choices as well. You can enjoy the beach and walk around the island sightseeing the Lighthouse and other places!
Go to Forsyth Park and have a picnic! I recently came across the Savannah Picnic Company through the Perry Lane Hotel. I emailed her directly to book a time and service. She offers a full picnic set up, picnic baskets, proposals, pop up luncheons, etc. The owner, Chelsea, is so talented, and we were blown away by her set up. I won’t lie the flies were ready to feast, but it was summer time in the South. If you have a picnic during the summer, cover your food and throw any away when you’re finished.
Savannah also has the famous Slow Rides. This is great for a group of people. You enjoy the city while drinking, singing, dancing and pedaling around town.
Take a stroll and enjoy the squares and beauty of Savannah. Jones Street is known for the being the most beautiful street in Savannah. You probably have seen plenty of engagement photos from this street. There are 22 squares in Savannah, and one is pretty famous. The Chippewa square is the location of the famous bench scene of Forrest Gump.
Where to Eat & Drink
One of the best parts of Savannah is the food and drink options. You will not go hungry while in Savannah. For coffee and brunch, I would recommend the Collins Quarter (they have two locations), Little Duck Diner, Fox and Fig, Mirabella, Café M, Clary’s Café, Two Cracked Eggs, The Funky Brunch, B Matthews Eatery, Savannah Coffee Roasters, Foxy Loxy Café, Henry’s Restaurant, and the Paris Market.
(Collins Quarter, Collins Quarter, Little Duck Diner, Little Duck Diner, Café M, Café M)
For lunch and dinner, I would recommend The Grove (they have a rooftop), Ordinary Pub, Coco & Moss, The Vault, Olde Pink House, Husk, Vic’s on the River, Zunzi’s, Mrs. Wilkes, Soho South Café, Treylor Park, Tubby’s, Belford’s, Vinnie Van Go-Go, and Huey’s Southern Café.
(The Vault, Coco & Moss, Coco & Moss, The Grove, Ordinary Pub, Tubby's)
For sweets, you have to check out River Street Sweets for the bomb pralines! I usually get a rice krispy treat the size of my head. They have plenty of sweet options. Other sweet suggestions are Leopold’s Ice cream, Bryd’s Famous Cookies, Pie Society, Mabel’s Cupcake Emporium, Savannah Square Pops, Shuga Girl, and…Better than Sex Dessert Restaurant.
(Shuga Girl, River Street Sweets, Leopold's, River Street Sweets)
Something unique about Savannah is their open carry of alcohol. You can take your drink out of a bar while walking around downtown. Savannah is known for having a great night life, so if you get a chance to grab a drink, listen to a live band, and hang out there are plenty of options. I would suggest Treehouse, Congress Street Social Club, Savannah Smiles Dueling Pianos, and Club 309.
I really hope you enjoy your stay. I think Savannah helps people slow down and it’s one of my favorite cities in the world.
Fun Facts & Tips
I would suggest avoiding the months of June, July and August because it’s very, very hot.
Now, if you do plan a trip during the months, you can still very much enjoy Savannah, but be prepared to SWEAT
Bring comfortable shoes. If you’re visiting Savannah, you will probably be walking A LOT
Several movies have been filmed in Savannah, so you never know you might run into a celebrity
The Girl Scouts originated in Savannah & you can shop cookies year round at the founding site
Oglethorpe founded the city in 1733, and it’s still one of the busiest ports in the nation
You can shop all my outfits and accessories through my IG or LikeToKnowIt app
XOXO, Britt