4 days in Savannah, GA: A Historical and Culinary Journey
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Discover Savannah, the delightful sister city of Charleston that is bursting with southern charm. From the picturesque live oak lined squares to the genuine greetings from locals, Savannah invites you to experience its unique allure.
For history buffs, Savannah's rich tapestry of stories and landmarks will leave you captivated. With countless museums and a historical narrative that is rather different from many of our founding cities, there's always something new to uncover and learn.
Then for those just looking to enjoy culinary delights and scenery straight out of HGTV this is the place for you.
As someone with deep roots in Georgia, I've always felt a magnetic pull to the South, despite being very much a Jersey girl. And now in this phase of exploration and discovery, I've decided to answer that call by choosing Savannah for my second-quarter tip. I make it a point to embark on a new adventure every quarter and what better place to delve into the charm and hospitality of the South than Savannah?
Navigating trip planning with an autoimmune disorder can be a delicate balance. You don't want to plan too much and overexert yourself, that's a set up for a flare. At the same time, you don’t want to miss out on the experiences the new destination has to offer. I'll admit I'm still trying to get it right and I'm definitely not perfect when it comes to diet, nonetheless, join me as I embark on a 4 day adventure through this iconic Southern City, where I aim to strike that perfect balance and make the most of every moment.
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Majority of attractions are located within the historic district. To be close to the action stay within this area. Highlights Include:
Cambria Hotel
Perry Lane Hotel
The Drayton Hotel
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Suggested restaurants:
Dottie's Market
Garage
Olde Pink House
Maple Street Buscuit Company
The Collins Quarter
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Coffee Break!
Savannah's Roaster
Bitty and Beau's
Origin
Agatha's Coffeehouse
The Coffee Fox
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Top Activities and Attractions:
Tour Historic District
Telfair Museums
Stroll along Forsyth Park
Day trips to Tybee Island + Wormsloe Historic Site
Ghost Tour
Walk along River Street
Getting Around
From the moment you land in the Savannah-Hilton Head Airport you know you're about to embark on a trip riddled with charm. The main terminal is like a miniature southern square complete with faux brick paths and rows of rocking chairs beckoning you to hang for a while.
Savannah's historic district is about 20 minutes from the airport. The city is a walker's paradise with a majority of the attractions located within minutes of each other, so we opted not to rent a car for this trip. We took a rideshare which took about 10min to pick us up. I found that to be a little longer than most major cities. The airport has a small section for rideshare with plenty of seating.
While the summers can be intense, the iconic Spanish moss donned live oak trees that sprawl the city provide welcome shade. Stroll along the 12 squares located around the city each offering shaded benches where you can catch a break and soak in the ambiance.
For those spots that are a little out of the way Savannah has you covered with the convenient and complimentary transportation system the DOT. With two main routes, the historic district loop and Forsyth Park loop -- the DOT makes getting around this beautiful city a breeze.
If you plan to trek outside the city for some of the main attractions like Wormsloe Historic Site and Tybee Island you may prefer to rent a car. You can also book a guided tour, which I talk more about later.
Day 1 : Arrival + Dinner
Highlights Include
Historic District
Dottie's Market
Broughton Street
After touching down in the hostess city of the south, we headed straight to our hotel nestled within the Historic District. Our choice was the recently built Cambria Hotel. The location was perfect -- close enough to walk to all the action of Savannah without getting any of the noise. If you're looking for accommodation recommendations, I highly suggest staying within the historic district.
A majority of Savannah's main attractions are located within this area. You'll find a plethora of options within walking distance, from well-known names like Courtyard Marriott and Tryp to charming Bed & Breakfasts and Boutique hotels that offer an immersive taste of Southern Hospitality.
Now that we're settled it’s time to wander around until dinner. We ended up strolling along Broughton street before our dinner reservation. Here you'll find many of the restaurants that I'll be telling you about. It also has an array of shops that you won't see anywhere else.
It's now time for dinner at the quaint part market part scratch kitchen, Dottie's Market. As soon as we enter we're hit with that Southern Hospitality. We're guided to our barside seating and gander at the thoughtfully curated menu. With its emphasis on scratch-made dishes, every bite promises to be a culinary delight.
Our meal began with a bread plate with a delicious and airy pear butter, with tangy pickled veggies and delectable deviled eggs. The star of my meal was the seafood gumbo. A generous portion of earthy and luxuriously rich flavors slapped my palette. It's not your typical gumbo, it's an experience that demands to be savored. I definitely did not finish it all, because I had to try their turtle cheesecake! At this point I am stuffed and it's time to retire for the day.
Day 2 : Tybee Beach Island
Highlights Include
Savannah Roaster
Dolphin Tour
Crab Shack
Tybee Island
Marine Science Center
Lighthouse
Forsyth Park
Shuk
Our day kicked off bright and early with a visit to Savannah Roaster for coffee and light breakfast. Pro tip: If you've got a busy day ahead, it's best to arrive early to avoid the crowds. We arrived just in time to miss the crowd of people clamoring for their freshly made breads and pastries.
I opted for the Honeybee Almond coffee, which was a delightful blend of nutty and sweet, paired with the ham gruyere croissant. The bread was soft and chewy, the filling savory and satisfying. It was the perfect start to our day of exploration.
Next we embarked on a guided tour to Tybee Island. Located about an hour outside of the city, Tybee Island offers a serene escape from downtown Savannah. If you are not keen on driving you can opt for a rideshare, but be mindful of parking if you bring your own car.
Since I didn't care to spend an abundance of time at the beach I chose to go on a tour booked through Viator, which promised a well-rounded experience. Our itinerary included a dolphin tour, lunch at the Crab Shack, and some leisure time at the beach.
On our journey to Tybee Island our guide regailed us with information about our destination before our first stop at Captain Derek's Dolphin Adventure. We were off to search the seas for a chance to see these playful sea creatures. This quest was rather easy as we were quickly surrounded by playful dolphins gracefully bobbing up and down in the waters. I even managed to capture a picture of one jumping out of the water!
Time for some grub at the Crab Shack, a Tybee Island mainstay that's been around for 40 years. I thought the food would be mediocre since it was with a tour. I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious the food was. I still regret not buying that BBQ sauce.
Now onto the final destination, Tybee Island Beach. Here you'll get a chance to see the Lighthouse, Marine Science Center and of course the beach.
While time on the beach is limited, it was perfectly fine by me -- I'm not one to linger too long in the sun. Instead I opted for a leisurely stroll along the shore, before heading off to explore further.
Knowing the importance of pacing myself on trips, I skipped the 180 steps to the top of the lighthouse, trusting my companion to take good pics for me. I instead spent a little time staring at the ocean, then went over to the marine science center. Where I received a private tour around the fossil room before watching their new baby turtle take a swim in a small pool outside. SO CUTE!
When we got back we walked around Forsyth park and witnessed all the high school students taking pictures for prom. I mean the iconic fountain is the perfect backdrop for that occasion, definitely jealous. This beautiful greenscape plopped in the city is the perfect spot to people watch and relax.
It's time for dinner at Shuk, a Mediterranean spot a bit outside of the historic district. We took the Forsyth Park loop on the DOT and arrived at the counter style spot and dished on a nice light meal to counter the heaviness of yesterday's southern style feast. Then back to the hotel to turn in and eat the remainder of my turtle cheesecake.
Day 3 : City Day
Highlights Include
Maple Street Biscuit Company
Bitty & Beau's
City Market
Savannah History Museum
Georgia State Railroad Museum
Garage in Victory North
With Rheumatoid Arthritis, I do my best to space out excursions and balance between activity and rest while on vacation. Today we'll be spending our day leisurely strolling around the historic district.
Starting with a hearty breakfast at Maple Street Biscuit Company. They are a chain establishment with branches in a few southern states. Despite my efforts to maintain a balanced diet, I simply can't resist a good biscuit -- consider me a bit of a biscuit aficionado! Then we’ll fuel up with a coffee around the corner at Bitty & Beau's, serving great coffee with a heartfelt mission empowering andd celebrating diversity.
With my energy levels topped up and my belly satisfied I'm ready to start our guided historic district walking tour. I love doing a walking tour early on a trip to gain knowledge of the area and take note of places to go back to. My favorite types of tours are history, architectural and food tours. I book a majority of my tours through Viator.
Our guide did not not disappoint, he was so passionate about this city and it's easy to understand why. The tour covered many of the historical hot spots, including: Taylor Square, Girl Scout Headquarters, Forsyth Park and all the beautiful homes. I really consider this tour a must do, I've done many history tours and these guides were so well versed and engaging.
Once the tour was over we wandered over to the City Market which is 2-3 blocks of restaurants and shops. Some notable things around the City Market are the First African Baptist Church, which is the first black church in Savannah, the famous Van Go Go's pizza, Prohibition Museum, Savannah's Candy Kitchen and Byrd's Famous Cookies. We sampled and bought some cookies at Bryd's--key lime is a must and snagged a free praline sample at the candy kitchen.
Sometimes the best culinary discoveries happen spontaneously and Goose Feathers Cafe & Bakery was no exception. While it wasn’t originally on my list of places, its bustling atmosphere and positive reviews drew us in for a light lunch. So glad we did. It was the perfect place for a quick light bite. As I glanced over at the person next to me who was eating the most delicious looking breakfast sandwich, I vowed we’d be going back the next day for breakfast.
While we were in the area we stopped at The Spice & Tea Exchange of Savannah on Broughton. With its wide selection of both common and custom tea blends and spices, it's the perfect place to explore new flavors. I bought their ginger and turmeric blends that promote decreasing inflammation and the elderberry blend for immune-boosting benefits.
During our city day, we had the pleasure of visiting two museums: the Savannah History Museum and Georgia State Railroad museum. The latter with its connection to the Children's museum is particularly recommended for families. Savannah has an abundance of museums. You really could spend your entire four day trip going around to see all those if you wanted to. Between arts, history and science you can get lost in delving into the culture of this great city.
We ended our day with dinner at the Garage in Victory North, on the far edge of the historic district, using the Forsyth park loop to get there. This new bar and eatery is already getting a lot of attention, with mentions from Food Network and Savannah Magazine. This is a necessary addition to your trip itinerary. Serving southern style eclectic bites it's a culinary journey that I'm sure you'd enjoy.
Day 4 : Bonaventure Cemetery + Wormsloe Historic Site
Highlights Include
Origin Coffee
Bonaventure Cemetery and Wormsloe Historic Site Tour
Driftaway Cafe
River Street
Chive Sea bar and Lounge
Leopold's Ice Cream
After a slow start yesterday we're back to kicking off early. So we went around the corner from the hotel to a sleek and modern coffee bar called Origin. Got a classic cappuccino then headed off to catch our tour to Bonaventure Cemetery and Wormsloe Historic site.
Though you can see a lot of places on your own, you'll notice I tend to do tours. Firstly, I don't care for driving on vacation , so the luxury of being chauffeured around is nice. Secondly, these guides are incredibly passionate about what they do and I'm always enthralled by the wealth of knowledge they are able to impart. As an added bonus If you do select the tour, you get to go to Byrd's Flagship store and try out some cookies at the end. They highly encourage sampling, don't be shy!
Exploring Bonaventure Cemetery was like wandering through a serene park, albeit one adorned with tombstones, that tell the stories of Savannah's notable residents. After learning about some of the more notable Savannaians (we'll consider that a word) we stopped at Driftaway Cafe for lunch where I had the most delicious Cuban sandwich.
Next up was the Wormsloe Historic Site famous for its breathtaking entrance framed by towering live oak trees draped with Spanish moss. It's probably the only reason some people want to go. A special perk offered with booking with the tour: immediate access to this picturesque entrance for a photo opportunity. Traveling on your own, you have to take a tram or a lengthy walk over to the entrance later by yourself.
Upon getting back we were pooped so we spent time in the room before heading off to walk around River street which houses many bars and souvenir shops. This is also where you'll pick up the Savannah Riverboat. There are multiple staired entrances to the street and an elevator tucked behind City Hall. If you happen to be a souvenir penny collector like me, you'll find a host of options located here.
Dinner at Chive Sea Bar and Lounge was nothing short of remarkable, as I continued to strike a balance of light and hearty meals. It was a simple gesture that truly left me in awe. Midway through my meal my waiter surprised me with a fresh sweet tea because mine was watered down. WHAT?!? I've never, if that doesn't solidify this as the hostess city, I don't know what does.
Let's not forget about the food, particularly the scallops, which were a must-try. The day ended on a sweet note with some ice cream at the historic Leopold's Ice Cream.
Day 5 : Brunch + Departure
Highlights Include
Agatha's Coffee and Tea House
Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters
Telfair Museum
Olde Pink House
*Sigh* it's our last day in Savannah, after having an amazing trip. Our flight is later in the day, so we still have time to enjoy the offerings of the city, starting off with my morning coffee. This time we walked a bit south to try out Agatha's Coffee and Tea house. This was such a cute coffee shop tucked away off the main street. It was moody, being very dimly lit and played jazz. Gave me London vibes.
Then we went to the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters for a guided tour. Buying a ticket gains you unlimited access over 7 days to the other Telfair maintained facilities, including the Telfair Museum and the Jepson Center & Telfair Children’s Art Museum.
This guided tour goes into the sorted history of the families that once occupied the establishments. The Slave Quarters offers a realistic view into the living arrangements, with updates only being made for the purposes of restoration. Within the main house you even get to see letters Owens-Thomas sent to his wife while away on travels. They are worth the read.
We had some time before our brunch reservation, so we walked a few blocks down to the Jepson Center. We only toured the third floor as the second mainly has the children attractions. They had a wonderful photography exhibit and glasswork, two of my favorite art forms. We did some more strolling around the oak lined streets, bought some candy for our trip back from the Candy Kitchen, before going to brunch at the Olde Pink House.
If you've looked up any suggestions for what to do in Savannah I'm sure this site has come up and for good reason. It's a perfect example of Southern Cuisine at a site that is not just a restaurant but an attraction within itself. After eating, take some time to wander around the house. The staff is more than happy to tell you about the history of this beautiful building.
We ordered the housemade pink lemonade which was sweet and refreshing, partnered with the housemade cheddar sticks. We decided to be adventurous and get the sushi roll shrimp and grits. They were creamy with a nice crunch. For my entree I ordered the fried chicken. It is regularly sold as a half chicken, but they are willing to give peices if you ask.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, we've concluded our wonderful trip to Savannah and I can't wait to go back. Between the food and history this has to be one of my top state side trips. I merely saw a tip of what this beautiful city has to offer. Some things we didn't get to see that are noteworthy - the SCAD art museum, the King-Tisdell Cottage, and a cultural museum of African American Art.
I was traveling with a bit of a scaredy cat, otherwise I would've absolutely done the Ghost Tours!
If you liked my four day itinerary to make planning your trip easier I've made a Google Maps list. Drop a follow to see other lists I create for destinations. Be cognizant when you plan your trip, many attractions are closed Mondays and even Tuesdays.
I hope you enjoy your stay and have a wonderful trip in this beautiful city!
Google Map of sites
