Weekend Trip: Savannah, Georgia
This past weekend, I brought my family on a 3 day trip down to Savannah. I had been to Savannah before and fell in love with its architecture, food and easy way of life. Wanting to share this experience with my parents, I put together a short tour of the city. If you are looking to do the same, here are my recommendations on what to see, eat and where to stay in beautiful Savannah!
My husband and I have been using Airbnb quite frequently for our trips. Depending on which you choose, they can be very economical and in great locations. The one we chose in Savannah was a sunny yellow Victorian house with an upstairs apartment in the historic district. Located right next to Forsyth Park, it was within walking distance of beautiful historic mansions and some delicious restaurants. We wanted something downtown so we wouldn’t have to rent a car, and we took advantage of the free trolley service (DOT) when our sites were not within walking distance.
Though the Bed & Breakfasts are very charming and the hotels chic in the area we stayed in, they were quite pricey. Airbnb was the best choice for us, especially with five of us staying together, and each couple had their own room.
There are many, MANY excellent restaurants in Savannah, so you really can’t go wrong. However, if you are looking for specific recommendations, here are mine.
Sandfly BBQ at the Streamliner not only has fantastic BBQ, but it is also housed in a retro diner (always a winner in my book!) Delicious food, cheap prices, fast and friendly service is what you can expect. I had the pulled pork with their traditional sauce, mac and cheese, and green beans, soooo good!
The Cotton Exchange Tavern is a good choice for decently priced seafood while exploring the Riverwalk, and Leopold’s Ice Cream is a delicious retro treat on hot summer days. Our favorite brunch spot (which we also had 4 years before) is J. Christopher’s, and I highly recommend trying the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict.
There are a number of good house museums to explore: Isaiah Davenport House, Owens-Thomas House, Mercer Williams House, Harper Fowlkes House, etc. On this particular trip however, we visited the Andrew Low House, home to the incredibly wealthy Low family (including the founder of the Girl Scouts of America). The house was beautifully furnished in period pieces and the docent was lively and knowledgable.
As mentioned before, a walk around Forsyth Park and the historic district is a great way to explore Savannah’s charming architecture and historic roots. Though Savannah is scorching hot in the summer, the tree-laden squares dotted through the neighborhood provide much needed shade while you explore.
There are a number of museums to see, including the Telfair Art Museum, Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, SCAD Museum of Art, and Massie Heritage Center. We decided to explore the Georgia State Railroad Museum, and it was a highlight of the trip! Being very fond of trains, it was interesting to see the railcars of years past, and hear about the hey-dey of train travel and its booming industry.
I recommend exploring the Riverwalk, which is filled with shops and restaurants. Though very touristy, the walk is still enjoyable with its cobblestone path, riverboats sailing the water, and delicious treats. I couldn’t resist buying some taffy at the vintage candy shop or buying a lace fan to beat the sweltering heat.
Some other good shopping areas are Broughton Street (where you can find the Paris Market, a mixture of antiques and new pieces) or City Market.
If you are looking for antiques, Alex Raskin Antiques is filled to the brim. It can be quite pricey, but fun to explore. There are a number of other antique stores in Savannah, but I have not ventured to them. If looking for the best in the area, I recommend this list on yelp. There is also a quirky little vintage clothing store in the historic district that I enjoyed perusing. The Future on Forsyth has a cultivated collection of colorful vintage clothing and accessories that is both enjoyable to shop and fun to explore. I myself bought a pair of nautical aqua earrings.
I hope this list helps whoever is going to explore Savannah, it’s one of my favorite cities and I loved sharing!
