Things to do in Savannah, GA

Nicknamed "the Hostess City of the South," Savannah makes every effort to welcome its millions of visitors from around the world each year with Southern warmth and charm. History and the typical Southern style pervade every facet of the port city, from its sprawling downtown (nearly all of which has been designated a National Historic Landmark, one of the largest in the United States) to the colorful Tybee Island. The presence of the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design is responsible for an infusion of liberalism and the occasional burst of counterculture in Savannah that separates it from other historic port cities in the South.

Savannah is characterized not just by a vague sense of the past; history permeates the city at every turn, most of it incredibly well-preserved. Savannah is home to 22 public squares that date back to the 19th century, Ellis Square, the city's oldest square, was once the site of the Old City Market until it was torn down for a parking garage in the 1950s. This move galvanized countless residents to mount a campaign for the preservation of irreplaceable monuments in buildings, a campaign that met with much success as evidenced by the stunning preservation...  

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Nicknamed "the Hostess City of the South," Savannah makes every effort to welcome its millions of visitors from around the world each year with Southern warmth and charm. History and the typical Southern style pervade every facet of the port city, from its sprawling downtown (nearly all of which has been designated a National Historic Landmark, one of the largest in the United States) to the colorful Tybee Island. The presence of the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design is responsible for an infusion of liberalism and the occasional burst of counterculture in Savannah that separates it from other historic port cities in the South.

Savannah is characterized not just by a vague sense of the past; history permeates the city at every turn, most of it incredibly well-preserved. Savannah is home to 22 public squares that date back to the 19th century, Ellis Square, the city's oldest square, was once the site of the Old City Market until it was torn down for a parking garage in the 1950s. This move galvanized countless residents to mount a campaign for the preservation of irreplaceable monuments in buildings, a campaign that met with much success as evidenced by the stunning preservation and restoration efforts throughout the city.

An old Georgian joke suggests that when you first arrive in Atlanta, folks will ask what your business is, but in Savannah, folks ask you what you'd like to drink. There's a staggering array of bars in Savannah (not so much dance clubs, it should be noted) that range from divey to incredibly upscale. In downtown Savannah, it's legal to consume alcohol in public; all you have to do is ask for a to go cup when you're ready to stroll to the next bar. The Riverfront is an ideal choice if you're looking to synthesize sightseeing with imbibing. By far, the city's most lively occasion is its St. Patrick's Day Celebration, which is the second largest of its kind in the country. The parade during the day is family-friendly and fun, though at night the party takes to the Riverfront and downtown with abandon.

If you've fully explored Savannah's Riverfront and want a truly coastal experience in the South, head to Tybee Island on the outskirts of the city. This is widely considered one of the most idyllic beaches in the South, the natural beauty of the shoreline compounded by the presence of a historic lighthouse station and the numerous festivals and events held during warmer months. Hilton Head, just across the Savannah River and in South Carolina, is another great choice if you're looking to indulge in a little beach combing, but it can also be slightly pricier. 

Savannah has a truly burgeoning arts scene in every sense of the term, in no small part because of the Savannah College of Arts and Design. The Telfair Museum traces its roots back to 1886, and at present is renowned for running an incredibly varied schedule of events, exhibitions, and displays. Savannah's City Market Art Center is also incredibly vibrant, featuring around 50 galleries with collections of fine art, contemporary art, and more, much of it reasonably priced. The Savannah Arts Festival, held in the spring in Forsyth Park, features loads of displays from local artists, as well as breathtaking chalk art on the sidewalks.

Moss-draped, molasses-sweet Savannah, like Charleston and New Orleans and other Southern port towns, is forever linked to its past. As such, it's often seen as a city of lost gentility, although one whose wealth and prestige are inescapably bound to, and built on, oppression. And while that stultifying aspect is beyond regrettable, it doesn't negate Savannah as a stunningly beautiful place that's managed to hold on to its best features and that works to resolve its most trying.

Chatham County's seat and largest city was established in 1733, built on agriculture and exports. English demand for indigo, cotton and other crops poured wealth into America's first planned city, and its elaborate mansions, squares and cemeteries still provide evidence of that abundant money. Today, tourism is huge, fed by the allure of history, architecture, beauty and storied violence. Where pirates trod and slaves were punished, where murders were committed and fortunes made and lost, visitors now walk, distanced from the long-ago pain but eager to insinuate themselves into the stream.

Meeting a portion of that need while recalling the past are dozens of walking tours, carriage rides, and river cruises. Costumed guides lead groups...  Read more »

Moss-draped, molasses-sweet Savannah, like Charleston and New Orleans and other Southern port towns, is forever linked to its past. As such, it's often seen as a city of lost gentility, although one whose wealth and prestige are inescapably bound to, and built on, oppression. And while that stultifying aspect is beyond regrettable, it doesn't negate Savannah as a stunningly beautiful place that's managed to hold on to its best features and that works to resolve its most trying.

Chatham County's seat and largest city was established in 1733, built on agriculture and exports. English demand for indigo, cotton and other crops poured wealth into America's first planned city, and its elaborate mansions, squares and cemeteries still provide evidence of that abundant money. Today, tourism is huge, fed by the allure of history, architecture, beauty and storied violence. Where pirates trod and slaves were punished, where murders were committed and fortunes made and lost, visitors now walk, distanced from the long-ago pain but eager to insinuate themselves into the stream.

Meeting a portion of that need while recalling the past are dozens of walking tours, carriage rides, and river cruises. Costumed guides lead groups over cobblestone and oyster shell streets, pointing out a statue dedicated to John Wesley (founder of the Methodist church), to cafes whose parking lots hide graveyards, to places that gained prominence after the release of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Its gothic ambience gives the city, in the eyes of some, an almost studio-manufactured quality, as if it's a literary or cinematic place where visitors go to check the reality of an imagined fiction. But the actual and the dream merge here amid magnolias and dogwoods.

With so many curious perceptions at work, it can be surprising to see Savannah as a living and liveable city. Yet gorgeous B&Bs in historic homes come equipped with wireless technology, the beach and shopping malls are conveniently close to centuries-old enclaves, and restaurants that cultivate romance with rack of lamb and foie gras sit not far from sushi joints and barbecue places. And the revelry of the annual St. Patrick's Day celebration gives ample proof that nothing can be granted too much reverence, be made too precious. In the end, there's a practicality at work, one that fashions restaurants from warehouses, crafts inns from private homes, creates a new City Market to replace a demolished original.

In the end, Savannah is a city to enjoy. Take delight in its marvelous churches and homes. See where Julia Roberts made movies and Forrest Gump was filmed. Putter around quaint shops. Eat well on shrimp and grits from a venerable establishment or on perfectly-greasy fried chicken from a local hole-in-the-wall. Try to spot Paula Deen, or at least visit her restaurants and indulge without calorie-counting. Keep an eye out for the Lady Chablis. Steel your nerves for a nighttime excursion to root out specters, or to hear about who they've stricken with terror. Stroll along the river and observe the ships' maritime ballet while you relax in the midst of a sunlit Savannah vacation. It's all part of life here.

Age-old folk wisdom claims that things are better in the South, that hospitality runs rampant and that welcomes are as easy to find as a drawl. Happily enough, that's all true, at least as Savannah goes. It's not for nothing, after all, that this easygoing town was given the sobriquet Hostess City of the South.