1. Stroll Through Forsyth Park for a Perfect Afternoon Picnic
I started my visit in the the very center of Savannah's Historic District in the green oasis called Forsyth Park. You can't go wrong if you follow in my footsteps because it's one of the favorite places for locals to sit in the shade and escape from the relentless sun.
I like to have a picnic here in the spring or fall (you can buy something tasty at the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays right here in Forsyth Park). If you are traveling with your dog, you can take him for a stroll here. Don't miss the old fountain, one of the most popular and most photographed attractions of Savannah, Georgia. You may come across a free concert in the open air.
2. Step Back in Time by Exploring the Savannah Historic District
After enjoying Forsyth Park, I decided to explore the Savannah's Historic District . It's a National Historic Landmark because it was established in 1733.
If you are into architecture, there are centuries of different styles represented here, including Gothic, Georgian, and Greek Revival buildings and mansions, parks, and fountains.
You can stop by the Savannah Visitor Center located in the beautifully restored Central of Georgia railroad station to learn about self-guided tours offered in Savannah.
3. Wander Along the Savannah Waterfront for Scenic Views and Local Flavor
My next stop was Savannah’s historically rich Waterfront which once served as the location where many warehouses stood 200 years ago during the time when cotton was king.
In the 1970s, Savannah Waterfront and its 200-year-old cobblestones were rediscovered, leading city planners and local landowners to transform the location and its empty warehouses into the lively and exciting Savannah River waterfront area you see today.
I walked past art galleries, shops, and much more. You can find all kinds of restaurants here.
4. Taste Your Way Through Savannah on a Flavor-Packed Food Tour
When it comes to Savannah restaurants, I found out that there are many amazing choices and not enough time.
One way to get a pretty good idea as to what Southern food and Southern hospitality are all about is to take one of the Savannah Taste Experience Food Tours.
The tour recommended for the first time visitors is The First Squares Food Tour, which takes you on a journey that allows you to sample foods from seven unique restaurants and food stores around the original squares built in Savannah.
The second tour you can take explores hidden gems in mostly residential neighborhoods, and it goes behind the scenes of the restaurant kitchens, stopping for chats with the chefs and locals about their city. Both tours are three-hour long walking tours, so you can stretch your legs between meals and really get a feel of the spirit of the charming, historical city of Savannah.
5. Discover Marine Creatures at the University of Georgia Aquarium
If you are traveling with a kid like I usually am, don't forget to slip in some time to learn about biology. Located on Ocean Science Circle, The University of Georgia Aquarium is a kid-friendly and educational attraction on Skidaway Island just southeast of downtown Savannah that you just have to check out.
The exhibits feature the marine animals that live along the coast of Georgia, so you can learn more about the state at the same time. Children enjoy the touch tanks, which allow them to get up close to see the animals (you can touch them too).
If you are in the city for a while, ask about their summer camps. I think that that the University of Georgia Aquarium is one of the best things to do in Savannah GA for families.
30 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, Georgia, Phone: 912-598-2496
6. Shop for Local Eats at the Forsyth Farmers’ Market
I mentioned the farmers’ market before when I started my tour of Savannah in Forsyth Park but I believe it deserves another mention.
Six women set their minds on starting a farmers’ market in 2009 in beautiful Forsyth Park, a location where everyone feels welcome.
Their wonderful idea was to create a place where everyone can have access to healthy, locally produced food, and to give the local farmers a chance to show the fruits of their labors.
The Forsyth Farmers' Market (FFM) only features food sold by those who grow and produce it so you can be sure that everything you buy is local. You will find nearly everything there, including bread, cheese, eggs, honey, produce, preserves, coffee, and much more.
1 W Park Ave, Savannah, Georgia
7. If You Love Southern Cooking, Take a Hands-On Class with Chef Darin
If you want to learn how to prepare some of the Southern dishes you've been eating, read on. Chef Darin's Kitchen Table is a hands-on cooking school in the Victorian district of Savannah where Chef Darin Sehnert will suit you up in an apron and get you started on a wonderful culinary journey.
His goal is to demystify cooking techniques and teach his students to understand basic, yet essential ingredients.
The teacher and his students gather around the kitchen table and cook together, discussing different techniques, sharing stories, talking about ingredients, and basically enjoying themselves.
You will be slicing and dicing, frying and baking, and, the best part, at the end you will sit down at the table with your teacher and fellow students and eat everything you worked so hard to prepare. Taking one of these cooking classes is a great way to spend an evening and have an interactive learning experience with Southern cuisine.
2514 Abercorn Street, Suite 140, Savannah, Georgia, Phone: 912-662-6882
Family-friendly Things to Do in Savannah:
8. Learn About History at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
Visiting the magnificent, authentically furnished Gordon family home, which looks just as it did in 1886, is a truly marvelous experience especially if you've bought from Girl Scouts before.
Famous for being Savannah’s first Registered National Historic Landmark, I like this old mansion as a wonderful example of the city’s romantic past. However, the real reason to visit this remarkable place is so that you can learn about Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts of the USA.
She started a worldwide movement that promoted girls’ strength, individuality, and intellect through new outdoor and educational programs in 1912. The house, the place of Low’s birth, is now owned and managed by the American Girl Scouts and anyone can visit.
The house contains collections of Juliette’s possessions and fine art as well as an excellent library that focuses on the literary tradition of the written word created by women across cultures and throughout time. As a woman travel writer, I had to admire her. I'm sure your kids will be interested too because of the American Girl Scouts connection. (As an aside, I wrote separately about kid-friendly attractions in Savannah as well.)
Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, 10 E. Oglethorpe Avenue, Savannah, Georgia, Phone: 912 233-4501
9. Dive Into Nautical History at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum
At the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum you can view memorabilia related to 18th and 19th century ships that were displayed in the 1819 William Scarbrough House and Gardens.
The main attraction you'll find inside the house is the collection of ship models, artifacts, and ship-related paintings. You can really immerse yourself in history since there are nine galleries that display various kinds of ships, from old colonial sailing vessels to modern navy ships. The museum is open every day except Mondays so it's usually easy to fit it on your itinerary.
41 Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, Savannah, Georgia, Phone: 912-232-1511
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