Savannah GA Must See Spots & Experiences

Savannah is a beautiful small-feel southern town full of exceptional food, history and sights. It is possibly my favorite American city to visit and one that I have visited many times. I always feel overwhelmed by how beautiful the town is with its many garden squares and river views. And the fact that its historic downtown area is open-container, meaning you can order an alcoholic beverage "to-go" from the many bars and restaurants and stroll around town, makes exploring Savannah all the more unique and enjoyable. You can't go wrong wandering around, exploring this scenic town and finding a restaurant, bar or source of live entertainment along the way that speaks to you.

 

You haven't even visited Savannah if you haven't walked along beautiful River Street and the Savannah River. Shops, restaurants, bars, history and a great view of the Talmadge Memorial Bridge connecting South Carolina to Savannah make River Street a pleasure to visit.

 

 

The beautiful 22 squares, all located within one square mile area within downtown Savannah, are gorgeous. Most squares are 1 block x 1 block in size and are comprised of trees, gardens and Savannah's famous Spanish Moss. You will encounter the squares in your travels around the downtown area, like small presents as you are walking wherever you're headed.

Forsyth is by far the largest and likely most popular square, but the smaller squares have even more charm in my mind. Grab a drink and do you own walking tour of some of the squares at day or night.

 

This French-originated confection is delicious. While not specific to Savannah, this is the first place I ever experienced pralines and clearly this sweet treat is a staple in the town and I understand why. Free samples are common at the candy shops around town, such as River Street Sweets.

 

I love this place. This 29,000-acre refuge primarily consists of a 4-mile wildlife drive, accompanied by static-y radio broadcast of information about the refuge along the way. You will often see a variety of wildlife including alligators, birds and more. The refuge is located a short drive outside of town, but is a great way to spend some day time hours in the Savannah area. Note that you can stop and walk around at certain spots, but, as a whole, the refuge is mostly intended for viewing via car.

 

This British style bar and grill is welcoming and cozy for food and a drink and one of the first places I ever ate in Savannah. *Photo courtesy of Six Pence Pub website

 

This old-school restaurant is full of tales and history. A fun, themed spot to dine while in town.

 

This no-frills spot, located on River Street right across from the Savannah River, is perfect for catching live music and a drink (in-house or on-the-go).

 

A stylish, rooftop bar overlooking the Savannah River and bridge. This requires no further explanation. *Photo courtesy of the Bohemian Hotel Facebook page

I'm always looking for the local flavors in food and beverage, so a visit to Moon River is a no-brainer. It's convenient location in the center of historic downtown makes it super easy to visit while in Savannah, including for grabbing a beer "to go". The brewery is named after the popular Audrey Hepburn song, "Moon River", the lyrics of which were written by Savannah resident and writer Johnny Mercer.

 

The delicious and unique breakfast sandwiches are, by all means, a caloric over-indulgence...but will hit the spot on a morning you're craving something indulgent.

 

This free ferry is a fun, low-stakes opportunity to cross the Savannah River and get views of the Bridge. It only takes 5 or 10 minutes each way. There's nothing much to see on the other side in South Carolina, unfortunately, unless you are attending an event at the convention center.

 

Tybee Island / Crab Shack

 

Let's end this with a sweet one. This retro spot on Broughton Street for ice cream always feels like a staple to me -- and it is for many people! The business dates back to 1919, though the Broughton Street flagship store opened in 2004.