7 Reasons to Travel to Savannah, Georgia This Year

My husband recently had a business trip that took him to Savannah, so even though I didn’t go because of my health (read more about it here), I forced him to gather information for this post.

Even though Savannah is a Southern tourist hot spot, it unfortunately doesn’t seem to get as much attention as New Orleans. The cities have similarities, but where New Orleans can sometimes be known for its debauchery, Savannah residents still overflow with class.

Savannah Georgia

When you picture the antebellum South, Savannah is exactly what should pop into your head.  This city is one of the oldest in America, and it’s unique because it’s one of the few Southern cities that escaped General Sherman’s infamous scorched earth campaign during the Civil War. (Evidently, when Union troops got there, locals immediately gave them full access to the city in exchange for not torching it. Locals say the city was so pretty that General Sherman couldn’t resist the offer. Afterwards, Sherman promptly presented the city as a gift to President Lincoln.)

Aerial view of Savannah Georgia at night

So what is the charm of the Savannah all about? And why is it worth visiting?

The allure is not just that it gives you the ability to step back in time a couple hundred years, that you can see massive oak trees clustered with Spanish moss swaying peacefully in the breeze, or even that you can walk down the riverfront on cobblestone lined streets.  While these things are all amazing, there is so much more that is appealing about Savannah.

Some highlights are included below.

Book your tour: Historic Downtown Savannah: Guided Segway Tour

Where to stay in Savannah Georgia

We recommend staying at the Andaz Savannah Hotel.  This is where my husband stayed and he really liked it.  His favorite parts about the hotel were the fitness center, terrace pool, and the perfect location right by the Savannah River.

You can check prices or book here.  

Excessive Southern Hospitality and Class

The best way to try typify the Southern mentality is to explain one experience my husband had while there. He pulled into a parking garage and asked for and received directions to his hotel from a friendly attendant.  When he mistakenly started walking the wrong direction, the attendant sprinted out of the booth to chase him down to make sure he didn’t get lost.  How is that for charming?

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) 

Even though Savannah sits in the deep South, it isn’t as conservative as you would imagine;  the students of the SCAD, or SCADs add a strong liberal element in the city, and make sure that the city is inundated with quality art.  My husband says the art students are NOT hard to miss.

Savannah College of Art and Design

Ghost Tours 

Savannah has been called the most haunted city in America.  Savannah offers tours covering some unfortunate historical events mixed with haunted mansion and cemetery tours; the result is said to make people’s hair stand on end! (Husband is a wimp and opted not to go)

Book your tour: Savannah: Haunted History and Ghosts Walking Tour

Forsyth Park

Forsyth park in Savannah Georgia

This large park in the historic district of the city features the oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, and is the ideal location for a romantic afternoon stroll (my words not his).  A confederate war memorial sits in the middle.  The historic district is a great location to explore local eats, take a nearby riverboat cruise, or even take a horse and carriage ride around the cobblestone streets.

Book your tour: Savannah: 3-Hour First Squares Food Tour (Currently one of the most popular tours in the US!)

See Forrest Gump’s bench 

Actually Forrest’s bench has been removed, but Chippewa Square where those scenes were filmed can still be seen and recognized.

Savannah Georgia

Hilton Head 

Many people pair a trip to Savannah with one to Hilton Head, South Carolina.  Hilton Head is only 45 minutes away and offers great beaches, golf, and the most aggressive bunch of great white sharks in the world (the last part is actually kind of terrifying)

Book your tour: Hilton Head Island: Scenic Helicopter Tour

Accents and Speaking Speed 

I’m sure most of you have heard the purring drawl of a Southern belle or gentlemen, but for those of you who haven’t, it’s intoxicating!  Some people think Southerners are stupid because they speak slow; I believe it is a mistake to confuse being very deliberate and particular with stupid.

Have you been to Savannah?  If so, what were some of your favorite things about the city?

Oh, and some of you have asked why I periodically purchase stock photos instead of always uploading my own.  The best answer is right here.  I asked my husband to take quality pictures of Savannah, and look what he gave me!

This post contains affiliate links and we will make a small commission if you guys book through our link.  I want to thank you all for the support!  It means the world to us.  

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Hey there! I'm Claire, the founder of avenlylane.com & avenlylanetravel.com. While spending 4 years completely bedridden and miserable from an unexpected illness I decided to begin writing about my past travel adventures and now the rest is history. Thank you so much for visiting the website. I hope you enjoy it!

18 COMMENTS

  1. Savannah is one of the top places on my travel list. I work in historic preservation so it’s RIGHT up my alley. A couple years ago I finally got to Charleston and loved it so I’m sure I will love Savannah too!

    • Sounds perfect for you then Holly. My husband has been to Charleston multiple times but it is still on my bucket list. Hopefully this year I will get to go.

  2. I’ve been to Savannah 4 times, my husband and I eloped to Savannah & spent our honeymoon there. I’m trying to get him to relocate to Savannah. Maybe some day. We got married at The Gastonian near Forsyth Park. I can’t wait to go back

  3. We spent a day in Savannah during our trip to Hilton Head and had a fantastic time! We’re from TN so the southern thing is normal for us, but the beautiful homes and buildings had us all falling in love. Even got a tip from a local and got to eat some of the BEST food without waiting in a 2 hour line by going around back and getting it to-go from some of the cooks! Such a cool experience and I would love to go back some time.

    • Whoa, that is awesome you got to skip the line! I know a place must be awesome if my husband liked it, haha. He is not easily impressed. It is also so nice that Hilton Head is right there as well, very easy to hit both places on one trip! Thanks Jordan.

  4. Great little post. I’d like to see more of the south one day. I just finished a trip around the world and I’d like to explore more of my own country next. Love the main photo. I can’t wait to see those long avenues of trees. The comment about your husband’s photos cracked me up! :D

    • Hey Sheri! Thank you so much! That is so awesome you just got done a trip around the world. We have one coming up this summer and we are so excited. I’ll have to read about your trip on your blog. Oh, and yeah…my husband takes AWFUL photos! Haha!

    • Yeah, I knew when my husband talked about how much he liked it that it had to be pretty amazing! He is not easily impressed when it comes to traveling. Also, I am so sorry Gabby it took me so long to respond. I didn’t even see your comment until today!

  5. I was in Savannah only a month ago and my favorite was Wormsloe Historic Site. The alley sheltered under the oaks and Spanish moss looks like it’s straight out of a fairy-tale!

    • Oh yes, there is just so much to Savannah it is crazy. It’s weird to think with all the traveling we do I had never even really heard of Savannah until my husband told me how amazing it was and that we should go! Haha.

  6. Can’t agree more! But I definitely have more than 7 reasons to go back to Savannah! Of course Downtown would be one of them! Can’t wait to drink in the sweet spots there again! Thanks to https://www.visitsavannah.com// I got to know about the place back in 2017 and gave it a shot and visited the place and then there was no turning back! Now I go there every year!

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