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Savannah & Tybee Island

Savannah, GA knows all about Southern hospitality and is a balm for the senses. The city inspires visitors with its emerald tree canopy, quaint cobblestone streets and majestic architecture. Known as the “Hostess City of the South,” this historical riverfront hotspot is Georgia’s first city. Practically bursting with history, Savannah shows off its origins with monuments, historic mansions and forts, and the city’s historic district offers 24 squares of entertainment and gorgeous architecture.

River Street is a glittering, multi-faceted gem along the broad Savannah River. The century-old buildings, once cotton warehouses, have been converted to antique shops, distinctive boutiques, spectacular galleries, quaint brewpubs, fabulous restaurants, unique nightspots, elegant inns, and hotels.

Take a 20-minute drive to Tybee Island, Savannah’s beach, perfect for sunbathing, walking, biking, sailing, fishing, or frolicking like the Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins in the rolling waves.

 

Top Tips

"Don’t miss visiting Savannah's Plant Riverside District. This complex sits on the Savannah River and encompasses five hotels, over a dozen restaurants, two rooftop bars, outdoor dining pavilions, an amphitheater, and free live entertainment nearly every night."

Dining in Savannah

One of the country’s best food cities, Savannah has a seemingly endless array of options for travellers seeking delicious experiences. From indulgent, leisurely brunch and coffee, to lunch prepared with local ingredients, and dinner featuring the fresh catch, you’ll think your last meal was the best one ever, only to have it surpassed by the next.

Here are a few places we recommend visiting:

  • The Grey – set in a former Greyhound bus station with a menu that brings together regional ingredients with traditional dishes, such as fish purloo, foie and grits, and smoked collards
  • The Olde Pink House – an 18th-century mansion that has long welcomed guests for Southern fare with outdoor dining and live entertainment every night.
  • Leopold’s Ice Cream – indulge your sweet tooth at the retro ice cream parlour, serving over 20 different flavours of ice-cream

The perfect 3-day itinerary around Savannah

DAY 1
TOUR THE TOWN: Get to know Savannah by experiencing a city tour, either on a
period-style trolley or with a highly trained step-on guide. The tours last about two
hours and will help you get better acquainted with our beautiful city.
MAKE AND TAKE: You will enjoy Savannah so much you’ll want to take a piece of
your experience home with you! Whether it’s making body scrubs and bath salts,
or fashioning your own Savannah-themed pillow, plank or frame, there are lots of
opportunities to create a lasting memory.
TRAINS, BOATS AND BATTLEFIELDS: The Coastal Heritage Society’s five historic
sites offer a variety of activities for every age group and interest. At the Savannah
History Museum, it’s musket firing demonstrations and battlefield marches. You can
take a hand-car ride at the Georgia State Railroad Museum or watch a cannon firing
at Old Fort Jackson. At the Pin Point Heritage Museum, you can learn some of the
traditions of the Gullah Geechee, the local descendants of Africans who were enslaved
on the rice, indigo and Sea Island cotton plantations of the lower Atlantic coast.
SINGING THE GOSPEL: On Monday evenings the Savannah River Queen and
Georgia Queen are filled with the uplifting sounds of Southern choir music during
the two-hour Gospel Dinner Cruise. Experience local Savannah Gospel entertainers
and enjoy the savory flavors of the South. It’s a cultural and culinary experience you
don’t want to miss!

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DAY 2
MILITARY MIGHT: Start the day touring one of the world’s most powerful museum experiences. The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force aims to preserve the stories of courage, character and patriotism displayed by the men and women of the Eighth Air Force from World War II to the present. At the museum, you’ll hear unforgettable stories of bravery, experience a bomber mission and briefing, and see the ongoing restoration of the World War II B-17 Flying Fortress. Stay and have lunch in the English-style pub for the full wartime experience.
MANSIONS AND MUSEUMS: Savannah’s story is shared in the many museum homes and cultural centers throughout the area. Visit the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts, and the Owens-Thomas House & Slave
Quarters Museum, featuring one of the few remaining urban slave quarters in the country. You don’t want to miss the Green-Meldrim House, headquarters of General Sherman during Savannah’s occupation at the end of his March to the Sea. And the Isaiah Davenport House Museum offers afternoon teas, dance demonstrations and wine and cheese receptions among other special options.
ICE CREAM BREAK: Named “One of the Top 10 Ice Cream Parlors in the World,” Leopold’s is a must do! From handcrafted, old-fashioned soda fountain favorites to Hollywood movie memorabilia, there’s something for everyone at Leopold’s Ice Cream!
SAVANNAH SPIRITS: Did you know Savannah is America’s most haunted city? So, if you’re hoping to have a vacation filled with fun and frights, then this is your spot. Whether on a walking tour, a carriage tour, a haunted pub crawl, a trolley tour or even a hearse tour, you’re sure to catch the spirit of Savannah!

Continued...

DAY 3
AFRICAN ARTS & ARTIFACTS: With over 1,000 artifacts representing 130 individual cultures, the Savannah African Art Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into African history and its impact on the city’s past.
COOKING WITH CLASS: A trip to Savannah is not complete without southern cooking, and Chef Darin of Chef Darin’s Kitchen Table won’t disappoint. Every recipe has a story to tell and something to teach when you learn to “Cook Between
the Lines!” At the 700 Kitchen Cooking School, you’ll explore the world through ingredients, guided by Executive Chef Jason Winn. You’ll perfect your knife skills, learn to grill, cook the perfect pasta, conquer seafood, and plate beautiful desserts.
LAST CALL FOR ALCOHOL: At the American Prohibition Museum, you will take a journey through the institution and repeal of the 18th Amendment, complete with over 200 original artifacts. You will be immersed in the history as you take photos with Al Capone, dance the Charleston (a favorite among the flappers), and feel the weight of a Tommy gun. You can even grab a period-authentic cocktail of your choice in the museum’s speakeasy – if you know the password!

Tybee Island

On Georgia’s northern coast, serving as Savannah’s beach (around 20 minutes from the city centre), Tybee has been a popular holiday destination since the late 1800s. There are lots of activities to keep you entertained:

FORT PULASKI: Kick off your visit to Tybee with a bang, or cannon fire, at Fort Pulaski, a beautifully preserved Civil War fortress. Rub shoulders with soldiers from long ago while admiring the beauty of the fort and surrounding marsh in peace time. Stroll down the fort’s short nature trails and catch a glimpse of the Cockspur Lighthouse, the long abandoned structure that stands alone in the channel.
LUNCH AT THE SHORE: Tybee’s seafood is locally caught and served fresh to order. Sit down for a relaxing island lunch at one of Tybee’s seaside eateries. Eat shrimp by the pound and watch the waves break along the shore. After lunch, take a stroll down the Tybee Island Pier for an unobstructed view of the shoreline and Atlantic Ocean.
HOP ON A DOLPHIN TOUR: Dolphins are abundant in the waters surrounding Tybee. Get a closer look by taking a dolphin tour through the channels of the Savannah River. Catch a glimpse as their sleek bodies jump into the air and race alongside your boat. These friendly and curious creatures are the unofficial welcoming party for visitors to the island.
SUNSET DINNER: Wrap up your first day on the island by enjoying dinner overlooking the expansive salt marsh and Back River at sunset. Choose from an array of delicious dishes to delight even the pickiest of eaters. Come casually: Tybee’s unpretentious atmosphere means that flip flops and windswept hair are not just welcomed, they are encouraged.

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EXPLORE LITTLE TYBEE ISLAND: Get a taste of Little Tybee’s uninhabited beaches for a change of pace. Little Tybee Island, a beautiful uninhabited island just south of Tybee, is accessible only by boat. Secure a charter or kayak and weave through the tidal creeks on your way to the beach. Spot bald eagles, dolphins and indigenous birds from the boat while being cooled by the soft, salty breeze. While on the beach, collect huge seashells as mementos to remind you of Tybee.
TOUR THE HISTORIC TYBEE ISLAND LIGHT STATION AND MUSEUM: Dating back to 1736, Tybee’s historic lighthouse is one of only seven Colonial-era light stations remaining in America. Climb the 178 steps to reach the top of the lighthouse for stunning views of the island and the Atlantic. While at the top, wave in container ships from across the globe as they enter the Savannah River on their way to one of the nation’s busiest ports.
ISLAND DINNER: After a full day of exploration, you will be looking for something to delight your appetite. Whether you’re in the mood for a casual setting, or something more formal, Tybee boasts a number of options to please your taste buds. Select from seafood and hushpuppies, Low Country boil, steak, chicken, or almost anything in between.

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