The 20th anniversary is coming up and I’d like to plan a trip to Savannah. I’d like to stay in something more special than a regular hotel, so would consider a fancier hotel or a bed & breakfast. (as reference we stayed at the Hilton overlooking Canada Niagara falls; which we liked).
Can I get some advice on where to stay? I’d like to be close to activities, but I don’t know where that is…is it downtown?
We would do the trolley hop on off tour, Civil war tour, ghost tours, and find unique and good places to eat (like Paula Deens place downtown)
I’m absolutely open for suggestions. Wifey doesn’t like to walk very far, or do physical activities.
Also anything I should be worried/concerned about…please educate me.
My family stayed there a few years ago. We found rent by owner houses a little south of the river and a little north of Forsyth park. Probably close to Liberty and Broad. We went through vrbo.com, but airbnb.com would probably work too. That place was a short-ish walk to the riverfront district with lots of restaurants and other popular places. Mrs. Wilkes restaurant for lunch was pretty fun (and filling).
I had one of the bet trips of my life there last year. I used Lucky Savannah | Savannah Vacation Rentals to get a full apartment with a large, landscaped courtyard for about $100 a night in the historic district. Holy shit, that place was nice and included everything. I thought it was going to be a scam but it wasn’t. I highly recommend using them. They have lots of properties in very nice areas to choose from for less than a basic hotel room.
Yes, Downtown is where you’d want to be. I don’t think there’s anything for you (aside from a few restaurants) south of Park Avenue. Find a place north of that, to the east of Montgomery St, and to the west of Price St.
Don’t bother with Paula Deen’s The Lady & Sons. The line is long and the food is mediocre. I’d recommend Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room instead. River Street is a bit of a tourist trap, with plenty of tacky gift shops and bars. Off the top of my head (and things change quite a bit, so some of the places I recommend may be out of date)
Restaurants:
Mrs Wilkes Dining Room
Sandfly BBQ at the Streamliner
The Gryphon Tea Room (i love this place)
The Pirates House
Leopold’s Ice Cream
Zunzi’s
if you’re at City Market, Vinnie Van Go-Go’s is good for quick pizza
The Chocolate Bar (dessert)
Slightly further south are these, but as tourists, you wouldn’t want to walk down there.
Foxy Loxy (vegetarian cafe)
Green Truck Neighborhood Pub
The Vault
Cotton & Rye
A trolley tour will give you an idea of what to do. Some of them, like Old Town Trolley, have actors play historical figures and celebrities from Savannah (e.g., Johnny Mercer). It’s very corny. Much of what’s there are old houses and tours of said houses. A lot of walking, unfortunately. Forsyth Park is nice. Bonaventure Cemetery is worth it if you can get out that way. If you like beaches, Tybee Island is worth a day, but parking is horrendous. As a kid, I liked Fort Pulaski (which is on the way to the beach), but it’s really just a fort and may not interest you unless you’re a history/war nut.
There are five of us and Mom rented part of a house from three 18th century. It was really cool. The cobble stones on River St were no joke. You need GOOD shoes for walking.
The ghost tours were fun and a nice way to end a day of walking.
First African Baptist Church which was a stop on the underground railroad.
The riverboat dinner cruise was just plain awful. The dolphin cruise was a hoot. I liked Joe’s Crab Shack on Tybee Island.
We loved Mrs Wilkes!! The food was fresh and delicious and the atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. The neighborhood is historic and picturesque, and you can stay there if you want
I stumbled there by making a wrong turn by mistake. A restaurant with cats, alligators that you can feed and talking parrots is my kind of thing. The food was great too. I highly recommend it. People still think I am insane when my fiancee and I describe it. It is just down an out of the way road.
All good advice, but be aware that Tybee Island, the nearest beach to Savannah, is a 30 minute drive. Savannah is a port town and is located on the Savannah River, about 18 miles inland from the ocean. There is only one road in and out of Tybee and it is 2-lane for a good portion, so a wreck can easily double (or more) the drive time. We always have our own vehicle, but last I knew a taxi from Savannah to Tybee was about $30. Some companies offer a shuttle service, but no idea what they may cost.
The beach weather in November is a bit iffy, the average high is 70 F and the average low is 49 F. On any given day it could be in the mid-80’s, or it could drop to the low 30’s. Last November saw both extremes.
I’ll be there for a short business trip in mid/late September. I doubt I’ll have much opportunity to check out Savannah itself, but I’m following this thread just in case.
Too bad your wife doesn’t like walking. I was there in the early spring and the best way to see the town is to wander from square to square, checking out the statuary and the historic markers.
The western part of downtown seems to have turned into a New Orleans-style party district, with loud music and crowded streets, especially on weekends. The sort of thing I avoid. Be warned.
Over various visits I’ve found the local cuisine to be enjoyable, but not on the level of Charleston or New Orleans or even Beaufort.
Leopold’s Ice Cream (founded 1919) , however, is a don’t miss. Avoid the lemon custard, their signature flavor from the beginning, which is simply awful. Tastes have changed in 100 years. Everything else is fantastic, though.
I visited Savannah with family on a day trip from Hilton Head, SC a few years ago. We were charmed by Pie Society during a quick bite stop for savory British-style pies. It’s probably not a destination but worth checking out for a quick snack.
I apologize. Last spring Little Pianola (28 now) and I drove 20 minutes west of downtown for SC BBQ. It was pretty good, not great, less than 20 bucks apiece for all we could eat plus sweet tea.
The Uke Lady stayed near the waterfront in a chichi restaurant and managed to spend close to $200 on a Lucullan feast for one which she claimed was one of the best meals she’d ever consumed. Pianola was aghast at the expense (she’s a cheap little shit), but I responded by ordering a dozen excellent oysters and a glass of stout by way of dessert.
