Trip Report: Long Weekend Getaway to Savannah

 Oh Savannah, you are a treasure!

What to do for spring break?   We had a few days off and were itching to hit the road.   After a lovely visit to Charleston last October, we decided to return to the low country on a food, culture and history tour of Savannah.

We arrived on Thursday, just in time for lunch at Paula Deen's Creek House, located 10 minutes from downtown Savannah with lovely views of Turner Creek.  After warming up our taste buds with shrimp po' boys and crab cake sandwiches, we were off to explore nearby Bonaventure Cemetery.  

Having just reread Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, we were eager to hunt down Johnny Mercer's grave, as well as a few other famous resting spots.   The cemetery is lovely and tranquil, with a canopy of moss-draped live oaks and bursting with azaleas and other blooming plants.  We parked along one of the unpaved roads that traverse the grounds and set out on foot for a self-guided tour, however guided tours are available.  After wandering around and enjoying peaceful views of the Wilmington River, we headed to town to check in to our hotel.

We reserved a suite at the Hampton Inn & Suites Savannah Historic District, very conveniently located on Oglethorpe Avenue, and walking distance to all the downtown attractions.   After dropping off our things, we set out for River Street, where we enjoyed a nice cocktail, listened to a local performer, and watched a freighter coming into port.  The town was bustling with activity, as tourists and locals alike seemed excited to be out and about.   (Current COVID situation: The City of Savannah does have a mandatory mask mandate, and most local businesses enforced mask wearing indoors, and maintained capacity limits and social distancing.  Being fully vaccinated, we feel safer traveling, however we happily complied will all regulations.)

For dinner, we checked out Molly MacPherson's Scottish Pub, and were treated to a sampling of Scotch eggs, traditional meat pies, and Guinness onion rings.  They offer a menu of traditional Scottish pub fare and a large selection of craft brews.  The atmosphere is authentic and charming, and seemed a favorite of locals and visitors.

The next day we surprised our boys with a Segway movie history tour with Adventure Tours in Motion.  The tour stared at 11am, so beforehand, we had time to stroll to Forsyth Park, Savannah's largest and most well-known.  The famous fountain crowning the park is a popular spot for photos, and we watched as a bride and groom got some wedding day shots.  There are plenty of benches nestled under the ancient live oaks to sit and relax and watch people and their dogs stroll by.

When we arrived for our Segway Tour, we signed waivers and got to pick from a selection of crazy helmets (normal helmets were also available).   We were all first-time Segway riders, but after a quick orientation and a little practice, we were ready to roll.   Our guide was very informative of the movie and television history of Savannah, as well as the dish on celebrities that frequent the area.  We saw the famed Mercer-Williams House, as well as the spot where Forrest Gump sat on the bench in Chippewa Square.  We thoroughly enjoyed riding through the streets and squares as onlookers snickered at our silly helmets.  I highly recommend giving the Segway a try if you have never ridden one!

After the tour, we were famished and craving some Asian food, so we headed toward the City Market and grabbed lunch at YATAI Ramen and Yakitori.  We spent the rest of the afternoon checking out the shops and galleries in the City Market.

That evening I surprised the hubby with a Walktails and Bar Bites Happy Hour Tour with Savannah Taste Experience.  We met up at the American Prohibition Museum, and our guide, who was actually one of the founders of the company, lead us and three other couples to four local speakeasies where we were served a signature cocktail (including the famous Chatham Artillery Punch) and an appetizer.  Along the way were were treated to more local history and sights.  I highly recommend a guided tour, as the local tour guides are very regulated and provide so much information and insight into the city.   There is a tour for every taste, interest and activity level from ghost tours, to bike tours, to culinary tours.

After our tour wrapped up, we met the boys and headed to River Street for dinner at Huey's on the River, which features traditional New Orleans cuisine.  I couldn't pass up the Crawfish Etoufee, and my husband enjoyed his favorite, a classic Muffuletta.

On our final day, we made the 20 minute drive out to Tybee Island.  We arrived around 10:30am, just beating the crowds, and were able to find public parking at North Beach.  After soaking in the sun and surf for a few hours, we packed up and headed for a tour of the Tybee Island Light Station and Museum.  The lighthouse is the oldest and tallest in Georgia, and the incredible views are well worth the 178-step climb to the top.

After our stairclimbing workout, we headed to Huc-a-Poo's Bites and Booze, a local beach dive featuring stone-baked pizzas made from scratch with fresh ingredients.  The atmosphere is lively and extremely casual, and the pizza was delicious.  Definitely add this to your list when visiting Tybee Island!  For a late afternoon snack, we grabbed some scoops at the world famous Leopold's Ice Cream, another must-do when visiting Savannah.

On our last night, we sent the boys off on their own for supper, and treated ourselves to a date night at Corleone's Trattoria.   We arrived without a reservation, but were seated immediately at the bar, and enjoyed a bottle of wine with chicken piccata and prosciutto-wrapped salmon, the perfect way to end a wonderful weekend.

While we were able to see much of the city during our 3 day visit, there is still more I'd like to explore.  We will definitely be back soon!  Until next time, cheers, Savannah!