Looking for your next girl’s trip? Add Savannah to the top of your list. My sister and I planned a surprise weekend for our mom to celebrate her retirement. The weather, gorgeous historic squares throughout downtown, and the open container law make it such a fun/pretty place to visit. We flew in on a Friday night and left on a Tuesday morning. Here are some of the best ways (IMO) to fill your three-day weekend trip in Georgia!
Book a food walking tour.
I’m not a big fan of bus tours or museums, which are oddly some of the first things many people recommend when visiting a new place. But … if you add food into the mix, consider myself sold. Ever since the food walking tour I booked in Athens for my honeymoon, I’m convinced it’s one of the best ways to orient yourself in a new city. It’s why I booked the First Squares Food Walking Tour through GetYourGuide for our first full day. We had delicious food and walked off all the calories, too. Plus, there’s always the perfect amount of information for the history buffs out there (but not too much, which is why I like it). Did you know Savannah was America’s first planned city?
I also like using food tours as an opportunity to chat with other guests (and the tour guide!) about what they have planned during their trip. If you want to skip the tour, here are my recommendations for places to try if you’re near City Market in the heart of downtown Savannah:
- Grab a mojito at Mint to Be Mojitos! Trust me, they’re delicious and so refreshing. The chicken empanada also hit the spot. I’ve only had empanadas a few times, but these were definitely the best so far, which has to count for something.
- Order chicken pot pie from Little Crown by Pie Society. This British bakery is one I wish we could’ve gone back to. We sampled a sausage roll and it was so buttery/flaky/everything you could ever want from a pastry. I can’t even imagine how tasty the pot pies are.
- Taste honey samples at Savannah Bee Company. I don’t know about you, but we go through a ton of honey in our house. I was super excited to try Tupelo honey (where are all my Tim McGraw ‘Southern Girl’ fans?) and quickly bummed to find out they were sold out of Tupelo honey until the following year because it’s rare + a tedious/long process to make it. However, after tasting the whipped honey, I wasn’t even sad. It had such a unique consistency and the cinnamon flavor was to die for. We all brought some back! Place it on a green apple slice with cheese. You’re welcome.
Rent bikes and explore.
Savannah is very walkable, but our Airbnb was a 35-minute walk from River Street so after spending all day on our feet, we were exhausted by the end of the second day. We rented bikes on a Sunday afternoon (hint: discounted rates) from Savannah on Wheels near Forsyth Park. The staff were super friendly and offered route recommendations. One of the routes we didn’t chose meandered through the cities 22 squares, which I’d like to try if we ever make it back. However, if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, I’d suggest biking to Bonaventure Cemetery like we did. It’s about a 10-mile ride (one way) from the bike rental shop, but it was relatively flat and easy. If you don’t have a good sense of direction, you might want to skip this because we definitely had to navigate relatively busy roads and some sketchier neighborhoods (but only for short periods of time). Once you get to the cemetery, the views are worth it. It’s such a beautiful place. Be sure to stop by the welcome center so they can give you some navigation tips. We bicycled straight through the cemetery and all of the way back to the river section, which is a good choice if you’re visiting quickly.
Splurge on a fancy dinner at The Olde Pink House.
We did this on a whim because we didn’t make reservations weeks in advance, which we found out quickly is a necessity. However, when we were walking by on our first night in town, we asked a hostess if we could get a table at any time over the course of our trip. He suggested stopping by one evening right as the restaurant was opening. The side bar is first come, first serve and after a two-hour wait, we were able to enjoy the food everyone raves over. If we ever go back, we 100% will make a reservation to eat in the basement. The atmosphere is so dreamy — candles offer the only light alongside a live pianist. For me, it was an excuse to play dress up, pretend I was a southern belle, and try something new. I ordered the Crispy Scored Flounder, which was the first time in my life I ate a whole fish (yes, skin and all)! Getting past the texture was the hardest part, but the apricot shallot sauce was incredible. Our server tried convincing me to eat the tail, but I just couldn’t do it. The service was top notch and they even helped us celebrate mom’s retirement with a sweet treat on the house. We were outside so the pictures are dark, but you get the idea:
Bonus: The pink walls are an excuse for a photoshoot while you wait.
Head to River Street to shop/eat.
River Street is the heart of Savannah. It’s cool to experience, but very crowded. While it’s nice to see, we honestly didn’t spend a ton of time there and I’m not sad about it. We did stop by River Street Sweets to snatch some pralines (worth it for the sample alone), and we snagged some tacos at Savannah Tequila Co. I wouldn’t make special plans to eat here, but it was late + we were starving so it worked. We had the tacos on special topped with fries and pickled onions (would recommend).
Grab brunch and take a stroll in Forsyth Park.
It’s hard to find a blog about Savannah that doesn’t suggest Collins Quarter for brunch, so of course, I added it to our list. There are two locations, but I would suggest visiting the one if Forsyth Park. We went on a Sunday morning right as they opened and didn’t have to wait. The avocado toast was scrumptious. All in all, it’s great food in a great location.
Our Airbnb was near the park and we spent many days walking through it. On Saturdays, there’s a cute farmer’s market. And the iconic fountain and mossy trees make it a must for pictures, too.
Take a day trip to Tybee Island.
One of my favorite things about Savannah is it’s close proximity to the beach. It’s the ideal way to break up a long weekend of walking and exploring. I suggest booking your beach day right in the middle of your trip. We grabbed an Uber to the island (it’s only about a 25-minute trip) and got dropped off near the pier. It’s a good spot with access to public restrooms and food (if needed). Plus, we were able to rent beach chairs for $5/day … talk about cheap! We packed a cooler with snacks and booze that we could dispose of at the end of the day. It was a great decision and easy to operationalize if you don’t have a car. We just stopped at a grocery store near our Airbnb the day before when we had bikes and peddled our snacks back with us. The island has so much to offer, including a great low tide that exposes many ocean treasures.
We also snagged dinner at The Crab Shack on the bay. If you want a shrimp boil and crab legs, go. I was pleasantly surprised by how cute it was, but would HIGHLY suggest avoiding it around early evening. The sand gnats come out and we got eaten alive.
If we have a chance to go back, I want to rent kayaks and paddle to Little Tybee Island, which is off the map + full of wildlife.
Head to Churchill’s rooftop bar for The Garden of Evil cocktail.
Yes, this cocktail gets it’s very own section — it’s THAT good. We stumbled upon this pub on our very first day in Savannah. Honestly, it’s the best mixed drink I’ve had in my 29 years on this Earth. We went back a second time for it because we loved it so much. It’s SPICCCYYY, so if that’s not your thing, I honestly feel sorry for you because this margarita-style drink was a game-changer. Churchill’s is close to The Olde Pink House, so if you have a long wait like we did, head on over to pass the time. Pro tip: Use your straw so your lips don’t burn from the jalapenos (I learned the hard way the first time around and was rubbing ice cubes on my lips to cool them off because it has that much of a kick).
Other spots worth visiting:
- Leopold’s for ice cream (duh)
- The Coffee Fox for chais
- Le Cafe Gourmet for crepes (Add the pickled onions to any savory crepe – they are out of this world!)
I’m so thankful the three of us get to make these memories together as adults. I can’t wait for our next adventure. Until then … enjoy some selfies from our trip. And as always, thanks for keeping up!
Keeping Up With Kate 