I love cities full of history because where there is history there are stories. Savannah is one of those cities with a lot of history and plenty of interesting stories. It is the oldest city in the state of Georgia and one of our favorite cities in the USA.
Built in 1733, Savannah is Georgia’s oldest city. This port city has a great vibe, southern charm, historical squares and haunted houses.
Getting Around Savannah Georgia
Savannah is walkable if you’re staying within the Historic District and River Street. We d didn’t have a problem finding parking in one of the many parking garages. Once we parked downtown we walked just about everywhere else we visited in Savannah.
Besides walking or renting a car you can take a trolley or shuttle in Savannah. For more information on fare free transportation in Savannah visit DOT.
6 Must See Sights
- River Street
- City Market
- Savannah Squares
- Forsyth Park
- Bonaventure Cemetery
- Wormsloe Plantation Historic Site
Activities in Savannah, Georgia
- Historical Tour
- Ghost Tour
- Museums & Historical Houses
Savannah’s River Street
Probably the most famous street in Savannah River Street is where Savannah started. The river is why Savannah became the largest eastern seaport.
Today you can still walk on the cobblestone streets or take a riverboat cruise. The old cotton warehouses are now boutique shops, art galleries and restaurants.
City Market
Less than a half mile walk from River Street is Savannah’s City Market. This open-air market was originally built in the 1700’s. This several block section of the city is home to restaurants, shops, and bars.
Staying true to its roots as a gathering place, City Market is a popular place to listen to live music and for people to hang out.
Originally City Market extended to Barnard Street. Unfortunately, one of the main buildings in City Market was destroyed for a parking garage. Since then the parking garage was relocated below ground and Ellis Square is now adjacent to City Market.
For more information visit City Market
Savannah Squares
Savannah’s founder, James Oglethorpe, designed the city in a grid like pattern around city squares. The original 4 squares expanded to 24 squares in the 1800’s. Today there are 22 squares remaining in one-mile radius in Savannah. The remaining squares area as follows:
- Johnson
- Wright
- Ellis (adjacent to City Market)
- Telfair
- Reynolds
- Oglethorpe
- Washington
- Franklin (adjacent to City Market)
- Warren
- Columbia
- Greene
- Chippewa
- Orleans
- LaFayette
- Pulaski
- Madison
- Crawford
- Chatham
- Monterey
- Troop
- Calhoun
- Whitefield
Johnson Square
A half-mile walk from the Savannah River, Johnson Square is the largest and oldest square in Savannah.
Forsyth Park
One of the most photographed spots in Savannah, Forsyth park is anchored with a large beautiful fountain. The park was donated to the city in the mid 1800’s. This beautiful park covers 30 acres and often hosts farmers markets. It is also home to Savannah’s oldest tree- the Candler Oak.
Wormsloe State Historic Park
Nature lovers will fall in love with Wormsloe State Historic Park. More than 400 live oak trees line the park entrance. Architectural Digest listed it as one of the most beautiful streets in the world .
The trees were planted in the late 1800’s . Noble Jones was one of the first settlers in Georgia. He built a plantation on the land that is now a historic park. At one time he had more than 1500 slaves.
Today there is a small museum and nature trails. What’s the difference between live oaks and oak trees? Live oaks are considered evergreen. Live oaks drop their leaves right before new leaves emerge.
Sorrell-Weed House
Built in the 1830’s, this Greek-Revival style house is one of Savannah’s most famous historic homes. The home was built on the grounds of the Siege of Savannah in the late 1700’s. Due to the bloody battles of the Revolutionary War and the untimely deaths of the residents of the Sorrell-Weed House it is considered to be the most haunted house in Savannah. I love historical houses – haunted or not.
We have taken both the historical tour during the day and the ghost hunters tour in the evening.
6 W Harris St, Savannah, GA 31401 | Across from Madison Square
For tours visit: Sorrell – Weed House
Owens Thomas House & Slave Quarters
A beautiful stucco home built in English Regency style, the Owens Thomas House was built in 1812. The home is architecturally stunning. The tour includes the main house, slave quarters, walled-gardens and carriage house.
The one-hour tour incorporates the history of the home and the history of the slaves that kept homes like this running.
124 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31401 | Across from Oglethorpe Square
For tours visit: Owens Thomas House & Slave Quarters
Mercer Williams House
Across the street from Monterey Square, sits the Mercer Williams House. It was built between 1860-1863. Made by famous by the book, Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, which documents the murder the owner of the home in 1981 committed.
429 Bull St, Savannah, GA 31401 | Across from Monterey Square
For tours visit: Mercer Williams House Tours
Dead of Night Ghost Tour
If you’re in Savannah there are lots of ghost tours to choose from. We wanted an adults only tour, so we chose Ghost City Tour of Savannah . Our tour guide was an interesting guy and we really enjoyed learning more about the history of Savannah and it’s haunted past.
Bonaventure Cemetery
Normally, I wouldn’t recommend visiting a cemetery but Bonaventure is the most beautiful cemetery I have ever walked around.
Overlooking the Wilmington River, the 160-acre cemetery grounds are hauntingly beautiful. Everywhere you look are live oak trees dripping with moss over tombstones and statues that have been around for over a hundred years.
If you are a fan of the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil you may want to visit. However, if you’re looking for the famous Bird Girl statue you won’t find it in the cemetery. The famous statue is now at the Telfair Museum in Savannah.
Surprisingly there is an app you can download to tour the cemetery. For more information visit the Bonaventure Cemetery Historical Society You can also take a guided tour of the Bonaventure Cemetery.
The cemetery is 3-miles from downtown Savannah. There are several tour companies that offer tours of the cemetery.
Fun Island Day Trips
- Tybee Island
- St. Simon Island
- Jekyl Island
- Hilton Head Island