About Savannah Georgia
One of the oldest cities in America, Savannah, Georgia is rich in history, culture, and of course – ghosts! Founded in 1733 by James Olgethorpe as a haven for the poor and criminal (mainly debtors), Savannah has now become the most haunted city in America.
A progressive in the time of the New World, Savannah and Georgia as a whole was set to become a new type of colony. A colony accepting of all, against slavery, and banning of alcohol before the prohibition days.
In 1743, Olgethorpe left for England and never returned, leaving Georgia to become much like the other colonies in respect to drinking and slavery.
Now, the city cherishes their history and reminds others through monuments and a long line of parks for all of their prominent figures.
Savannah is one of the most beautiful cities in the country, with people coming all through the year to enjoy the warm and tropical climate, live oak lined streets, ghosts, and bars.
The city is on the small side for America – only 145 thousand residents – but the beauty and history attract millions to their streets per year. There is so much to see and so much to learn, it’s hard to pick out just what to do. Read my top six things to do in Savannah, below.
1 – Visit Jones Street
Remember when I said the city has blossomed into a beautiful, oak lined, city? Well, Jones Street is considered to be the most beautiful street in the USA. As part of the historic district, Jones Street in Savannah is in walking distance of all of the old buildings, the river, and of course the bars.
A quick stop by Jones Street to feel like a true southern belle in Savannah is just what you need to start off your Georgia trip.
This street is residential so be courteous and respectful of the people just trying to live their lives. If you really want to get into the Savannah spirit and feel like a southern princess/prince, you can stay in a historic home right on Jones Street in Savannah, Georgia.
2 – Do a Savannah Ghost Tour
Staying near Jones Street, there is nothing more Savannah than doing a ghost tour. We opted for Blue Orb Ghost Tours and absolutely loved the guide, Adam! He was super knowledgable about Savannah, was very patient with us, and we even got a picture of a ghost!
Walking around the historic district at night you will see hundreds of groups of ghost tours circling around the squares and Colonial Park Cemetery, sharing the stories of yellow fever, desecrated slave graves, and unfortunate events.
The city has so many ghost tours to choose from, adult only, family friendly, ghostly bar crawls, and even a tour in a hearse!
3 – To Go Drinks Downtown
A far cry from Olgethorpes founding laws, the entire city is open container, meaning, you can carry any alcoholic beverage under 16 ounces. The best places to take advantage of this unique policy is downtown and the River District. With so many different bars and clubs clustered into a small area, it’s hard to hit them all without getting a few drinks to go.
Plus, Drunk History has it right, everything gets a little more fun with a few cocktails!
4 – Visit a Savannah Speakeasy
Savannah embodies the spirit of the prohibition era. The city is filled with modern and prohibition style speakeasies serving up fancy cocktails in small and shadowy rooms.
Some speakeasies are easier to get into than others so make sure you do your research before heading in. Congress Street Up was our favorite, just walk to the door with your ID and they will let you up the stars to the bar. While speakeasies like Mati Hari can be tricky to find the password or key to get in.
5 – Explore Wormsloe Sate Historic Site
Ever wonder where all of those beautiful pictures on Instagram are taken in the Savannah tag? It’s Wormsloe State Historic Site.
The park starts with a mile long, dirt road, under a thick canopy of live oak trees. The entire road is a wonder to see.
The end of the road is where all of the trails and sites to see are located, plus they have a museum.
The park is beautiful and a great way to get out of the city for a little bit and enjoy the calmness of nature.
6 – Explore River Street
Antiques, bars, history, and more can be explored in the River Street district of Savannah. Right along the river – rightfully named – River Street is an uneven, brick lined with brick buildings street.
Only a couple of blocks from the designated downtown or River Market district, River Street is full of shops and restaurants to explore. This is the part of town to grab a drink on a roof top with the view of the river and probably a cargo ship.
At night this area comes alive, but be sure to stick with a buddy – as any area on the water.
Bonus Hits
Can’t get enough of Savannah? Stay tuned for more Savannah content coming your way. For now, enjoy some great posts about budgeting for vacations and working on the go.
- Road Trip Essentials
- How to Budget Your Way to Your Dream Vacation
- How to Travel Sustainably
- Freelancing on the Go Tips
- Work From Vacation Tips
Follow along on social for more tips, tricks, and travel inspo!
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Thanks for this wonderful blog! I really think that any day of the year is still best to visit Savannah! There are just so much fun stuff to do over there from the Beach visits to the Downtown strolls! Just check on blogs and sites like https://www.visitsavannah.com/ and you will see how Savannah has so much to offer!
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Thank you! I’ve been in the middle of summer and middle of winter and loved them both!