Savannah Bucket List :: A Travel Guide to the Belle of the South
The belle of the south, Savannah. I've been dreaming about visiting Savannah for a long time - southern hospitality, southern food, southern drawls, southern homes, etc. So, finally, I made the trip!
Savannah has so much to offer - where does one start?! With a bucket list, of course. L&L has created a list of our TOP TEN bucket list items for visiting Savannah. Read on, curious travelers!
Forsyth Park. The trademark photo op spot in the city. Forsyth is filled with locals trying to stay active, people picnicking, art students painting, musicians playing and wandering tourists. Be sure to snap a picture at the fountain - it’s gorgeous!
Go on a ghost tour. Ok. I am NOT a scary movie/experience fan. AT ALL. But, I was convinced to take a ghost tour in Savannah and LOVED IT. I love murder mystery stuff, and this was like a history version of the podcast “My Favorite Murder.” Our tour started at 10 PM and lasted until midnight. And - I couldn’t believe some of the things we learned. Did you know that Savannah is one of the most “active” (in the paranormal sense) cities in the world?!
Bonaventure Cemetery. This historic site is only a short car ride away from downtown and is a SIGHT to behold. I visited my second time in Savannah and it was POURING DOWN RAIN. Mossy tombstones, giant trees, LOTS of running water. Added to the creep factor. It was the most gorgeous/creepy place I’ve ever had the pleasure of viewing. The cemetery was made even more famous in the 90s by the movie (originally a book) "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". I would 10/10 recommend watching this movie before your trip.
Leopold’s Ice-Cream. This old-timey soda shop has been around since the early 1900s and you MUST GO. It’s off of Broughton Street and SUPER TOURISTY. So be prepared to wait in line (it moves quickly)! The staff is super friendly and their ice-cream is so creamy delicious. Great for an afternoon sweet treat when you need to cool off.
Wander Bull Street and Jones Street. Jones is constantly voted “Prettiest Street in America” and I can see why. When you google pictures of Savannah - you usually see these houses. So cute. Bull Street runs perpendicular to Jones, but has a number of cute shops/restaurants/cafes and squares to explore.
Eat Southern Comfort. The options are limitless in this city. I soon discovered (after researching what to do in Savannah) that this place was a FOODIE city. So, southern comfort foods are a must. Black eyed pea hummus and pimiento cheese anything are a must.
Antique Shops. There are cute antique shops everywhere you turn! I always love browsing through older treasures - it seems appropriate while visiting one of the oldest cities in the south.
Chippewa Square. The Forrest Gump Square. The movie crew built their own bench, so (unfortunately) you won’t be able to sit on the same bench as Tom Hanks. However, there is an INCREDIBLE chocolate shop just off of the square (Chocolat by Adam Turoni), so enjoy yourself a box while sitting on a bench underneath the trees.
Rooftop Bars. These run “a-plenty” in Savannah. And, the city has an open container law, so you can take your drink TAH GO after enjoying some views!
River Street. Personally, I found River Street a bit touristy, but I would recommend for a quick “drive-by” stroll! There are a number of monuments along the way, and the original cobblestone streets are a sight to behold.
Honorable mentions:
Wormsloe Historic District. We didn’t make it out to this old plantation, but I would have loved to go. It’s a bit of a drive from the historic district, so we didn’t make the trek.
Tybee Island. Mentioned often when searching “Things to do in Savannah”. If you’re a beach bum and/or if you have a longer weekend planned for Savannah, then I might suggest the short trip out. However, if you’re just visiting for a couple of days, I wouldn’t recommend.
When you stay, be sure to book a place close to all of the hustle and bustle! Our AirB&B was perfect. If you’d like $40 off your first trip with AirB&B, click here!
I just lahveeee Savannah. It really is the belle of the south. Happy Bucket-Listing! More Savannah recommendations to come!
