Delightful Weekend in Savannah Itinerary
If you’re looking for a taste of Ye Olde American South, you simply must spend a weekend in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah (and it helps if you say it all drawn out like Suuuuvannuuuh) simply drips with history as the trees drip with Spanish moss.
And the food. Oh, the food. You could go to Savannah only for the food and come away happy. Enjoy a quintessentially Southern escape with my weekend in Savannah itinerary.
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If you want to avoid the tourist hordes, then I suggest Savannah in the shoulder season. We spent a weekend there in October and were pleased to find the city quieter even than I was expecting.
Though we had also been hoping to avoid the heat, we didn’t quite manage that. Our weekend there was simultaneously overcast, muggy, and drizzly for much of the time. And much warmer than we expected. I did not pack well for this trip.
[Hangs head in shame.]
Learn from my mistakes and check out my weekend packing list so you’re prepared for your amazing weekend in Savannah.
Related Post → Charleston or Savannah? Which to visit
Waving Girl Statue
After we settled in, we were anxious to get out and see some of the historic riverfront area. Just a few steps from our hotel, we came upon the Waving Girl Statue in Morrell Park.
The statue honors Florence Martus, who greeted every ship entering or leaving Savannah for 44 years by waving a handkerchief or a lantern at night.
According to legend, she did this because, as a young girl, she had fallen in love with a sailor and wanted to make sure he could find her, but there doesn’t appear to be any historical evidence to support this notion.
Felix de Weldon created the statue and also sculpted the Marine Corps (Iwo Jima) War Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia.
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River Street
From the Waving Girl Statue, we continued along the river to explore River Street. I do have to admit it is a rather touristy area, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a stroll down it once or twice.
We walked partway down River Street before cutting over to Bay Street to find our restaurant of choice for dinner. After dinner and dessert, we walked the entire street. You know, to get the full effect.
Dinner at B. Matthew’s Eatery
We stopped for dinner at B. Matthew’s Eatery (325 E Bay St). Their menu has some great vegetarian and gluten-free options on it, so it seemed perfect for us. We were surprised to walk in and see the restaurant almost empty. We were early, but surely not that early. The food was quite good.
I would recommend B. Matthew’s.
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Leopold’s Ice Cream
After dinner, of course, we had to try Leopold’s Ice Cream (212 E. Broughton St.).
Leopold’s has been a Savannah institution for more than 100 years. They’re probably most famous for their Tutti Frutti ice cream. I tried the Savannah Socialite, which is chocolate ice cream with Georgia pecans and bourbon caramel. It. Was. Delicious.
We loved the ice cream there so much that we wanted to go back the next day, but it just didn’t work out. Next time for sure!
The shop is full of all sorts of Hollywood memorabilia, and I wasn’t sure why, but it turns out the son of the founder had a dream to work in Hollywood, so off he went. He has credits as a producer or executive producer on over 20 films, including The Sum of All Fears and Mission: Impossible III.
Breakfast at The Collins Quarter Café
We had a historic walking tour booked for 10 a.m. the next morning that met up outside The Collins Quarter on Bull Street, so of course, that was the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before the tour.
The Collins Quarter is a popular spot, but they do not take breakfast reservations. We arrived at about 8 a.m. on Saturday and were seated right away.
It didn’t start getting noticeably busy until closer to 9 a.m. There is also outdoor seating, but I loved the décor and atmosphere inside the café.
The Collins Quarter has a lot of great gluten-free options and a few solid vegetarian options as well.
Hubby had the “Leo’s Big Brekkie.” It had three different kinds of breakfast meat, so he was a happy camper.
I tried the spiced lavender mocha. It was without a doubt the best mocha I have ever tasted. Yes, mine did have tiny little lavender blossoms sprinkled on the top, and they are just perfection.
I can’t say enough good things about The Collins Quarter and definitely would love to go back the next time we go to Savannah.
Genteel & Bard Savannah History Tour
I’m a little embarrassed to say that I didn’t know much about the history of Savannah before actually going there. That’s not usually how I roll.
I like to do pre-trip research, but this trip I just couldn’t find the time. Enter a historical walking tour. What better way to learn more about your destination than to have a local show you around and tell you all the best stories?
Genteel & Bard’s tours come highly recommended, so I didn’t hesitate to book their Savannah History Walking Tour.
T.C. Michaels is an outstanding and friendly guide. He truly brought the city to life, from its planning and founding up to the present. And where does all that energy come from?
I’m kind of a wimp though and had my fill of walking after about an hour and a half, but would still recommend you give this great tour a try if you are at all interested in the history of Savannah or even if you just want to hear some good stories from a great storyteller.
It will most definitely make you appreciate Savannah more along with all the people who worked so hard to preserve it for future generations.
As an aside, Savannah locals will swear that theirs is the most haunted city in America. Genteel & Bard also offers a very popular Savannah Dark History and Ghost Encounter Walking Tour
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
After our Savannah history tour and lunch, we were only a few blocks away from the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.
In addition to looking for all the best art when we travel, we enjoy visiting historical and prominent places of worship. St. John the Baptist is open for visitors. They suggested a $3 per adult cash donation, which we were glad to make. They did allow photography of the interior while we were there, but for personal use only.
Dinner at Vic’s on the River
After a day of walking through Savannah, we were looking forward to a nice, quiet dinner with a view of the River. We made reservations for Vic’s on the River (26 E Bay St). They offered valet parking, which we appreciated, to help us make our reservation on time.
You can also get to the restaurant through Vic’s Coffee Bar on River Street. The food and service were outstanding, and I would highly recommend this restaurant, particularly for a special occasion.
I was able to make a delicious dinner though out of a baby Tuscan kale salad with preserved lemon (resisting the temptation to lick my plate clean) and the fried green tomatoes with grits and goat cheese appetizer. Hubby quite enjoyed their filet with sour cream and chive mashed potatoes.
Take a walk in Forsyth Park
There’s a quite well-known fountain in Savannah, and you’ll find it in Forsyth Park (2 W Gaston St). Forsyth has 30 acres of walking paths, gardens, sports courts and fields, a half-shell theatre, and more. It’s truly a beautiful park and well worth a visit.
Where to stay in Savannah
I recommend staying in the historic downtown area. You’ll enjoy being in the heart of the city, and it will also reduce the need to drive around from site to site. Street parking can be hard to come by and can be expensive.
We stayed at the Marriott Savannah Riverfront (100 General McIntosh Blvd) in a river-view room, which we loved. The hotel is conveniently located at the end of historic River Street, just steps from the Waving Girl Statue.
If that doesn’t appeal to you, here are a couple of other options:
- Best for an Historic Inn: The Eliza Thompson House is an inn rich in history that’s situated near Forsyth Park and its well-known fountain.
- Best for Affordability: Holiday Inn Express Savannah – Historic District offers comfortable and affordable rooms just a short walk from historic River Street.
I’ve spent the last 8 years in Savannah. You do NOT want to be here during the su.mers
It’s blistering hot, and the humidity is off the chain
I suggest coming over October thru March. Ooohhh…another problem here during the summers…the sand gnats and mosquitoes so big, they could carry off small children and dogs. (There were multiple outbreaks of Yellow Fever in Savannah’s earliest days, thanks to the mosquitoes. )
What time of year did you visit Savannah Georgia?
It was mid-to-late October.
Savannah is without a doubt one of my favorite cities! I couldn’t get enough of just wandering around through all the different squares, admiring the homes, the Spanish moss trees. Also such an amazing town for foodies, was fortunate to try so many amazing savannah restaurants we found on https://www.visitsavannah.com/food-drink during our trip. My personal favorites would have to be The Collins Quarter and Huey’s. Will be back!
Yes! So much great food. We love the Collins Quarter so much!
I love Savannah too! You should look into renting a house in historic Gordonston section far enough from the noise st night yet close enough to walk to the park and downtown action, under 30 minutes to Tybee Island. New home for rent coming soon (May) with grills, fire pits, hot tub, etc.
Savannah is our favorite US city, we go a lot and we think it’s one of the most friendly and great atmosphere. Be prepared to eat some great southern cuisines and it’s a good thing it’s a walking city to walk it all off. Plenty of beautiful old architecture and history galore. Plus tell-tale hauntings all over, it claims to be the most haunted city in the US. Most of the hotels are done in a historic fashion. We prefer the B&B’s
with their small town charms. It’s a great town for young people since they’ve got a great Arts college and for families and couples anytime of the year. Definitely worth the trip.
Totally agree…especially about the food. Yummy!
Savannah is so Beautiful breath taking I. Would consider moving there !
Oh, I so agree. It’s a great town!
Savannah sounds like a lovely place to visit for a couple of days. The Collins Quarter Cafe would be a must as I’m intrigued by the spiced lavender mocha! The Forsyth Park fountain is just beautiful.
Your stay in The Marriot must have been amazing while discovering Savannah. You inspired me to discover the South!
I’m so glad! Yes, the hotel was great!
The old American south always fascinates me. I guess I will have to add Savannah to my south American bucket list
Yes, you definitely do. It’s a great town.
What a lovely way to spend a weekend in a city! I love foodie destinations, especially when you have great bakeries (since I’m vegetarian). I never thought Savannah would be such a nice place to discover food!
I don’t usually make as much time for food when I travel as I did on this trip, but I’m so glad we did!
I’ll take two orders of the Bananas Foster French Toast please! I had no idea Savannah was such a foodie city (and it’s cool that there are vegetarian options too!).
Yes, it was pretty great!