Greetings from California!

Hi everyone!  My husband and I are going to be coming to GA in mid August for a C3 (Christian City Church) leadership conference outside of Atlanta,  We're thinking about flying into Savannah (my first time flying since 2001! and since losing 150#s!), spending a couple of days there, then drive to Atlanta for the conference then back to Savannah for a little more sightseeing. We have just shy of a week.  My question for you who live there, what should we see? They have all sorts of things listed on travel sites, but are they really memorable? I know when people come to San Diego, where we live, it's easy to tell people what to see, what to avoid (tourist'y stuff..lol) etc.  Any suggestions for cool hotels in Savannah?  Hiltons, Holiday Inns and Marriotts are everywhere, so I'd rather stay someplace that is unique to Savannah...thanks everyone and if you're ever coming our way, we'll certainly do our best to point you in the right direction! 

Thanks!  Kim aka ThatKimGirl

Savannah ismy favorite city in Georgia. I love it.

You must go eat at Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House. If you are a Paula Deen fan, The Lady and Sons is really good eatin', but expect a LOONG wait to be seated. Last time I was there, my friends and I got to meet Paula and both sons. That was pretty cool. If you head out towards Tybee Island, you can eat at The Crab Shack - lots of live reptiles to watch while you eat. Really yummy low country boil - wls safe!

Sightseeing: I love the cemeteries, if you are into that kind of thing. You should also do a Ghost Tour.  I love the one that is done in a hearse, but the walking tours are awesome and you will hear lots of old Savannah history.  The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is amazingly beautiful. Skidaway Island Center is fun, too. It has an aquarium and nature trails. You can learn lots about the ecosystems of the area.

Have fun!

Hi!  Thank you so much!  That's funny, I actually do like cemetaries, older the better, so interesting!   A few other people suggested Mrs Wilkes as well...I love the idea of the Crab Shack!  I'll add all your suggestions to my itinerary, thanks again!  Kim

I love Savannah, it is one of my favorite weekend spots. Of course you'll have to visit river street. The Savannah Queen riverboat dinner cruise is nice too.   For dining try Paula Deans Lady and Sons or Ms. Wilkes boarding house.  You'll want to make reservations.

Forsythe Park is a perfect picnic spot, and you must get some photos in front of the fountain. It is beautiful, and was a cival war sight.   There are great dolphin sight seeing cruises on Tybee island about a 20 minute drive away, as well as Fort Pulaski.   I believe we did thr Captin Dick cruise and it was nice, saw lots of dolphions and a beautiful sunset.

There is a free trolley system that takes you all around the tourist spots in town. Park at the Kroger in the historic distric for free or tthe tourist center for a few dollars.  Riverstreet parking is more.

The horse drawn carriage tours are nice and romantic. There are waking tours and ghost tours, but they never appealed to me.  I can walk and see ghosts on my own!

There are plenty of bed and breakfast type historical hotels. I guess it depends on your budget.


I would caution, Savannah can be enjoyed in a day or two.  3 days might be a bit too much.  I would spend my last 2 days enjoying Atlanta or even driving 2 hours north up to Chattanooga, or 4 hours to Gatlinburg, Asheville,   or Cherokee.   That way you get the city, coast, and mountains in 1 trip.  We are lucky in Atlanta to have all 3 within a few hours drive.

If you decide to visit Chattanooga, go to the aquarium. I like it better than the one in Atlanta. You must stay in the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. Try to reserve a box car.   In Asheville see Biltmore Estates,  In Gatlinburg enjoy the mountains, and the tourist areas.

While in Atlanta I'd check out Stone Mountain (15-20 min from downtown) park and get the all attraction pass. You get history, romance,  and fun in 1 spot. It would take at least half a day to see everything. The laser show and fireworks at night is not  be missed on your visit.  There are places in the park to buy a picnic dinner for the show. Just bring a blanket or beach towel (I know you can't pack a chair on the plane)

Downtown there's the GA Aquarium, World of Coke, Atlantic Station (shopping and dining), Underground Atlanta (shopping and dining,  Woodruff Arts Center, Alliance Theater, Fox Theater,  Zoo Atlanta, Martin Luther KIng Historic Site, Carter Museum,  Fernbank Science Center, Wow there's so much... You definitely won't be bored. 

For a memorable dinner if you want to splurge, make reservations at The Sundial or Polaris. They are both revolving, and offrer a panoramic view of the city.  It's breathtaking during sunset hour.  If you're on a budget try lunch.   They are pricey at dinner. The view is worth just going for coffee and dessert if you can't afford a full dinner.   For a cool local spot try the Varsity. It is NOT wls friendly, but so worth the calories!  Everything is greasy, fried, cheese or chili covered and yummy!  A meal is less than $10.00.

I have lived in GA all my life, and love it.  I wish everone could come visit here.

If you want to call me while you're here my cell is 678-860-8806.  I'll do my best to help you with directions, suggestions, and whatnot.

Wow!!!  My gosh, thank you for all those great tips and ideas, that's above and beyond, you should work for the Convention Bureau!!  LOL  Thank you also for your cell number, that's very kind of you!  Take good care...Kim

No problem. I hope that won't be your last dose of southern hospitality!


Keep my number in your cell and call me if you run into any problems while you're here.

My daughter goes to college in Savannah so I have made many trips....for a little night life there is a cool blues place with a band near Market Place (I wish I could remember the name of it).  If you are into singing on Bay street there is a karaoke place (we had fun there). 

Atlanta has a really good nite life too....depending on what you are into.  Jazz, Blues, Hip Hop, Rock, Etc. Great for dancing or just listening (I love to dance and it is good exercise).

I love Virginia Highlands, great restaurants (my favorite Surins, great Thia food), shopping at little boutiques and going to "Blind Willies"  (a blues club). 

Atlanta is a lot of fun...hike to the top of Stone Mountain or Kennesaw Mountain.  Check out Centennial Park, downtown.   

Hope you have a great time!

Ginger

fyi just a reminder. It is not worth driving 4 hours back to Savannah to finish out your trip.  There just is not that much to do.    It would be more wise to spend that time in another city.

I agree that you might want to spend less time in Savannah.  Go one hour south to St. Simons Island.  I use to live there and it is one of the best kept secrets of the south!  You would want to see Christ's Church, eat at the Crab Shack, hang out at the fishing pier, tour the light house, and even hang out on the beach.  Eugenia wrote a trilogy of books about the island.  They are historical novels which really give you a glimpse into history.  There is also a lot of WW II history there.  Germans came ashore there from a submarine.  The King and Prince is a wonderful hotel with lots of history.

I am probably partial since I lived there, but it is an enchanted island.  Just a little further south is Jekyll Island where a group of very wealthy individuals  formed the Jekyll Island Club, including such family names as Rockefeller, Pulitzer, Vanderbilt, Crane, Goodyear, Macy, J.P. Morgan and others. One-sixth of the world's wealth vacationed on Jekyll Island at that time. The conferences leading to the development of the Federal Reserve Bank were held at the Jekyll Island Club. Jekyll Island was also a participant in the first transcontinental telephone call on January 25, 1915. In 1946,.  For many years those homes were abandoned but have now been restored and you can tour them.  The Jekyll Island Club Hotel is the place to stay there.  It was the club house for the wealthy elite back in the day and has been beautifully restored.  They have a fantastic restaurant.

I LOVE Savannah!  So much Old South history there.  I could spend a month there and never get tired of it.  Tybee Island is great!  The place to eat there is the Crab TRAP (Crab Shack is on St Simon's). There is lots to do and see on River Street in Savannah.  The crowds are a bit less during the week, and it is cooler at night.

Atlanta is awesome also and all the things the previous posters listed are great fun.  Enjoy the beautiful, sunny (and hot!) South and take lots of pictures.  Have a great time, ya'll.