“With its pedestrian-friendly layout and innovative urban design, Savannah serves as a balm for the senses. The city of Savannah inspires visitors with its emerald tree canopy, quaint cobblestone streets and majestic architecture. Take the time to wander off the beaten path and experience the history, beauty and charm of this beloved coastal city. Savannah is an abundant city to visit any time of year, with activities for everyone to indulge in. From architectural tours, music and food festivals, to art exhibits and Civil War re-enactments, Savannah brims with all kinds of events to excite and entertain.” – Visit Savannah
At only six hours away, Savannah is a great weekend getaway from Raleigh!
Stay in Savannah
Perry Lane Hotel: Part of the Marriott Collection, Perry Lane Hotel offers historical luxury with modern amenities in the heart of Savannah. With rooftop games and beautiful dining facilities, staying IN the hotel is as entertaining as walking around the city. Make your reservation at Perry Lane Hotel with Maupin Travel and you’ll have access to exclusive Signature amenities during your stay.
Andaz Hotel: Experience an eclectic boutique hotel in the heart of Historic Savannah. With its artful décor, relaxed urban vibe, and new south Sophistication, Andaz Savannah delivers a vibrant, modern feel to the Historic District. Relax, work, dine and connect in the fashionable oasis on Ellis Square, just steps from City Market, River Street, trendy shopping, dining and the city’s cultural diversions. Make your reservation at Andaz with Maupin Travel and you’ll have access to exclusive Signature amenities during your stay.
Eat in Savannah
Much like it’s sister city, Charleston, Savannah is a mecca for delicious southern food. Whether travelers are looking for an upscale dining experience or some downhome barbecue, there’s a local establishment for whatever one’s heart desires!
Breakfast: The Collin’s Quarter and Fox & Fig are both trendy options for brunch or a luxurious breakfast! Fox & Fig is a plant based restaurant, and this is one of the best Vegan options in town. For fans of the famed novel by John Berendt, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, you really can enjoy a meal at Clary’s Café! Once a local drugstore, the diner has a relaxed atmosphere and a classic menu. Breakfast is served all day long, so stop and take in a piece of the city’s history (both fictional and non)! Also, if you haven’t read the book, pick it up before your trip. It’s required reading.
Lunch: Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room is a MUST SEE while in Savannah. From their website, “Most Southern towns used to boast a boardinghouse where you could find a simple, quiet room and a communal dining room that offered at least two hearty meals a day. Boardinghouse food was de rigueur daily fare for locals, among them young, working class laborers, schoolteachers, bankers, washerwomen and middle-class merchants alike. In 1943, a young Sema Wilkes took over a boardinghouse in historic downtown Savannah. Her goal was modest: to make a living by offering comfortable lodging and homestyle Southern cooking served family style in the downstairs dining room. Mrs. Wilkes picked up where the previous proprietor left off, cultivating relationships with nearby farmers who dug sweet potatoes for her in the fall and shelled whippoorwhill peas in the summer.” Boasting a remarkably detailed menu with a wide array of options, it’s the perfect place to take a mid day load off and soak in some history while enjoying a wonderful, home style meal.
If after a day of being outside a formal meal doesn’t sound like fun, stop by B’s Cracklin BBQ instead. With a relaxed atmosphere and traditional barbecue menu, this is the perfect spot to end a busy, tiring day of touring. Besides which, the food is delicious!
Shop in Savannah
V&J Duncan: In operation since 1983 and located in Savannah’s historic Monterey Square, V&J is heaven for antique paper goods. The shop began with one tabletop of antique maps and has mushroomed into a vast collection of old engravings, mezzotints, lithographs, photographs, old books and new Savannah books (including autographed copies of John Berendt’s classic Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil). They have prints of architectural interest, birds, animals, botanicals, fashion, sporting scenes and tens of thousands of portraits.
Picker Joe’s Antique Mall: For shoppers looking for a wider variance of goods, Picker Joe’s is the answer. With a range of vintage and antique finds from local “pickers”, one could spend an entire day in this store. Plan accordingly and devote at least a couple of hours to the experience, then grab a cup of coffee before you leave!
Honorable Mentions: The Paris Market and City Market offer a mix of new goods in a relaxed, upscale setting. If you’re in Savannah for a few days, stop by!
Experience Savannah’s Culture
Surviving hunger, plague and warfare in the rugged environment of Georgia, Jones went on to serve the colony as a doctor, constable, Indian agent, Royal Councilor and surveyor, laying out the towns of Augusta and New Ebenezer. He also commanded a company of marines charged with defending the Georgia coast from the Spanish. Jones died at the beginning of the American Revolution, but his descendants sustained Wormsloe until the state of Georgia acquired most of the plantation in 1973.
Today, visitors can interact with costumed interpreters during programs and events, and view a museum with artifacts unearthed at Wormsloe, as well as a short film about the site and the founding of Georgia. The interpretive nature trail leads past the tabby ruins along the marsh to the Colonial Life Area where, during programs and special events, demonstrators in period dress exhibit the tools and skills of colonial Georgia.
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist: The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic cathedral on Savannah’s Lafayette Square and is the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah. With stunning Gothic architecture and art, the Cathedral is a must see while in Savannah.
Ghost Tours: Savannah is allegedly one of the most haunted cities in the country, which means ghost tours are a dime a dozen, but also a necessity for your visit! Ghost City tours has several age appropriate options, including the all-ages Grave Tales tour, the themed Beyond Good & Evil Tour, and the adults-only Dead of Night Tour.
Tybee Island: Tybee is a barrier island eighteen miles east of Savannah. If you’ve got more than twenty four hours in Savannah, don’t miss the opportunity to pop over to the island and watch the sun set, or make Tybee your vacation home base and travel in to Savannah for day trips! With beachfront hotels and private rentals, it’s easy to enjoy the splendor of the island, go on a dolphin adventure, and admire the historic Tybee lighthouse.
Whether travelers are looking for a beach weekend, a shopping spree, or a step back in time, Savannah is the perfect spot to get away for the weekend. Call us at Maupin Travel to put your trip together!
