Coastal Getaway to Savannah, GA
I spent summers in Savannah with my best friend growing up, but haven't been back in 17 years so I ventured south with the kids (ages 8 and 10) to explore the Georgia coast together for a few days over spring break. Sharing all of the details in case you'd like to take a similar trip!
Where did we stay?
We stayed in the heart of Savannah on River Street at the Hyatt Regency. This hotel offered the most bang for your buck with river views available, ease of access to local attractions and an indoor swimming pool that the kids loved since we knew April weather could be questionable. It did indeed end up being on the colder side outdoors so the heated pool was a big win. We did not bring our dog, but saw many there since this hotel is pet friendly. Below was the view from our hotel room.
What did we do?
Our time in Savannah was short and we kept a mostly loose agenda in order to explore at our leisure, but we fit in a lot on a condensed schedule as detailed below (starting with our favorites).
Little Tybee Boat Trip with Sundial Charters
Trolly Ride with Old Town Trolly Tours
River Street exploring, dining & shopping
Ghost Tour with Ghost City Tours
Little Tybee Boat Trip
This day was a dream and by far our favorite family friendly activity. Approximately 30 minutes from downtown Savannah, we reserved a small, private boat through Sundial Charters and they were fantastic. A 3-hour boat tour took us along the coast to explore all that Tybee has to offer. We saw lots of dolphin pods, many local birds and even a bald eagle. After exploring the tidal creeks, we stopped at Little Tybee where we were able to explore the private island at our leisure. We found so many spectacular and unique shells along the untouched coast, but our favorite finds were starfish (no longer alive) and sand dollars. Below is a glimpse of our day and what to expect on this excursion. Next time we're planning to do the Fossil Hunt Tour , which is a 4-hour trip where you can find shark teeth (sometimes from the extinct Megalodon) and other cool fossils.
Trolly Ride in Downtown Savannah
This was a great way to see the historic district of downtown Savannah with a 1-day pass for a hop on, hop off tour on the trolly with knowledgeable guides. The open-air sight seeing is perfect for taking pictures with up to 15 stops. We rode half of the way and then got off to shop, grab lunch and walk the squares back to our hotel.
River Street Exploring, Shopping & Dining
Since we stayed riverside, we walked the cobblestone River Street daily to explore local shops, watch the cargo ships pass and dine. Here's a list of our favorite restaurants. Reservations encouraged, but not required.
Fort Pulaski Tour
On the way to Tybee, we stopped by Fort Pulaski for a history lesson to see where the Confederate troops occupied during the Civil War. The property is well kept where you can learn a lot and admire the architectural beauty of this all brick structure.
Ghost Tour
I love a good ghost tour and have been on many, including graveyard tours in Savannah amidst a hearse, but I knew that would be a little much for small children. I originally wanted to avoid this all together with the kids, but they begged to try it out so I searched for a family friendly option and stumbled upon the Grave Tales Ghost Tour that's considered appropriate for all ages so we gave it a try. Unfortunately, we learned quickly that you should not bring most kids. My 11-year-old son enjoyed it, but my 8-year-old daughter was terrified the rest of the trip after some scary stories, specifically surrounding small children at the Marshall House. While it's a great way to see the city at night on foot and learn about its history, I would proceed with caution if you're traveling with a younger group.
In Summary
Overall, I would highly recommend a trip to Savannah. The city is beautiful and rich with history, just a short drive from Tybee. A quick 4-hour drive from our home in Atlanta and the kids had a blast and have asked to come back. Most attractions are outdoors so make sure to plan accordingly depending on time of year that you visit. Happy travels!
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