Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, the oldest city in Georgia, is a charming and historic city that blends southern traditions, architecture, and culture. The city is often considered one of the best-preserved examples of 18th and 19th-century urban design in the U.S. with its cobblestone streets, lush squares, and stunning antebellum architecture. We were there at just the perfect time. Or was it?

Full-time RVing requires a lot of pre-planning so we scheduled our 9 days in Savannah at CreekFire RV Resort months in advance, not knowing it was the week of St Patrick’s Day. No big deal, right? Besides, you have to be somewhere on holidays and it’s not like St Patrick’s day is a huge holiday or anything. Well, much to our dismay, actually it is. Savannah hosts the second largest St Patrick’s Day party in the U.S. behind New York City. This small, charming city of around 150,000 residents brings in some 400,000 people for the big green party. More about that in a minute.

Fortunately we arrived in Savannah a week before St Patrick’s Day so things were relatively normal until the weekend, so we got plenty of time to explore before the kilts and shamrocks arrived. The best way to start your Savannah adventure is a trolly tour. The Old Town Trolly Tours is hop-on, hop-off trolly that can be accessed from the Visitor Center on the edge of town. The trolly will take you all over the 2.5 square miles of the historic district and by many of the key sites. If you don’t get off, the tour takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete and is extremely informative. Once you’ve done the trolly you get a better idea of where you might want to go back to and let your sneakers be your tour guide. We really enjoyed walking around town and checking out the streets with spanish moss hanging from the trees and the open green spaces.

The architecture in the historic district is really something special, you do feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Throughout the district are 22 small squares, or green spaces, surrounded by antebellum style homes. Many of the squares have historic monuments on them or are famous from movies such as Chippewa Square, where a scene from Forrest Gump was filmed. Forsyth Park is a beautiful 30-acre park in the heart of the city known for its iconic fountain and walking paths. It’s a favorite spot for both locals and visitors to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

If you enjoy touring historic churches, Savannah will not disappoint. These beautiful structures, inside and out, often tell an important story of the city. For example, the First African Baptist Church, founded in 1773, has historical significance as one of the oldest African American Baptist churches in the United States. It is believed that the church served as a meeting place and a safe haven for runaway slaves seeking freedom.

The Independent Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest churches in Savannah and a magnificent display of neoclassical architecture. The building has been designated as a National Historic Landmark for its architectural and historical value. During the Civil War, the church served as a gathering place for both Union and Confederate supporters.

River Street is a popular waterfront area lined with historic buildings that have been converted into shops, restaurants, and galleries. It offers views of the Savannah River and is a great spot for both shopping and dining along the cobblestone street. It’s also one of the key nightlife spots, especially on special events such as St Patrick’s Day.

We decided to partake in the party and be Irish for a day, so we woke up early on St Patrick’s Day and found us a spot along the parade route… along with 400,000 of our closest friends. The parade, the second largest in the country, has been a tradition in Savannah since 1824. The parade lasted for over 2.5 hours and covered the entire historic district. It was a lot of fun and we avoided any bad traffic by parking a little further out. We also avoided River Street, which is where the big party is at, and instead found a small local pub to stop by on the way home. We might be a little crazy, but not that crazy!

As if the Savannah historic district doesn’t offer enough, there are other must-see places in the area, such as the Wormsloe Historic Site. The site is a former plantation which also served as a military stronghold and has been maintained over the years by eight generations of the same family. The plantation house is still a private residence so it can’t be toured but the rest of the grounds can. The highlight is a beautiful 1.5-mile path with a canopy of live oak trees the entire way. We also enjoyed seeing the old fortress ruins.

Another unique place is the Bonaventure Cemetery, one of the most famous and historically significant cemeteries in the United States. It is known for its stunning beauty, historical significance, and unique connection to Southern culture. It might sound familiar to you from the novel and movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. In fact, the movie might be a good prep for a visit to Savannah. The cemetery can be driven through or walked and there are even guided tours available.

Tybee Island is only a short distance from Savannah and is a great beach community to visit. There are miles of beaches to walk and the tallest lighthouse in Georgia is located there. It makes for a great day trip and the opportunity to get your toes in the sand.

Savannah is a special place with endless sights to see, great food and tons of local history. It’s amazing just how clean and well-kept everything is from the magnificent architecture to the well-kept squares. We could easily go back again and pick up where we left off. I know there was a lot of great food and cool little bars that we missed. And we highly recommend CreekFire RV Resort with their great sites and many amenities.

Check out the rest of our pictures from Savannah.