Savannah Georgia Mossy Squares and Forsyth Park

Why visit Savannah

Savannah was founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe as the first city of the Georgia colony, and his town plan, built around wards with a public square at the center of each, still shapes daily life.

The city's charm is more than architecture. Savannah has a strong food scene rooted in Lowcountry cooking, a big arts presence thanks to the Savannah College of Art and Design, and a relaxed attitude that shows in its long porches and outdoor tables.

The Historic District and its squares

Forsyth Park

At the southern edge of the Historic District, Forsyth Park covers about thirty acres of lawns, oaks and walking paths. Its centerpiece is the white cast-iron fountain installed in 1858, one of the most photographed spots in the city.

Chippewa, Madison and the central squares

Bull Street runs north from Forsyth Park through a string of the city's most attractive squares. Chippewa Square holds a statue of Oglethorpe and is where the park bench scenes in the film Forrest Gump were shot; the prop bench itself is no longer there.

Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist

Facing Lafayette Square, this French Gothic cathedral with twin spires is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Savannah. Inside, look for its stained glass windows and painted ceilings. Allow thirty to forty-five minutes.

Mercer Williams House and Monterey Square

The red brick Italianate Mercer Williams House on Monterey Square became widely known through John Berendt's book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Guided tours cover the ground floor and the collection of antiques gathered by its restorer, Jim Williams.

Owens-Thomas House and other house museums

Designed by the English architect William Jay and completed in 1819, the Owens-Thomas House on Oglethorpe Square is run by Telfair Museums and includes one of the best preserved urban slave quarters in the South, where interpretation focuses on the enslaved people who lived and worked there. Allow an hour.

The riverfront and City Market

River Street and Factors Walk

River Street runs along the Savannah River below a bluff, its cobblestones lined with brick buildings that once served as cotton warehouses.

City Market and Ellis Square

A few blocks inland, City Market is a pedestrian area of restored buildings with galleries, shops and outdoor dining, next to Ellis Square, which has a splash fountain children love in summer. Allow an hour or two, longer if you are eating.

SCAD Museum of Art and the Jepson Center

For contemporary art, the SCAD Museum of Art occupies a restored railroad building on the western edge of downtown, and the Jepson Center, part of Telfair Museums, shows modern and contemporary work in a striking building on Telfair Square.

Beyond downtown: cemeteries, marshes and the coast

Bonaventure Cemetery

About fifteen minutes east of downtown, Bonaventure Cemetery sits on a bluff above the Wilmington River, with winding lanes under moss-covered oaks and carved monuments from the nineteenth century onward.

Wormsloe State Historic Site

On the Isle of Hope, Wormsloe is famous for its entrance avenue, where more than four hundred live oaks form an arch over a dirt road that runs well over a mile.

Fort Pulaski National Monument

On Cockspur Island, on the road to Tybee, Fort Pulaski is a massive brick fort surrounded by a moat. In 1862, Union rifled cannon breached its walls in a little over a day, a turning point that made masonry forts obsolete, and you can still see the shell damage.

Tybee Island

About twenty-five minutes from downtown, Tybee Island is Savannah's beach town, with a long sandy shore, a fishing pier and a casual, low-rise feel. The Tybee Island Light Station, Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse, can be climbed for views over the ocean and marshes, and the keepers' cottages hold small exhibits.

Food and local flavors

Savannah's cooking blends Southern comfort food with Lowcountry seafood. Shrimp and grits, often made with local wild Georgia shrimp, appears on menus across town, as does a Lowcountry boil of shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes.

For a classic meal, Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room on Jones Street has served Southern dishes family style at shared tables for decades.

Broughton Street is the main shopping street and has plenty of casual places to eat, while the Starland District south of Forsyth Park has a younger, more creative food scene with coffee shops and small restaurants.

Where to stay

The Historic District is the best base for most first-time visitors. Staying near the squares lets you walk almost everywhere, and many historic homes have been converted into inns.

The riverfront and City Market area puts you closest to restaurants, bars and nightlife, and suits groups and first-timers who want to be in the middle of things, though it can be noisy on weekends.

Families who want beach time may prefer Tybee Island, with rental houses and beach motels, and a short drive into town.

Best time to visit

Spring is Savannah's most popular season. From March into May, azaleas bloom in the squares and temperatures are ideal for walking.

Summer, from June through August, is hot and very humid, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms.

Autumn, from October to November, brings cooler days, lower humidity and lively cultural events, including the SCAD Savannah Film Festival.

Getting there and getting around

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport lies about twenty minutes west of downtown by car, with nonstop flights to many major US cities.

Once you are in the Historic District, walking is the best way to get around.

Street parking downtown is metered and enforced, and garages are available.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Start with a morning walking tour of the squares, then visit the Owens-Thomas House.

Second day

Visit the Mercer Williams House and Monterey Square, then head to the SCAD Museum of Art or the Jepson Center.

Third day

Drive out to Wormsloe early, continue to Bonaventure Cemetery, then head east to Fort Pulaski.

Practical tips

• Wear comfortable shoes; cobblestones, brick sidewalks and steep river stairs are uneven.
• Carry water and sunscreen from late spring to early autumn, and plan outdoor walks for the cooler parts of the day.
• Bring insect repellent for evenings and for marsh areas, where tiny biting gnats can be a nuisance.
• Book house museum tours and popular restaurants ahead in spring and around St. Patrick's Day.
• Pay attention to downtown parking rules; meters and time limits are enforced.
• Use plastic cups only if you carry a drink outdoors, and keep to the Historic District boundaries where this is allowed.

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