A Long Weekend in Savannah, Georgia

spanish moss and southern charm

There’s a rare kind of beauty tucked into the streets of Savannah. The way the Spanish moss sways above quiet cobblestone streets. The way time slows beneath gaslit chandeliers and strolls past antebellum homes. The way the water sounds as a canoe glides down a silent creek or the way sweet flowers sway in one of their many squares. For four days, we let ourselves be swept up in Savannah’s gentle, mysterious pull. Here’s a peek into my dreamy, classically Southern escape.

 

Day 1: First Bites and First Sites

The drive to Savannah took just under five hours. We crossed into the city over a packed bridge into streets lined with oaks and history lingering on every corner. Eager for lunch, we parked in a garage and hit the streets, dodging recent graduates of SCAD to find the Common Restaurant. Tucked inside a historic building with exposed brick and chic modern lighting, I opted for their Pork Belly Donut Sliders, complete with a maple syrup dipping sauce. An eclectic dish that hit the spot, fueling me to meander around downtown and take in the stunning greenery and beautiful brick buildings.

Afterward, we headed to the breathtaking Wormsloe State Historic Site, where a mile-long avenue of moss-draped live oaks stretch, connecting their limbs overhead to form the top of a green tunnel. We walked the length, stopping periodically to look forward and backward, completely enthralled with the beauty surrounding us. Few people lined the path as we got there just before closing time, and the workers kindly offered to extend our tickets to the following day.

Dinner that evening was at Oak 36 Bar + Kitchen, just outside the downtown bustle near our hotel. Warm lighting, elevated comfort food, and a glass of cold lemonade made it feel like the perfect spot to exhale after a long travel day.

Full and happy, we returned downtown to explore on foot, examining the iron balconies, prominent squares, and the gentle hum of evening life. Complete with beautiful string lights wisped across the streets connecting one building to the next. Savannah certainly sets a mood.

 

Day 2: Gliding Through Nature and Time

The morning adventure ended up being the highlight of the whole trip: canoeing on Ebenezer Creek. Located just north of the city, Ebenezer is a hauntingly beautiful blackwater creek lined with cypress trees and ghost stories. Thanks to a pre-arranged rental with Backwater Expeditions, our canoe was waiting for us, along with an explanation of not only the water but also what direction to head. Gliding through the still water, you could hear the faint static of duckweed parting from the hull of our boat as we navigated the curves of the creek. We watched and were watched by herons and the occasional squirrel getting too close to the water’s edge. We prepared to see an alligator or two, but no such luck. We were left with an eerie peacefulness that was completely captivating.

After heading back and freshening up, we went to Kayak Kafé for lunch. It was fresh, casual, and packed with locals, which was a welcome shift from the heavier Southern fare. A great spot if you’re dairy-free like me, as I indulged on a vegan cookie and chicken avocado panini!

In the afternoon, we took in some of Savannah’s most iconic architecture with a tour of the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters. An impeccably preserved home where Regency-era interiors and layered history introduced the story of Savannah’s complexity. The tour was immersive, honest, and well-curated. The ticket also covered the Telfair Academy, which we bookmarked for Sunday.

As golden hour approached, we attended mass at The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. A peaceful, hour-long service inside one of the most breathtaking churches in the United States consisted of soaring ceilings, magnificent stained glass, and vibrant portraits that engulfed every inch of the interior. There was too much beauty to take in for only one visit.

Dinner that night was an elegant affair and only a short walk away at Belford’s Savannah Seafood and Steaks. With a reservation, we were seated quickly and treated to one of the best meals of the weekend. Think perfectly grilled asparagus, buttery filet mignon, and hearty potatoes.

Savannah at night? Unmissable. City Market buzzed with energy and people as music spilled from open doors and patios. Every time someone walked out of a place with a glass of wine or a bottle of beer, we were shocked to remember that it is an open container city. One of the few in the United States.

 

Day 3: Along the Streets and the Rivers

Our last full day began at The Paris Market, a haven for the aesthetically inclined. Part café, part boutique, I browsed their coffee table books, silk scarfs, and antique trinkets wedged in between all the French-inspired goods.

Then came the Telfair Academy, one of the oldest public art museums in the South, where modern and classical art coexist in a stunning stately mansion. Its collection included many portraits and landscapes with classical sculptures scattered throughout. I fell in love with the second floor, with its vast ceiling and larger-than-life canvases.

The nearby Forsyth Park beckoned next. The fountain sparkled in the sun, and the numerous ancient oaks provided some much-needed shade. We walked to Alexander’s Bistro at the park’s edge, placing a take-out order for steak and eggs and a breakfast burrito to enjoy on a bench next to the fountain. Cute in theory but ended with us swatting at hungry bugs.

Forsyth Park

Next to the park is Gaston Street, full of houses with unbelievable architecture. Taking in the second-story entrances, stunning ivy crawling up the outside brick, and scattered plaques detailing the year the various houses were built, we were content to walk the street all day if it wasn’t so hot.  

By mid-afternoon, we were boarding our Savannah Riverboat Cruise, a leisurely 90-minute float past old warehouses, new condos, and weathered wharves. There’s something grounding about seeing a city from the water, the breeze whipping through your hair, and an entirely new vantage point. We even passed by a half-sunken ship, marking an eerie landmark of the trials of what life used to be, and the Waving Girl Statue as our captain detailed her heartbreaking story of lost love.

After docking, we headed to our dinner reservation across the street at Vic’s on the River, immediately falling in love with the high ceilings and tall windows overlooking the shining Savannah River. The food? Impeccable. My favorite restaurant of the whole trip.

 

Day 4: Last Sip and Last Glimpse

We started our final morning heading downtown to pay homage to a classic movie moment: the Forrest Gump bench in Chippewa Square. Even with the bench removed and placed in a museum, we could see how the background matched the movie scene as we stood where Bull meets Hull Street.

Nearby, the Savannah Theatre caught our eye. Though we didn’t have time to see a show, just peeking inside this historic venue gave us a taste of Savannah’s cultural life. I was stunned to learn the American History connection to the Booth family of John Wilkes Booth (assassin of Abraham Lincoln). He, along with his brother and father, performed at that theater along with many others like Oscar Wilde.

Savannah Theatre

We took one last stroll along Jones Street, often called the most beautiful street in America—and it might just be true. The homes were stately, the sidewalks shaded, the city still quiet at that hour.

Jones Street

Before leaving, we popped into Little James for a chai tea and chocolate croissant, a modern café that mixes Southern hospitality with refined coffee aesthetics. The perfect last sip.

 

There’s a softness to Savannah. The shaded streets, old buildings, and never-ending oak trees. Over four days, I wandered beneath moss-draped oaks, paddled through still blackwater creeks, dined by candlelight, and stood in admiration beneath stained-glass windows that stretched to the sky. I learned that beauty can be found in both the grand and the subtle: a perfect plate, a tucked-away square, a single oak tree standing in the light.

Whether you’re a lover of Southern charm, or someone simply looking to slow down and enjoy something beautiful, let Savannah sweep you off your feet, the way it did me.

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A Weekend Wandering the Triangle