3 slow days in Savannah

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Forsyth Park

   A 30-acre park at the south end of the historic district, with a large fountain, paths under the live oaks, a Fragrant Garden and benches in the shade. Go early, when the walkers and the dogs have it nearly to themselves.

   Go when Early morning, when the paths are empty and the light comes low through the oaks.

   Local tip Walk the long central path to the fountain and sit on a bench for a while. The Fragrant Garden at the north end is a calm corner, and a short loop of the park is plenty.

   

   About 6 min walk0.3 mi
2. 2
   MiddayWorth a short stop

   Monterey Square

   One of Savannah’s 22 squares, with the Mercer-Williams House on one corner, Congregation Mickve Israel on another and a monument at its center. Sit on a bench for a while and let the shade do its work.

   Go when Midday, when the oaks give the deepest shade.

   Local tip The houses around the square are private homes or museums, so enjoy them from the sidewalk and look for the one with the long front steps. Check ahead if you want to tour the Mercer-Williams House.

   

3. Lunch

   A Southern lunch

   Fried chicken, collards, red rice and cornbread is the plate a Savannah kitchen does best. Find a table with a fan and a view of a square.

   Local tip Share a plate if the day is hot, and save room for a pecan pie.

   About 10 min walk0.5 mi
4. 3
   AfternoonWorth the time, check ahead

   Owens-Thomas House

   A fine English Regency house from 1819 in the old city, run as a museum by Telfair Museums. The tour includes one of the best preserved urban slave quarters in the American South. Check ahead for tour times.

   Go when Afternoon, on a tour that suits you, as the heat peaks outside.

   Local tip Tours run on a timetable, so check ahead and book if you can. The tour covers the house and the slave quarters behind it, and it is worth hearing both stories.

   

   About 6 min walk0.3 mi
5. 4
   AfternoonWorth the time

   Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist

   The mother church of the Catholic diocese, near Lafayette Square, with twin spires, murals and stained glass. It is a working church, so check ahead for visiting times and keep your voice low.

   Go when Afternoon, when the light comes through the windows and the pews are quiet.

   Local tip Look up at the murals and the stained glass. Dress modestly, keep your voice low, and check ahead for times when visitors are welcome, as services come first.

   

   About 11 min walk0.5 mi
6. 5
   EveningAn evening stop

   River Street

   The cobbled street along the Savannah River, below the old cotton warehouses, with big ships gliding by. Walk it as the light goes, and go carefully on the uneven stones and the steep stairs down from the bluff.

   Go when Evening, around sunset (about 7:53 PM), when the ships are lit and the cobbles are warm.

   Local tip The stones are uneven and often wet, so wear flat shoes. Walk down one of the stairways from Bay Street, and look for the iron bridges of Factors Walk above you.

   

7. Dinner

   Oysters and a Lowcountry supper

   The coast is close, so the table is full of oysters, shrimp, crab and fish. A slow supper by candlelight is the right end to a river evening.

   Local tip Book ahead on weekends, and ask what came in fresh that day.

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. Travel from River StreetAbout 16 min by car or transit3.6 mi

   Where Day 1 ended.
2. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Bonaventure Cemetery

   A large old cemetery of nearly 160 acres on a bluff above the Wilmington River, under live oaks hung with Spanish moss. It was made famous by a 1994 novel. Walk slowly, read the stones, and keep the quiet of a place where families still visit.

   Go when Morning, when the cemetery is quiet and the moss is wet with dew.

   Local tip Take a map from the gate and pick a few sections to walk. Keep to the paths, never rub or lean on the stones, and remember that families still come to visit their own.

   

   About 30 min by car or transit9.2 mi
3. 2
   MiddayWorth the time, check ahead

   Fort Pulaski

   A brick fort on Cockspur Island where rifled cannon were tested in 1862, in a battle that made brick forts obsolete. Walk the ramparts and the moat, and check ahead for tours.

   Go when Midday, on a day with a clear sky and a light breeze.

   Local tip Walk the whole outer rampart and look at the walls broken by the cannon of 1862. There is little shade out here, so carry water and a hat, and check ahead for tours.

   

4. Lunch

   Fried seafood on the road to Tybee

   Small family places along the road serve fried shrimp, fish and oysters with slaw and hushpuppies. Casual and filling, and a good break from the sun.

   Local tip Choose a table in the shade, and go a little before the midday rush.

   About 14 min by car or transit3.0 mi
5. 3
   EveningWorth the time

   Tybee Island

   A barrier island about 18 miles east of the city, with a wide sand beach, a long pier and low beach houses. Walk the sand in the last light and let the day slow right down. Check the tide, the surf and the flags before you swim.

   Go when Late afternoon and early evening, when the heat has gone and the light is soft.

   Local tip Walk the sand toward the pier and watch the tide. Check the surf conditions and any flags before you swim, and use the lifeguard areas where they are provided.

   

6. Dinner

   A Lowcountry boil

   Shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes cooked together in one pot and served with plenty of napkins. A relaxed, shared meal for the end of a beach day.

   Local tip Ask for it by the pound for two, and eat it slowly while the sky changes color.