Savannah

Airport transfer to historic district(20 minutes)

Uber: $15-20

Forsyth Park walk(1.5 hours)

Iconic 30-acre park with the famous white fountain. Shaded by massive live oaks. Saturday farmers market (9AM-1PM, March-Nov)

Walk through the squares from Forsyth to City Hall(1.5 hours)

Free. Each of the 22 squares has unique character. Start at Monterey and work north through Calhoun, Pulaski, and Chippewa (Forrest Gump bench scene)

Get a to-go cocktail(15 minutes)

Savannah allows open containers in the historic district. Grab a plastic cup from any bar and walk the squares with your drink. 16 oz max

Dinner at The Grey(2 hours)

Chef Mashama Bailey's modern Southern cooking in a restored Greyhound bus terminal. Mains: $28-42. Reserve well ahead. One of the best restaurants in the American South

River Street walk(2 hours)

Nine cobblestone blocks along the Savannah River. Watch massive container ships pass. Pralines at Savannah's Candy Kitchen (free samples). Wet Willie's frozen daiquiris ($8-12, to-go cups available)

Lunch at Vic's on the River(1 hour)

Upscale Southern in a cotton warehouse on the river. Fried green tomatoes: $12. Shrimp and grits: $22

Bonaventure Cemetery(2 hours)

Victorian cemetery on the Wilmington River bluff. Made famous by 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.' Entry free. Guided tour: $20-30 (1.5 hours). Oak-shaded paths and elaborate monuments. 160 acres

Afternoon to-go cocktail stroll(1 hour)

Walk Broughton Street — Savannah's main shopping artery. Independent shops, galleries, and SCAD-influenced design stores

Dinner at Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room(1 hour)

Family-style soul food since 1943. $25, cash only. Fried chicken, collards, mac and cheese — served communal style. Line by 10:30AM for 11AM seating

SCAD Museum of Art(1.5 hours)

Entry: $10. Contemporary art in a restored railroad depot. Rotating exhibitions

SCAD galleries on Broughton Street(1 hour)

Free galleries throughout the city — SCAD has restored 100+ historic buildings. Check the Gutstein Gallery and Pei Ling Chan Garden

Lunch at Fox & Fig(1 hour)

Vegan cafe that converts even carnivores. Mushroom French dip: $16. On Bull Street near Forsyth

Wormsloe Historic Site(1.5 hours)

1.5-mile avenue of 400+ live oaks creating a tunnel canopy. One of the most photographed spots in the South. Entry: $10. Best in morning light. 10 miles south

Ghost tour(2 hours)

Ghost City Tours walking tour: $25-35. Mercer-Williams House, Colonial Park Cemetery, haunted inns. Depart 8PM or 9:30PM. Fun even for skeptics

Drive to Tybee Island(25 minutes)

Rent a car ($30-50/day) or Uber ($20-30 each way)

Tybee Island Lighthouse(1 hour)

One of the first lighthouses in America. Climb 178 steps for ocean views. Entry: $12

North Beach morning(2 hours)

Quieter end of the island near the lighthouse and Fort Screven. Dolphins sometimes visible from shore

Lunch at The Crab Shack(1.5 hours)

Outdoor seafood institution on Tybee. Low-country boil: $28. Eat at picnic tables under the trees. Alligators in the pond

South Beach and pier(2 hours)

Main beach with pier, pavilion, and Marine Science Center. Wide sand, warm water

Brunch at Collins Quarter(1.5 hours)

Australian-inspired in the historic district. Lavender mocha: $6. Avocado toast: $14. Beautiful courtyard

Afternoon wandering the squares(2.5 hours)

Visit the squares you haven't seen. Johnson, Wright, Oglethorpe, Columbia. Each has a story. Grab a to-go cup

Mercer-Williams House Museum(1 hour)

Setting of 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.' Entry: $13. The guide tells the story of Jim Williams and Danny Hansford

First African Baptist Church(1 hour)

One of the oldest Black congregations in North America (1773). The holes in the floor boards are believed to be breathing holes for enslaved people hiding in the Underground Railroad. Deeply moving. Tours available

Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters(1.5 hours)

One of the finest Regency architecture examples in America. Entry: $20. The restored slave quarters are among the oldest in the urban South

Lunch at Sweet Potatoes Kitchen(1 hour)

African American-owned soul food. Oxtail plate: $18. Peach cobbler for dessert

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist(30 minutes)

Stunning twin-spire Gothic cathedral. Free entry. The stained glass and vaulted ceiling are breathtaking

Farewell dinner at Elizabeth on 37th(2 hours)

Elegant Southern dining in a 1900 mansion. Savannah red rice: $34. Reserve ahead. A fitting farewell

Sunrise walk from Forsyth to River Street(1 hour)

The morning light through Spanish moss. Quiet squares. Dewy gardens

Breakfast at Clary's Cafe(1 hour)

Featured in 'Midnight in the Garden.' Hearty breakfasts since 1903. Huevos rancheros: $14. On Abercorn

Last pralines and shopping(45 minutes)

Savannah Bee Company for honey, River Street Sweets for pralines

Horse-drawn carriage tour(1 hour)

Old Town Trolley or Carriage Tours of Savannah: $25-30. The guides are entertaining and knowledgeable. Architecture, history, and scandals

Lunch at Treylor Park(1 hour)

Creative comfort food on Bay Street. PB&J chicken wings: $14. The shrimp corn dog is absurd and delicious

Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home(45 minutes)

Where the great Southern Gothic writer grew up. Small museum at 207 East Charlton. Entry: $6. She raised peacocks here

Dinner at Olde Pink House(2 hours)

1771 Georgian mansion with pink stucco walls. Crispy flounder: $34. Live piano in the tavern downstairs. Classic Savannah dining

Coligny Beach(2 hours)

Hilton Head's main public beach. Wide sand, gentle waves, and palm trees. Free. Shower and restroom facilities

Dolphin watching boat tour(1.5 hours)

Guaranteed dolphin sightings in Port Royal Sound. Tours: $35-45. Depart from Harbour Town or Shelter Cove

Lunch at Hudson's Seafood House(1.5 hours)

On-the-water restaurant with fish caught by their own boats. She-crab soup: $9. Fresh catch: $22-30

Harbour Town Lighthouse(30 minutes)

Iconic striped lighthouse in Sea Pines. Entry: $7 (plus Sea Pines gate fee $8). Views over Calibogue Sound

Savannah walking food tour(3 hours)

Savannah Taste Experience or Savannah Food Tour: $45-65. Hit 6-8 stops across the historic district. Pralines, shrimp and grits, BBQ, and cocktails. Great way to find new favorites

Southern cooking class(2.5 hours)

Savannah Cooking Studio or 700 Kitchen: $60-90. Learn Lowcountry boil, she-crab soup, or biscuit making. Small classes with hands-on instruction

Evening at Jazz'd Tapas Bar(2 hours)

Live jazz nightly in the historic district. No cover most nights. Small plates: $8-16. Cocktails: $12-16

Brunch at B. Matthew's Eatery(1 hour)

Bay Street spot. Crab cake Benedict: $18

E. Shaver Booksellers(1.5 hours)

Independent bookshop in a gorgeous old house on Madison Square. One of the best bookstores in the South

Dinner at Cotton & Rye(1.5 hours)

Southern comfort food in a converted garage. Fried chicken and waffles: $22

Ferry to Sapelo Island(30 minutes)

State ferry: $15 round trip. Limited departures — check schedule. Reserve through Georgia DNR

Sapelo Island tour with local guide(3 hours)

Tour Hog Hammock community, Reynolds Mansion, lighthouse, and the tabby ruins. Community-led tours: $20-30. Learn about Gullah-Geechee language, food, and traditions still alive on this island

Lunch on the island(1 hour)

Limited options — some tours include a meal. Lula's Kitchen (if open) serves Gullah soul food

Jekyll Island Club historic district(2 hours)

Tour the 'cottage' mansions of America's richest families (1886-1942). Guided tour: $18. The Federal Reserve was secretly planned here in 1910

Driftwood Beach(1.5 hours)

Surreal beach covered in bleached driftwood trees. Free. One of the most photogenic beaches in the Southeast. Best at sunrise or sunset

Lunch at The Wharf(1 hour)

Waterfront seafood. Fried shrimp basket: $16

St. Simons Lighthouse and Museum(1 hour)

Climb 129 steps. Entry: $12. Views of Jekyll Island and the Atlantic

Walk the Pier Village(1 hour)

Shops, restaurants, and the massive live oaks in the village square

Lunch at Southern Soul BBQ(1 hour)

One of the best BBQ joints on the Georgia coast. Pulled pork plate: $14. Smoked wings: $12

Fort Frederica National Monument(1 hour)

Ruins of a 1736 British fort. Free NPS entry. Tabby ruins and history of the colonial defense against Spain

Brunch at Zunzi's(1 hour)

South African-Italian sandwich shop. The Godfather sandwich: $13. Cult following

Light dinner at Hitch(1 hour)

Farm-to-table gastropub. Seasonal menu. Plates: $14-22

Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum(1 hour)

Entry: $8. Documents the civil rights movement in Savannah, including the 1960 sit-ins and boycotts

Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor walk(2 hours)

With a local guide — several operators offer heritage-focused tours. Learn about the language, food, music, and spiritual traditions that survived the Middle Passage

Lunch at Sisters of the New South(1 hour)

African American-owned soul food. Smothered pork chops: $16. Peach cobbler: $6

Beach Institute African American Cultural Center(1 hour)

Housed in a school built for freed slaves in 1867. Rotating exhibitions. Entry: $6

Pin Point Heritage Museum(1.5 hours)

In the small Gullah community where Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas grew up. Oyster and crab processing factory turned museum. Entry: $10. 15 minutes south of downtown

Kayak tour on Skidaway Narrows(2.5 hours)

Paddle through salt marshes and tidal creeks. Dolphins, ospreys, and fiddler crabs. Savannah Canoe & Kayak: $50-65

Lunch at The Pirate's House(1 hour)

Historic restaurant built in 1753, mentioned in Treasure Island. A tourist attraction, yes, but the building is genuinely fascinating. Seafood platter: $28

Skidaway Island State Park(2 hours)

Boardwalks through maritime forest and salt marsh. Entry: $5/vehicle. The Sandpiper Trail has views of Skidaway Narrows. Watch for armadillos

Sunset at Fort Pulaski National Monument(1.5 hours)

Massive brick fort on Cockspur Island. Entry: $15 NPS. The moat, drawbridge, and casemates are impressive. The sunset from the fort walls is stunning

Ossabaw Island day trip (limited access)(6 hours)

Access only through organized trips via the Ossabaw Island Foundation. Day trips include boat transfer, guided nature walks through maritime forest, and visits to the historic North End settlement. Check ossabawisland.org for scheduled public days

Alternative: Starland District walk(2 hours)

South of Forsyth — emerging art district with murals, local restaurants, and the Starland Yard food hall

Alternative: Thunderbolt waterfront(1.5 hours)

Working shrimp boat dock 10 minutes from downtown. Watch the fleet come in. Tubby's Tank House for fresh catch