Last Updated on May 26, 2023 by Deanne
Are you taking a day trip to Savannah, Georgia, looking for some family-fun things to do with kids or teens? If so, you’re in the right place. We recently spent one day in Savannah with our two teenage sons and 11 year-old daughter. Even with limited time, we wanted to experience the essence of this beautiful coastal town without feeling rushed.
Savannah is known for its well-preserved architecture, beautiful old oak trees draped in Spanish moss, and its history. Sounds perfect for couples, adults, and retirees, but what about families? While I was fairly certain my husband and I would love Savannah, I wanted to make sure my kids had a great time, too.
Day Trip to Savannah the whole family will enjoy
With only one day in Savannah we managed to sprinkle in fascinating learning, fun exploring, and lots of good eating. Our family of five thoroughly enjoyed our time in Savannah. Here’s how your family can do the same.
Prepare for your day trip
To make the most of your day trip to Savannah, prepare a bit before arriving so you can make efficient use of your short time in the city and keep kids engaged and excited about exploring.
1. Familiarize yourself with a map of the city.
Known as America’s first planned city, Savannah is laid out in a grid format. The city includes more than 20 squares filled with beautiful parks, grassy areas, businesses, churches and monuments. Savannah’s Historic District is designated as a National Historic Landmark District by the National Park Service. In fact, Savannah encompasses more than 1,600 restored structures in just over two square miles and is the largest Historic Landmark District in the country. The area is walkable, so decide approximately where you want to start and which direction you want to explore. We started in Forsyth Park and headed north to the river.
2. Read up briefly on Savannah’s history.
It helps to know some of Savannah’s history before arriving. I quickly reviewed a little bit about Savannah with my three kids so they would be familiar with names and places we would encounter during our tour of the city. James Oglethorpe, for one, was a name I knew we’d read/hear a lot about throughout the city. A military leader and social reformer, Oglethorpe founded the city of Savannah in 1733. I briefed them on Oglethorpe’s friendship with Tomochichi, Head Chief of the Yamacraw Indians – an intriguing story that made visiting Tomochichi’s grave site all the more interesting when we happened upon it.
3. Research restaurants ahead of time.
You will have your fill of delectable and fun dining options. In fact, the amount and variety of restaurants to choose from may be a tad overwhelming, so do your research ahead of time. This will save time and ensure the entire family is happy with the choices. It’s also important to plan ahead if reservations are necessary. Keep reading to find out about some of our favorite foods from our day trip to Savannah.
4. Vote on how to spend your time.
It’s best to have somewhat of a plan before arriving in Savannah. There are many ways to get around – walk, bike, trolley, etc. as well as different sights to see. With limited time, you won’t be able to experience everything Savannah has to offer, so decide as a family how you want to spend your time to get the most from your day trip.
Family-fun Ideas During A Day Trip To Savannah
While spending more than a day in Savannah would be nice, you can actually cover a lot of ground and get a good taste of the city in just a day trip. Fortunately, Savannah has plenty of kid/teen-friendly activities to mix in with all of the history you’ll encounter to make sure everyone has a good time.
(For more teen-friendly destinations, check out our articles: 6 Tips for Planning a Trip to Sedona with Teens, Boston with Teens, and 10 Tips for a Family Trip to Italy with Teenagers.)
Forsyth Park
You’ve likely seen Forsyth Park’s famous fountain in photographs. Surrounded by beautiful flowers and large oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, Forsyth Park is the epitome of Savannah’s natural beauty and enchantment. Stroll through the park, pose for pictures or just sit on a park bench and soak in Savannah’s charm. On this bright blue sunny day, even my teen boys were taken in by the allure of this park. For younger kids, check out the two playgrounds just down the walkway from the fountain.
Historic District
Continue on through the Historic District, walk up and down the roads, read the signs in the squares telling of Savannah’s famous people and history. You’ll encounter churches steeped in history, beautiful 18th and 19th century homes, the birthplace of Girl Scouts founder, Juliette Gordon Low (on Oglethorpe Avenue), and grave sites of historical figures like Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence buried in Colonial Park Cemetery.
Now, in case your kids are like mine and are only interested in history to a point, it’s good to mention that as you meander through these beautiful history-filled streets, you’ll also be making your way toward some really great spots for lunch.
Tours, if time allows
While our family decided to do our own walking tour of the city, we saw plenty of families on guided tours. There is a variety to choose from and can be a fun way to keep kids entertained while exploring Savannah. Your family can glide around town on Segways, ride bicycles, take narrated carriage rides, guided walking tours, or trolley rides. The hop-on, hop-off trolleys are popular, but I’ve heard they can get busy and can include long wait times to catch the next trolley, so keep that in mind if you’re short on time. You’ll want to research which tour makes sense for your family and fits within your schedule for the day.
Forrest Gump bench site
Head to Chippewa Square on Bull Street to see the location of the bench scenes from Forrest Gump. The bench has been moved to a museum, but it’s still cool to see the exact site Tom Hanks played this iconic role. The scene took place on the north side of the square facing Bull Street. There is a garden there now so it doesn’t look exactly the same as it did in the movie, but the background contains the same monument and grassy area. Note: Be sure to check out the statue in Chippewa Square of colonial founder James Oglethorpe.
Lunch
If you’re in Savannah for just one meal or three, you’ll wish it was more. There are so many restaurants to choose from, you may have a hard time deciding. From southern fried chicken to scrumptious seafood and everything in between, there are restaurants steeped in history, British-style pubs, places serving family-style and sites said to be haunted. One interesting place is The Pirates’ House which dates back to 1753. It started as an inn for seafarers but eventually became a gathering place for pirates. The pirate theme atmosphere can be entertaining for kids, but the wait for a table can be long, so plan ahead. Our family chose to eat at Goose Feathers Café on Barnard Street since our kids were craving breakfast for lunch. The cozy cafe is very highly rated and the long line proved its popularity. The wait went fast, though, and it was definitely worth it. The kids gobbled up their whipped cream and fruit-topped waffles and I highly recommend their veggie panini. If you go, know that Goose Feathers is only open until 2 p.m.
Leopold’s Ice Cream
After discovering more of the city we made sure to incorporate an afternoon snack. We headed to Leopold’s Ice Cream on Broughton Street – a very popular Savannah tradition since 1919. However, the line was out the door, down and around the block. We didn’t have the time or desire to wait in line, so we ventured to Hokulia just down the street for some shaved ice and smoothies. (They also serve ice cream and gourmet popcorn.) We made note to check out Leopold’s the next time we’re in town. I’ve heard people wait as much as an hour to get their scoop of ice cream. People say it’s worth it, so fit this in your schedule if you can.
Savannah’s Waterfront
Savannah’s waterfront includes wide cobblestone streets lined with old cotton warehouses turned into shops, galleries, restaurants, and hotels. We had fun walking along the Savannah River, stopping to take pictures of the largest cargo ship we’d ever seen sail by. The Riverwalk is a lively place and fun for the whole family.
(After your Savannah day trip, consider heading two hours south to Amelia Island, Florida. Click here for 10 reasons to make Amelia Island, Florida, your next beach getaway.)
Savannah’s Candy Kitchen
Now, your family will likely be full from all the great Savannah food you’ve eaten, but one final place to top off your family-fun day trip is a visit to Savannah’s Candy Kitchen. (Remember you can load up and save for later!) If you want to see the phrase “like a kid in a candy store” come to life, let your kids/teens loose in what’s known as the largest candy store in the south. Pecan pralines, old-fashioned peanut brittle and more, you’ll be just as excited to scope out the treats at this mouthwatering Savannah staple.
We packed a lot into our day-trip to Savannah, but we know we just touched the surface of all the fun and charm the city has to offer. Have you been to Savannah? What was your favorite part? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.
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