Street scene in Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia. Photo by @gcalebjones

Four Things You Can Only Do in Savannah

The moss-draped trees, the Southern charm, the quirky past — they’re just a few of the things that make Savannah such a fun city to visit. But what makes a visit to Savannah different than any other Southern port city? Here are four things you can only do in Savannah.

Visit the Admiral Benbow Inn

The Pirates' House in Savannah, Georgia
The Pirates' House in Savannah, Georgia

It’s not often you can visit the site of your favorite fantasy book in real life. The Pirates’ House restaurant is rumored to be the inspiration for the Admiral Benbow Inn in Robert Lewis Stevenson’s famous pirate book "Treasure Island." Framed on the walls are rare editions of the book. Costumed tour guides take diners on a colorful tour of the establishment where Long John Silver is said to haunt the halls. Maybe he’s looking for some of the delicious fried chicken. For more modern-day pirates, make plans to visit Tybee Island during the Pirate Festival in October.

See the Original Haunted Mansion

The Hamilton-Turner Inn in Savannah, Georgia
The Hamilton-Turner Inn in Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is so much fun, no one ever wants to leave, even the dead. It seems every house, park and hotel has a story about the ghosts that live there. It’s widely accepted that the Hamilton-Turner Inn was the inspiration for Walt Disney’s "Haunted Mansion." Disney decided to go with the playful ghosts he encountered on his stay in Savannah rather than a more traditional scary experience.

Sample Life’s Chocolates

Forrest Gump photo in Chippewa Square in Savannah, Georgia
Forrest Gump photo in Chippewa Square in Savannah, Georgia. Photo by Andrea David

Savannah’s squares are even more famous than their ghosts. At one time, there were 24 squares, but through the years they have been eaten up by development or redesigned for more usability. Chippewa Square is probably the most well-known. It’s where Forrest Gump sat on the bench equating life to a box of chocolates. Although you won’t sit in the bench occupied by Tom Hanks in the movie, you can sit in the square and sample a box of chocolates from Savannah’s own chocolatier Adam Turoni.

Go Back in Time

Tybee Island Lighthouse & Museum on Tybee Island, Georgia
Tybee Island Lighthouse & Museum on Tybee Island, Georgia. Photo by @gcalebjones

Just 20 minutes outside of Savannah is Tybee Island, known as Savannah Beach. Go back in time to Colonial Georgia at the historic Tybee Island Lighthouse. It is one of only seven lighthouse complexes in the country that remain from that timeframe. You’ll get a workout climbing the 178 steps to the top of the lighthouse, but you’ll be rewarded for spectacular views of the island.

Fast forward to the 1800s and the Civil War, and learn why they stopped building brick fortifications at Fort Pulaski. Or, lose time completely by taking a kayak tour through the salt marshes with Sea Kayak Georgia.

Published: May 2016
Written by: Sue Rodman
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