Visiting Savannah and in need of family-friendly activities that everyone will enjoy? From outdoor adventures at parks to interactive, kid-friendly exhibits at museums and animal discoveries at wildlife centers and aquariums, fun is just around the corner!
1. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a famous Savannah treat
River Street has two amazing candy shops: River Street Sweets and Savannah’s Candy Kitchen. Stop in for free praline samples and visit River Street Sweets for amazing ice cream and gelato! Or, if you find yourself on Broughton Street, the line at Leopold’s Ice Cream is well worth the wait. Indulge in their homemade, premium ice cream flavors, such as Tutti Frutti, Butter Pecan or Coconut. Get a coke float, coffee float, ice cream sundae or even ice cream cake!
2. Tour the exhibits in any of Savannah’s museums and galleries
Rain or shine, a trip to any of Savannah’s museums promises fun for the whole family. Visit the Tricentennial Park to experience the Savannah History Museum, Savannah Children’s Museum and the Georgia State Railroad Museum all within the Central of Georgia Railway National Historic Landmark. Telfair Museums’ three sites bring to life 200 years of art, history and architecture in Georgia’s first city.
3. Hit the beach with a trip to Tybee Island or Hilton Head Island
Visit Tybee Island for a weekend full of family fun! Walk the Georgia coast or rent a bicycle for a fun way to get around the island. At South Beach, you can enjoy a snow cone on the beach, go fishing on the pier, shop, listen to live music and much more. At the recently-renovated North Beach, guests can visit the Tybee Lighthouse and Fort Screven, a landmark full of history that the whole family can explore. Or cross the state line into South Carolina and see the white-sand beaches of Hilton Head Island! If your vacation’s all about the beach, there are plenty of hotels on Tybee Island so you can stay close to the water.
4. Take to the seas with fishing, dolphin tours and more
Aquatic adventures abound off the Georgia coast! Enjoy family fun on the water and keep a sharp eye out for dolphins during a tour through Georgia’s waterways. Hop on an inshore or offshore fishing charter to reel in the big one, or take to the water yourself with a kayaking or stand up paddle boarding excursion! And at the end of the day, sit back and sample fresh seafood at local restaurants. You won’t want to miss the beautiful sunset views over the water.
5. Get outside for an adventure in nature
Savannah is a city known for her Southern charm, quaint squares and deep-rooted history. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to escape the urban setting and reconnect with the outdoors. From the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge and Oatland Island Wildlife Center to the islands off Georgia’s coast, there are plenty of chances to trek through nature. Pack your hiking shoes and see the array of wildlife that calls Savannah home. You can even roam the grounds of the historic Bonaventure Cemetery, either with a tour or at your own pace. When spring comes and the azaleas are in peak bloom in March, there’s no better time to get outside!
6. Catch a Savannah Bananas Baseball Game
Go Bananas with the family at a Savannah Bananas baseball game! Enjoy America’s favorite pastime at Grayson Stadium, a field with a prestigious history of its own. Legends such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb and Jackie Robinson all played on this field in their early days in the Minor Leagues during exhibitions. The Bananas are a member of the Coastal Plain League, which is considered one of the top prospect leagues for professional players in the country along with the Northwoods League and Cape Cod League. This year’s season runs May 30, 2019 through August 3, 2019.
7. Discover Savannah’s historic sites at your own pace
From the squares and mansions within the Historic District to the forts and battlefields just outside the city, even a simple stroll through Savannah is a trip through time. Some antebellum homes, like the Davenport House and the infamous Mercer Williams House, are open for tours. Both Fort Pulaski and Old Fort Jackson perform reenactments and cannon firings. And no Girl Scout can leave Savannah without taking a tour of the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace.
8. Explore downtown Savannah on a guided tour
There are so many ways to tour Savannah, it’s easy to make your visit as unique as your family! Hop on and off at your leisure with Old Town Trolley Tours. Listen to the tales told by Old Savannah Tours‘ historical reenactors. Strap on a helmet and zoom around the city on a segway. Take a leisurely, romantic tour by horse-drawn carriage. Or indulge your spooky side and check out Savannah’s haunted history with a ghost tour by foot, trolley or even hearse! And don’t worry about leaving your furry family members behind; as one of the most dog-friendly cities to take a vacation to, there are plenty of activities you can bring your pup to!
9. Run and play at Forsyth Park
Explore Forsyth Park and find something the entire family will enjoy! Bring the kids to the shaded playgrounds and some chalk to make your masterpiece on the sidewalk. Enjoy concerts, jogging, playing fetch with the family pet, soccer or frisbee in the open fields or play a family game of basketball or tennis on one of the courts on the south side of the park. Grab your lunch to go and have a picnic on the lawn!
10. Discover marine life at the University of Georgia Aquarium
Visit the University of Georgia Marine Education Center and Aquarium, a part of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant! It houses a variety of coastal fish, invertebrates and reptiles, most of which are native to the Georgia coast. The aquarium features a touch tank, which allows visitors to interact hands-on with marine life, as well as multiple exhibit tanks that feature jellies, lionfish, a loggerhead sea turtle and much more. To learn more about the aquarium’s hours and admission rates, visit their website at gacoast.uga.edu.
