Savannah
Savannah is Spanish moss, cobblestone streets, and 22 garden squares laid out in 1733 — one of the most perfectly preserved colonial grids in America. It's also a to-go-cup town where SCAD art students, ghost tours, and century-old dining rooms like Mrs. Wilkes share the same shady blocks. Beach day at Tybee Island is 20 minutes east.
Tours & Experiences
Browse bookable tours, activities, and day trips in Savannah
📍 Points of Interest
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At a Glance
- Pop.
- 147K (city), 410K (metro)
- Timezone
- New York
- Dial
- +1
- Emergency
- 911
Savannah was founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe as Georgia's first colonial capital — the oldest city in the state and the first planned city in America
The original Oglethorpe Plan laid out the city around 24 public squares; 22 survive today, each shaded by live oaks dripping with Spanish moss and lined with antebellum mansions
Savannah's historic district allows open-container alcohol — you can legally walk the squares and River Street with a to-go cup from any bar (up to 16 oz, plastic only)
The city escaped Civil War destruction when Union General Sherman reached it in December 1864 and gifted it to President Lincoln as a "Christmas present" instead of burning it
Savannah hosts the third-largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the US (after NYC and Chicago) — fountains run green and the entire city turns into a multi-day block party
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) enrolls over 15,000 students across the historic district, and much of the restoration of the city's antebellum buildings traces back to SCAD purchases since 1978
Top Sights
Forsyth Park
🌳A 30-acre park at the southern edge of the historic district, anchored by a white cast-iron fountain (1858) that is one of the most photographed objects in the South. Locals picnic, play frisbee, and attend the Saturday farmers market here.
Bonaventure Cemetery
📌A 100-acre Victorian cemetery on a bluff over the Wilmington River, made famous by "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." Live oaks, Spanish moss, and weathered statuary create one of the most atmospheric places in the South. Free to enter.
River Street
🗼A cobblestone waterfront street along the Savannah River lined with 19th-century cotton warehouses converted into bars, candy shops, and restaurants. The cobblestones came over as ballast on English ships — wear sturdy shoes.
Chippewa Square & the Forrest Gump Bench Site
🗼The bus-stop scenes from "Forrest Gump" were filmed on the north end of Chippewa Square in 1993. The actual prop bench is now in the Savannah History Museum — the square has only a plaque — but the location itself is lovely.
Mercer-Williams House Museum
🏛️The 1860s Italianate mansion at the center of the "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" story — Jim Williams shot Danny Hansford in this drawing room. Now a house museum with Williams' antiques collection. Tour takes 45 min.
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
📌The spectacular twin-spired French Gothic cathedral on Lafayette Square, consecrated in 1876. The stained glass, Italian marble altar, and ceiling murals are worth a quiet 20-minute visit. Free to enter outside Mass times.
Telfair Academy & Jepson Center
🏛️Two sides of the Telfair Museums (America's oldest public art museum, founded 1883) — the Academy is a neoclassical mansion with Old Master and American paintings, and the Jepson across the square is a Moshe Safdie-designed contemporary wing.
Wormsloe Historic Site
📌A 400-meter avenue of 400+ live oaks planted in the 1890s leads to the tabby ruins of the 1739 Wormsloe estate. The oak-tunnel entrance is one of the most iconic images in Georgia. $10 state park entry fee.
Off the Beaten Path
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
A family-style Southern lunch counter on Jones Street operating since 1943 — ten seats to a table, bowls of fried chicken, collards, mac and cheese, biscuits, and banana pudding passed communally. Cash only, lunch only (11 AM - 2 PM), closed weekends.
Arrive by 10:45 AM at the absolute latest or you will stand in a line around the block for 60-90 minutes. The chicken is worth the wait. A 1940s South Carolina tradition preserved in amber.
Skidaway Island State Park
A 588-acre marshland state park 15 minutes south of downtown with elevated boardwalks through tidal creeks, birdwatching, and genuinely empty walking trails. $5 parking.
Tourists swarm Wormsloe's oak avenue and call it a day. Locals come to Skidaway for actual marsh access — expect alligator sightings, painted buntings, and almost no crowds.
The Grey
Chef Mashama Bailey's James Beard-winning restaurant in a restored 1938 Greyhound bus terminal — art deco interior, Port City Southern menu that reinterprets Lowcountry and West African traditions. Reservations essential 3-4 weeks ahead.
The most important fine-dining restaurant in the American South right now, run by the first Black woman to win a Beard. The bar seats take walk-ins at 5:30 PM.
Graveface Records & Curiosities
An oddball record shop/taxidermy museum on Bull Street with a rotating collection of serial-killer artwork, vintage carnival prizes, and a genuinely deep vinyl selection heavy on psych and punk.
Savannah has a well-earned reputation for weird, and Graveface is the weirdest corner of it — half shop, half curiosity cabinet, very Savannah.
Starland District Bar Crawl
A ten-block stretch on Bull Street south of Forsyth Park with Savannah's most interesting independent bars (The Vault, Starland Yard, Two Tides Brewing) and the colorful Back in the Day Bakery for morning-after biscuits.
River Street is a tourist strip; Starland is where SCAD students and young locals actually drink. Feels like a neighborhood, not a theme park.
Insider Tips
Climate & Best Time to Go
Monthly climate & crowd levels
Savannah has a humid subtropical climate — mild winters, long pollen-heavy springs, and notoriously muggy summers where the heat index regularly crosses 105°F. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with highest risk in August-September. Spring (March-May) and late autumn (October-November) are the clear sweet spots.
Spring
March - May54-82°F
12-28°C
The best time to visit. Azaleas, dogwoods, and wisteria explode across the squares in late March, temperatures are in the 70s°F, and the humidity has not yet settled in. St. Patrick's Day weekend (mid-March) is the busiest of the year.
Summer
June - August73-93°F
23-34°C
Hot and aggressively humid — the kind of heat that coats you as soon as you step outside. Daily afternoon thunderstorms cool things briefly. Live-oak shade in the squares is genuinely useful. Hurricane watch ramps up in August.
Autumn
September - November57-84°F
14-29°C
September is still muggy and hurricane-prone. October and November are arguably the best stretch of the year — warm days, cool evenings, no humidity, clear skies. The SCAD Film Festival runs in late October.
Winter
December - February41-63°F
5-17°C
Mild by US standards. Daytime highs usually in the 55-65°F range. Hard freezes are rare but possible. Hotels drop 30-40% and the squares look gorgeous in the bare-limbed winter light — a quietly underrated time to visit.
Best Time to Visit
Mid-March through May and October through early November are the clear winners — warm days, cool evenings, azaleas or fall light, no humidity. St. Patrick's Day weekend (mid-March) is spectacular but packed; book 3-4 months ahead. Avoid July-August humidity and the August-September hurricane peak.
Spring (March - May)
Crowds: Very high around St. Patrick's Day; high through MayPeak season. Azaleas and dogwoods explode across the squares, St. Patrick's Day turns the city into a party, and temperatures are patio-perfect. Book hotels 2-3 months ahead for March-April.
Pros
- + Perfect weather
- + Azalea bloom
- + St. Patrick's Day Parade
- + Long patio evenings
- + Low humidity
Cons
- − Highest hotel rates of the year
- − Restaurants booked out weeks ahead
- − Pollen is intense (bring allergy meds)
- − Parking nightmares during St. Pat's
Summer (June - August)
Crowds: Moderate downtown, high at TybeeHot, humid, and hurricane-prone — but the Tybee beach crowd comes alive and downtown quiets down on weekdays. Early mornings and post-sunset are the only bearable time to walk the squares.
Pros
- + Beach season
- + Long daylight hours
- + Lower weekday downtown rates
- + Outdoor concerts in the squares
Cons
- − Heat index 100-110°F daily
- − Daily afternoon thunderstorms
- − Hurricane watch starts in August
- − Walking tours become exhausting
Autumn (September - November)
Crowds: Moderate, declining through NovemberSeptember is still muggy and hurricane-prone, but October and November are arguably the best conditions of the year. The SCAD Film Festival (late October) and Tybee Pirate Fest are highlights.
Pros
- + Exceptional weather (Oct-Nov)
- + Fewer tourists than spring
- + SCAD Film Festival draws stars
- + Oyster season returns
Cons
- − Hurricane risk through October
- − September still humid
- − Shorter daylight by November
Winter (December - February)
Crowds: Low except around Christmas/New YearMild and quietly beautiful — temperatures in the 50s-60s°F, bare-limbed squares look haunting in the winter light. Hotels drop 30-40% and restaurant reservations open up. Pack layers.
Pros
- + Cheapest hotel rates
- + Restaurant reservations easy
- + Holiday decorations in the squares
- + Pleasant walking temperatures
Cons
- − Occasional freezing snaps
- − Beach swimming not possible
- − Some walking tour operators reduce hours
- − Shortened daylight
🎉 Festivals & Events
Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 17 (or nearest weekend)The third-largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the US — the city dyes the fountain green, 300,000+ people flood the historic district, and the celebration rolls across 4-5 days. Book hotels 4-6 months in advance.
Savannah Music Festival
Late March - Early AprilA 17-day festival of jazz, classical, blues, and world music at venues across the city. One of the South's top acoustic-music events.
Savannah Book Festival
Mid-FebruaryA four-day literary festival with major authors giving talks across historic district venues. Most events are free.
SCAD Savannah Film Festival
Late October - Early NovemberAn 8-day festival hosted by SCAD with major studio premieres, director Q&As, and genuine Oscar-buzz films. Draws actors and directors to the historic district.
Tybee Island Pirate Fest
Early OctoberA three-day pirate-themed festival on Tybee Island with a parade, live music, costume contests, and a very committed adult-pirate community. Absurd and fun.
Christmas on the River
Late November - Early DecemberRiver Street lights up with a tree-lighting ceremony, the lighted boat parade, and holiday shopping. Families come in from the suburbs.
Safety Breakdown
Moderate
out of 100
The historic district is generally safe during the day and into the evening, with a heavy tourist-police presence and well-lit main streets. Savannah has a higher violent-crime rate than Charleston by raw numbers, mostly concentrated in neighborhoods north and west of the historic district that tourists rarely visit. The most common visitor issues are car break-ins, aggressive panhandling near River Street, and overdoing it on to-go cups.
Things to Know
- •Never leave anything visible in a parked car — smash-and-grab break-ins are the #1 tourist crime, especially at Bonaventure Cemetery and Wormsloe lots
- •Stick to the historic district (south to Forsyth Park) and Starland after dark — avoid wandering north of Bay Street or west of MLK Jr. Boulevard late at night
- •The open-container law is only legal in the historic district and only up to 16 oz in a plastic cup — step outside that zone with an open drink and it's a $200+ citation
- •Summer heat is genuinely dangerous — the heat index regularly exceeds 100°F and tourists faint every week. Hydrate and take midday breaks in air-conditioned cafes
- •Hurricane season (Jun-Nov) means monitoring NOAA alerts and heeding evacuation orders — Savannah has flooded during recent storms
- •Watch for uneven River Street cobblestones and tree roots buckling the historic-district sidewalks — sprained ankles are the most common tourist injury by a mile
Natural Hazards
Emergency Numbers
Emergency (Police/Fire/Medical)
911
Non-emergency Police (Savannah)
912-651-6675
Coast Guard (Charleston Sector)
843-740-7050
Poison Control
1-800-222-1222
Costs & Currency
Where the money goes
USD per dayQuick cost estimate
Customize per category →Estimates based on regional averages. Flight prices vary by season and airline.
budget
$80-140
Budget hotel on the outskirts or Airbnb room, walking and DOT shuttle only, casual meals and happy hours, free sights (squares, Forsyth, Bonaventure, River Street)
mid-range
$200-380
Boutique hotel near the historic district, mix of fine and casual meals, carriage or ghost tour, Mrs. Wilkes lunch, Wormsloe or Bonaventure guided visit
luxury
$550+
Perry Lane Hotel or The Mansion on Forsyth Park, tasting menu at The Grey or Elizabeth on 37th, private tours, spa, day trip to Tybee or Charleston
Typical Costs
| Item | Local | USD |
|---|---|---|
| AccommodationBudget hotel / Airbnb room | $80-140 | $80-140 |
| AccommodationMid-range boutique hotel | $200-380 | $200-380 |
| AccommodationLuxury historic inn | $450-850+ | $450-850+ |
| FoodMrs. Wilkes family-style lunch | $28 per person | $28 |
| FoodShrimp and grits at a casual spot | $16-24 | $16-24 |
| FoodDinner for two at The Grey (no booze) | $140-200 | $140-200 |
| FoodLunch at The Olde Pink House | $18-30 | $18-30 |
| FoodCraft cocktail at Artillery or The Vault | $13-18 | $13-18 |
| FoodLeopold's single scoop | $5-7 | $5-7 |
| FoodCollins Quarter brunch | $18-28 | $18-28 |
| TransportDOT Shuttle | Free | Free |
| TransportUber across the historic district | $6-12 | $6-12 |
| TransportUber to SAV airport | $20-30 | $20-30 |
| TransportUber to Tybee Island | $30-45 | $30-45 |
| TransportRental car per day | $45-90 | $45-90 |
| AttractionsMercer-Williams House Museum | $12-14 | $12-14 |
| AttractionsTelfair Museums (3-venue pass) | $20 | $20 |
| AttractionsCarriage tour | $30-38 | $30-38 |
| AttractionsGhost tour | $25-35 | $25-35 |
| AttractionsWormsloe Historic Site entry | $10 | $10 |
💡 Money-Saving Tips
- •The vast majority of Savannah's sights are free — the 22 squares, Forsyth Park, Bonaventure Cemetery, Cathedral of St. John, Colonial Park Cemetery, and River Street all cost nothing
- •The DOT shuttle is free — skip the hop-on-hop-off tourist trolleys ($30+) for the same coverage through the historic district
- •Eat a giant Mrs. Wilkes lunch for $28 and you won't need dinner — the fried chicken is legit
- •Happy hour is a religion here — Artillery, The Ordinary Pub, and most River Street bars run 4-6 PM specials
- •Stay in Starland or Thomas Square instead of the historic district for 30-40% cheaper hotels and a 10-min walk/Uber to the squares
- •Skip pricey ghost tours by walking Colonial Park Cemetery and the squares yourself at dusk — the atmosphere is free
- •Tybee Island is free to enter; parking is $3/hour — split with friends if you drive
- •The SCAD Museum of Art is $10 — worth it if you like contemporary, and often worth skipping if not
- •Visit in January or mid-August through early September (before hurricane peak) for the lowest hotel rates of the year
US Dollar
Code: USD
The US Dollar is accepted everywhere. ATMs are plentiful throughout downtown and at every grocery/drug store. International visitors should either exchange at the airport or use an ATM with a debit card for the best rates. Georgia state sales tax plus local adds up to 8% in Chatham County — not included in posted prices.
Payment Methods
Credit and debit cards work virtually everywhere. Contactless (Apple Pay, Google Pay, tap-to-pay) is widely supported. A few holdouts are cash-only — most notably Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room — so always carry some cash. ATM fees at out-of-network machines run $3-5.
Tipping Guide
18-22% is standard in Savannah; 20% has become the default for sit-down dining. Tax is not included in the menu price.
$1-2 per drink for beer/wine; $2-3 per cocktail; 18-20% if running a tab.
15-20% for taxis. Uber/Lyft tips through the app — $2-5 is typical for short rides.
$2-5 per bag for bellhops. $3-5 per night for housekeeping. $5-10 for the concierge when they book something for you.
$5-10 per person for group walking and ghost tours; $5-10 per family for carriage tours. Tip your guide directly at the end.
$3-5 when the car is brought back to you.
Tip is pooled for the whole dining room — leave 18-20% on the per-person price.
How to Get There
✈️ Airports
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport(SAV)
11 mi west (15-20 min by car)Uber/Lyft: $20-30. Taxi: ~$28 flat rate. Rental cars all on-site. CAT bus route 100 runs to downtown for $1.50 but takes 50+ minutes with a transfer. Many downtown hotels run complimentary shuttles — ask when booking.
✈️ Search flights to SAVJacksonville International Airport (alternate)(JAX)
145 mi south (2 hr 15 min by car)Sometimes cheaper for international connections. Rental car is the only realistic option — there is no direct bus or rail. Useful only if SAV flights are $200+ more expensive.
✈️ Search flights to JAX🚆 Rail Stations
Savannah Amtrak Station
4 mi westA genuinely useful Amtrak stop — the Silver Meteor, Silver Star, and Palmetto trains all stop here daily, connecting to NYC (17-18 hr), Washington DC (11-12 hr), Charleston (1 hr 45 min), and Miami (12-14 hr). The station is 4 miles west of downtown — take Uber ($12-18) as the area isn't walkable.
🚌 Bus Terminals
Greyhound Savannah
Daily service to Charleston (2 hr, $20-40), Jacksonville (2.5 hr, $25-45), Atlanta (5-6 hr, $40-75), and NYC (20-24 hr). The terminal is at 610 W Oglethorpe Ave, walkable from the western historic district.
FlixBus
FlixBus runs daily routes to Charleston, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Atlanta, often cheaper than Greyhound ($15-40). Pickup is curbside at 610 W Oglethorpe Ave.
Getting Around
Savannah's historic district is small, flat, and gorgeously walkable — the entire square grid is about 1 mile by 1.5 miles. The DOT (Downtown Transportation) shuttle runs for free through the historic district, which solves most in-town needs. Rideshare fills the gaps, and a rental car is worth it only if you're doing Tybee Island or the plantations. Bikes are a great option in the flat, shaded squares.
Walking
FreeThe squares are designed for it — 22 of them, each a pocket park with benches, laid out every 2-3 blocks. You can cross the entire historic district in 25 minutes. Sidewalks are old brick and occasional cobblestone, so comfortable shoes matter.
Best for: Everything in the historic district and Starland
DOT Shuttle (Downtown Transportation)
FreeA free shuttle loop operated by Chatham Area Transit that circles the historic district every 20 minutes, connecting River Street, City Market, Forsyth Park, and the Visitor Center. Seasonal ferry across the river to the Westin is also free.
Best for: Getting to River Street from the southern historic district with tired feet
Uber & Lyft
$6-12 within historic district; $20-30 to airport; $30-45 to TybeeWidely available. Fastest way to Tybee Island (if you don't rent a car), Bonaventure, Wormsloe, or the airport. Surge pricing kicks in on St. Patrick's weekend and SCAD graduation.
Best for: Airport, Tybee, Bonaventure, Wormsloe, late nights in Starland
Bike Rental
$20-35/day cruiser; $40-60/day e-bikeSeveral downtown shops rent cruisers and e-bikes (Perry Rubber Bike Shop, Bicycle Link). The squares force you to slow down but the flat terrain and tree cover make for extremely pleasant riding.
Best for: Covering more ground than walking, riding out to Ardsley Park or the Islands Expressway
CAT Buses (Chatham Area Transit)
$1.50 per ride; $3 day passA limited fixed-route bus network serving the metro. Useful for budget airport transfers (route 100) but infrequent service makes it impractical for most tourists.
Best for: Budget airport transfers (route 100 to the Joe Murray Rivers Jr. Intermodal Transit Center)
Rental Car
$45-90/day from SAV airportWorth renting for a day or two if you're doing Tybee, Bonaventure, Wormsloe, or day-tripping to Charleston. Historic district parking is pay-by-the-hour ($1-2/hr meters) or garage ($15-25/day).
Best for: Tybee day trips, Bonaventure + Wormsloe, Charleston day trips, anyone combining coastal trips
🚶 Walkability
The historic district is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the American South — designed in 1733 as a pedestrian grid, flat, deeply shaded by live oaks, with a square to rest in every 2-3 blocks. The main hazards are uneven brick sidewalks and the cobblestones on River Street. Outside the historic district and Starland, the city becomes car-dependent fast.
Travel Connections
Charleston
Savannah's wealthier, more formal South Carolina cousin — 18th-century Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter, upscale Lowcountry dining, and a bigger tourist machine. The natural pairing for a week-long Southern coast trip.
Tybee Island
Savannah's beach — a laid-back barrier island with wide public beaches, a working lighthouse (climbable), and Fort Pulaski National Monument on the way. The classic Savannah day trip; skip the hotels on-island and drive back for dinner.
Jacksonville, FL
A massive, sprawling river city with good craft beer, a surprisingly strong museum scene (Cummer Museum), and access to Atlantic Beach. Most travelers use JAX airport as an alternative gateway when SAV flights are expensive.
Atlanta
Georgia's capital and biggest city — Coca-Cola, CNN, MLK Jr. National Historical Park, and the High Museum of Art. A long drive but the most common in-state pairing for Savannah visitors flying into ATL.
Beaufort & the Sea Islands
A tiny antebellum town between Savannah and Charleston with deep Gullah-Geechee heritage on neighboring St. Helena Island (Penn Center is the cultural heart). Hunting Island State Park has undeveloped beaches.
Entry Requirements
Savannah is in the United States. Entry requirements follow US federal immigration law — most visitors need either a visa or an approved ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program. International arrivals typically connect through Atlanta (ATL) or Charlotte (CLT) before reaching SAV. Jacksonville (JAX) is an alternative gateway when SAV flights are expensive.
Entry Requirements by Nationality
| Nationality | Visa Required | Max Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Citizens | Visa-free | 6 months | No visa or ESTA required. Valid passport needed. |
| UK Citizens | Visa-free | 90 days | ESTA required ($21, valid 2 years). Apply online before travel. |
| EU/Schengen Citizens | Visa-free | 90 days | ESTA required. Apply at least 72 hours before departure. |
| Australian Citizens | Visa-free | 90 days | ESTA required. Standard Visa Waiver Program rules apply. |
| Chinese Citizens | Yes | Up to 10 years (multiple entry B1/B2) | Must apply for a B1/B2 visa at the US Embassy. Interview required. |
| Indian Citizens | Yes | Varies | B1/B2 tourist visa required with embassy interview. |
Visa-Free Entry
Tips
- •Apply for ESTA at least 72 hours before your flight
- •ESTA costs $21 and is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires
- •SAV is a small airport — most international connections route through Atlanta, Charlotte, JFK, or Miami
- •Global Entry ($100, 5 years) speeds up arrival at your connection city, not SAV itself
- •US Customs allows $800 in duty-free goods per person
Shopping
Savannah's shopping clusters in three main areas: River Street for touristy souvenirs and candy shops, Broughton Street for national retailers and upscale boutiques, and City Market plus the Starland District for art and independent makers. SCAD shops (shopSCAD and the Sandfly ReNewal) sell work by current students — genuinely good gifts. Georgia has an 8% sales tax.
River Street
waterfront tourist districtA 9-block cobblestoned stretch of converted cotton warehouses housing souvenir shops, River Street Sweets (free praline samples), Savannah Candy Kitchen, and art galleries. Touristy but genuinely scenic at dusk.
Known for: Pralines, saltwater taffy, Savannah-branded souvenirs, cheap art
Broughton Street
main shopping corridorThe historic main commercial street running east-west through the heart of downtown, with a mix of national chains (Lululemon, J.Crew, Madewell, Urban Outfitters), local boutiques, and the beautifully restored Leopold's Ice Cream.
Known for: National chains, clothing boutiques, jewelry, beauty/home goods
City Market
historic marketA four-block open-air district around Jefferson and Saint Julian Streets with artist studios, craft shops, bars, and live music on weekends. More commercial than Charleston's City Market but lively.
Known for: Local art studios, ceramics, Georgia crafts, souvenir shirts
Starland District
indie creative districtSouth of Forsyth Park along Bull Street and Desoto Avenue — SCAD-adjacent galleries, vintage shops, plant stores, and independent makers. Starland Yard (a converted parking lot) has a collective of food stalls and artisans.
Known for: Vintage, handmade goods, plants, zines, SCAD student work
shopSCAD
student art boutiqueA retail shop on Bull Street selling pieces by current SCAD students and alumni — jewelry, prints, textiles, ceramics, clothing. Prices are reasonable and the quality is genuinely gallery-grade.
Known for: Student/alumni art, unique textiles, handmade jewelry, prints
🎁 Unique Souvenirs to Look For
- •Savannah pralines from River Street Sweets or Savannah Candy Kitchen — the original recipe candy, box of 12 runs $15-20
- •Tupelo or wildflower honey from Savannah Bee Company (the Broughton flagship has a tasting bar)
- •Leopold's Ice Cream ice-cream-sandwich-shaped plushies, merch, or a pint of their Tutti Frutti to take to your hotel
- •A piece of SCAD student art from shopSCAD — better than any mass-produced Savannah souvenir
- •Benne wafers — the West African-origin sesame cookies shared across the Lowcountry
- •Georgia pecans, pecan brittle, or pecan-oil cosmetics from Savannah Square Pops or the Pecan Man at City Market
- •A signed copy of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" by John Berendt, available at E. Shaver Booksellers on Bull Street
Language & Phrases
English is the primary language. Gullah-Geechee — a distinct English-based creole with West African grammatical roots — is still spoken by some residents on the Sea Islands between Savannah and Charleston. Savannahians have a softer, more melodic Southern accent than inland Georgians, and the casual use of "y'all" and "fixin' to" is genuine, not performance.
| English | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| You all / all of you | Y'all | yawl — the universal Southern pronoun; "all y'all" is the plural-plural |
| About to / planning to | Fixin' to | FIX-in tuh — "I'm fixin' to head to Mrs. Wilkes" |
| Polite dismissal or sympathy | Bless your heart | bless yer HART — sincere sympathy OR a genteel way of calling you an idiot; context is everything |
| The coastal plain of SC/GA | The Lowcountry | LOW-cuntree — the flat tidal marsh terrain between Charleston and Savannah |
| Sea Island West African creole culture | Gullah-Geechee | GULL-uh GEE-chee — the Sea Island descendants of enslaved West Africans, with distinct language, cuisine, and crafts |
| Open-container cup for booze on the street | To-go cup | TOH-go cup — legal up to 16 oz plastic in the historic district only |
| The 22 historic pocket parks | Squares | skwares — each has a name, a monument, and usually a bench you can sit on forever |
| A SCAD student | SCADder | SCAD-dur — you can spot them by the sketchbook, the paint-stained Carhartts, and the cold brew |