Visiting Savannah from Hilton Head - ideas??

[kmccl]

We are so excited to be going to Hilton Head the last week in March for the second year in a row. This year we wanted to make a day trip to Savannah. I know that many people do this. I would be extremely grateful if some of you could give me pointers/tips on things to do in Savannah and possibly things to avoid. It will be me, my wife and four children (11, 7, 4, 2). Any advice and or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SusieBea]

I suggest you take one of the tours of Savannah. At least one of the bus tours allows you to get off, explore the immediate area, and get back on the next bus and continue your tour. I would also suggest you ride out to Tybee Island. There's an old fort there, a beach, and The Crab Shack restaurant which your kids might enjoy: www.thecrabshack.com It's a fun day trip and the drive is only about 45 minutes.

 

[JoEllen]

We're going to HH the first week of April and also want to explore Savannah one day. The riverboat cruise has been recommended to us. Here's the link:

http://savannahriverboat.com/

 

[kmccl]

Thanks to both of you! I am trying to do some planning ahead of time and these things at least get me started. Thanks!

 

[Sammie]

We enjoyed the Trolly tours, also went to Tybee Island and enjoyed that.

 

[gojoe]

Savannah also has a free bus service. Get yourself a guide from one the Bus Tours and use the free bus. They run about every 20 minutes. We loved Savannah we are looking into moving there when our girls finish school. We also got some great deal on Restaurant.con http://www.restaurant.com/ Savannah and Hilton Head. Check out the link.

 

[chum]

My family and I love Ft Pulaski.
Step inside St. John the Baptist Cathedral while there too.
If you take a tour try the buggy instead of the bus.

 

[kmccl]

Sounds like a lot of great info! I really appreciate all the help! Hopefully I can return the favor some day.

 

[ILuvMulan]

subbing We are headed to Hilton Head for the first time this summer. Looking for Savannah and Charleston suggestions too.

 

[paeskie]

My kids really enjoyed the Oatland Island Wildlife Center for a half-day, just outside of Historic Savannah.

 

[Connears]

Love savannah and have visited there 3 times. We actually added a night there after our june trip last year to HHI (stayed at sheraton on SPG points) and there's alot to do in savannah. The riverfront area is where all the action is. We started the day with a trolley tour(the one you can get on and off if you want..to get the layout and see the major historic sites); its a great walking town and its so pretty,then we walked the riverfront shops(don't miss the candy shop on the riverfront and get a sample of the pralines) and also the market st area and visited Lady & son's (Paula Deen's restaurant) around noon and just decided to check to see if we could get in there at all that day for a meal(they only take same day reservations in person at the podium of the restaurant starting at 9am) and we actually lucked out and got a 3:00pm lunch reservation so we shopped around that area-really fun shops and of course Paul Deen's store!) then had a great lunch(we did the buffet) great servers and service. Then we drove to Tybee Island in the evening and decide to eat dinner at Uncle Bubbas(her brother's seafood place) and it was great also with only 20 minute wait. Other visits we have eaten at Pirates House, very good and it really is haunted(dh had a ghost move his chair several times while we ate!). If you were there in the evening the ghost tours are fun, but I really wuld only do it if I was staying in savannah overnite as they are night time events.

Connears

 

[DisneyHotDog]

We stayed at the Hilton Head DCV a couple of years and the drive to Savannah from there is only about 45 mins and well worth the drive. The shops along the water are great and we ate and a private themed resturant that is very famous and well known (however the name escapes me at the moment).

 

[Technosavant]

We were there in October.

I second the Tybee Island suggestion. Great place, more fun than HH itself. The lighthouse/battery museum is a worthwhile visit, as is the small science center there next to the beach.

In Savannah, there's a bunch of shops there along the river. I would recommend skipping the roundhouse/train museum- it was ok, but really not all that interesting. We didn't try any of the tours. Fort Pulaski is worth the time.

 

[kmccl]

Thanks again for all of your help! I am really looking forward to checking out Savannah.

 

[crzy4dals]

Great walking tours with Savannah Dan http://www.savannahdan.com

Fort Pulaski is a must see. When we were there they shot off the canons! WOW was that loud!

I love Savannah - It is such a charming city. OH and don't forget - The Lady and Son's Restaurant - Paula Deen! yummy!

 

[ekm]

We took a return boat trip from Harbor town to Savannah. It was a nice, scenic, relaxing way to get there. We then explored the city, and had a very enjoyable day.

 

[mkarizona]

Our must do for Savannah is the Eigth Air Force Museum in Pooler. For Charleston our must does are Fort Sumter, the Hunley, Patriots Point, the Battery, and a carriage tour. The carriage tours are limited in where they can go so a bus tour is good in addition.

 

[jameyskinner]

If you ever read "In the Garden of Good and Evil" or seen the movie adaptation, a tour of the 'Mercer House" is a must. This was Jim Williams renovated house in Savannah and also where a large portion of the movie was filmed. The guided tours are exceptional. Full of history and information.

A walk through Colonial Park cemetery is wonderful look back in time and lunch at 'The Pink House" was also a great experience.

If you have time a walk through Forsyth Park to see the fountain and the landscaping is also worth the time.

There is a very quirky and eccentric vibe to the city thanks to SCAD. Savannah College of Art and Design.

 

[kmccl]

We are on our way in less than a week now. I pulled this thread back up to get the information off of it and decided I would see if anyone else had any more information for me. We now will have 8 in our party, grandma and grandpa are coming. Any more or new info on Savannah would be awesome!

 

[bobbiwoz]

We took the Paula Deen trolley tour and besides taking us around the city, we had lunch at Unca Bubba's Oyster Shack (loved the charbroiled oysters and the low country boil! Then, we got a special number to call and ate at Lady and Sons on Sunday with special seating.

I was a girl scout and very much enjoyed the tour of Juliet Lowe's house.

Bobbi