A few months ago, my best friend from high school and I decided we needed a girls trip. Somewhere warmer, not too hard to get to for either of us (D.C., Cleveland), and a place neither of us had been before. Enter Savannah, Georgia! January in the South sounded like a perfect plan for a little weekend getaway.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK:

Little Duck Diner: I was sold on cocktails with rubber duckies (that you get to take home!). I got so excited about said ducks that I didn’t realize my drink had egg whites in it. Apparently, a reaction to an egg intolerance can come hours later, and it is NOT fun. Lesson learned. The food was good, though!

Collins Quarter: So nice, we went twice! We stopped in on our first night to share a bottle of wine, and then went back on our last morning for a fantastic brunch. It hit the spot! Gluten free options and lavender lattes, yummm. They have outdoor seating, but on a beautiful sunny morning, that filled up quickly. There’s also a walk-up window outside for quick grab-and-go items.

The Fitzroy: This wasn’t on either of our radars, but the bartender at Collins Quarter suggested it (same owners). It was a hidden gem that was shockingly not crowded on a Friday night. Get the brussel sprouts, they will NOT disappoint.

Artillery: We just stumbled upon this cocktail bar by chance. It’s clear that the bartenders here know their stuff! The bartender was from Maryland, small world. Mezcal cocktails were SO good. I know it was slow season when we came into town, but it was really refreshing being able to walk into great restaurants and cocktail bars with no wait. Also, maybe attributed to it being slow season, everyone we encountered was incredibly friendly. True Southern hospitality, even if most workers aren’t from Savannah…

Fox and Fig Cafe: Excellent gluten free and vegan snacks. It’s been a really long time since I’ve had cheesy garlic bread, and this version hit the spot! It was also the first real food I could keep down after the egg incident, so it tasted even better.

The Sentient Bean: Cute coffee shop/brunch spot on the edge of Forsyth Park. They have a small patio on the back and more outdoor seating on the front when the weather allows.

Only half-joking: this was the fanciest gas station market I have ever seen. Good spot to stop for snacks.

WHAT TO DO:

There are lots of cute boutiques and unique stores tucked into the streets of Savannah. We made our rounds 😉

The Paris Market: Tea, coffee, candy, and home goods. A one-stop shop on the main drag for fun stuff!

Apparently Google led me astray; the bench from Forrest Gump is no longer in its original location. So, here we are on a bench right next to where the original bench was. But if I didn’t tell you it was a different one, would you even know??

Savannah Bee: All the honey products! I got some lemon honey for Steve, but was tempted by the mead and hand creams, too.

Nourish: Any soap scent you can imagine. Georgia Peach and Savannah Pecan soap are must-haves.

Juliette Gordon Low House: The founder of the Girl Scouts was born here, and started the first girl scout troop in 1912. That brought back memories of being a girl scout and selling cookies way back in the day!

Savannah College of Art and Design: We popped into the shop attached to the original building on the SCAD campus. I didn’t know much about the school, but after accidentally going on a recruitment tour (thinking it was an art exhibit, oops), I was sold on going back to school for a more creative major, ha! Their shop has tons of really unique items created by SCAD students, alumni, and faculty. You’ll find campus buildings scattered throughout Savannah. What a pretty place to go to school!

Forsyth Park: This beautiful green space, named after a former governor of Georgia, centers on the fountain. It is thought to be modeled after fountains in Cuzco, Peru. Every Saturday, there is a farmer’s market, which we hit on our last day in Savannah. Gluten-free and vegan cinnamon bun was quite a treat!

We considered doing a ghost tour, but decided against it. Maybe next time! City Market was recommended as a spot to get to-go drinks, but we walked through and it was really touristy and over-priced. Save yourself time and skip it.

Between all the shopping, we strolled the many squares (22?) of Savannah. The streets have beautiful, old trees that create a canopy that connects to these squares. I can imagine how pleasant the squares are as a respite from the summer sun.

WHERE TO STAY:

Hyatt Regency was ideally situated on the water and within walking distance of everything. It was a GIGANTIC hotel with lots of conference-goers. Really randomly ran into our neighbor (their dog is Magic’s slimmer twin) who was there for a window-washing conference.

SIDE TRIPS:

You can easily get to Tybee Island or visit a plantation from Savannah. It’s also a quick train ride up to Charleston, too.

TIPS:

Savannah is very walkable. We ubered to and from the airport (20 minutes, super small airport with no lines) and walked everywhere else.

Despite the humidity (even in January), the city was great for running. There are virtually no hills and little traffic.

While we came during the slow season, Savannah is normally bustling with bachelorette parties and those taking full advantage of the no open container law. Drinks to-go everywhere!

Here’s a handy map with pins for plenty more suggestions on food, drink, things to do, etc.