2024 CONFERENCE - THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN SAVANNAH

Things to Do in Savannah

(Download and Print List)

Below is a list of tours, restaurants, grocery/convenience stores, evening tours, places of worship, museums, and an option for Wednesday night activity.  This list is not exhaustive but provides some options for attendees. 

Things to Do in Savannah

Historic Savannah offers a variety of activities for visitors and is a very walkable city.  Here are a few suggestions, but take some time to explore Visit Savannah, the office visitor center site, and Historic Savannah.  The Visitor Center Branch is just below the hotel on River Street.   Also, in the hotel lobby is a desk with a staff member who can assist with directions and activities. 

There are 22 park squares and over 100 restaurants along with great shopping.  The squares are on Barnard Street, Bull Street, Abercorn Street, Habersham Street, and Houston Street. There is also Franklin Square on Montgomery next to City Market.  The four original squares laid out by Oglethorpe were Ellis, Johnson, Telfar, & Wright Squares. Oglethorpe and Reynolds Squares were planned by Oglethorpe but were laid out after he left Georgia.

A few activities within walking distance of the hotel:

Historic Savannah Area Things to Do

1. Stroll along River Street
2a. Stroll up Bull Street to Forsyth Park (1 mile)

  • Chippewa Square (Famous for the Forrest Gump bench)
    • The Gallery Espresso (Coffee Shop)
    • Chocolat by Adam Turoni (Chocolate Shop)
    • Stachel (locally made leather products) (on Liberty Street)
  • Madison Square
  • Monterey Square
    • Mercer Williams House Museum (Good Night In the Garden of Good & Evil)
    • Mickve Israel (first synagogue built in GA, 3rd oldest in America, & only Gothic-style synagogue)
    • Armstrong Kessler Mansion (Cape Fear)
  • Forsyth Park
    • See the Forsyth Park Fountain (in almost any movie filmed in Savannah)

2b.  Return from Forsyth by walking back on Abercorn Street to stay with the squares.  (Cross Drayton Street, walk one block, and then turn left on Abercorn.) 

4.  Stroll through the City Market

5.   Telfair Academy (Bird Girl from Bonaventure Cemetery- the cover of Good Night in the Garden of Good & Evil)

6.   Jepson Center & Telfair Children’s Art

Additional Museums or Experiences (List of Museums)

Places of Worship

Other Locations to Visit

  • Visit Tybee (will need a car or rideshare-17 miles)
  • Tybee Light Station & Museum
  • Fort Screven
  • Tybee Island Marine Science Center & Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary
  • Fort Pulaski National Monument

If you have a car and arriving early or staying after:

Restaurants, Groceries, and Sweets within Walking Distance

There are more restaurants in the area but here are a few recommendations.  Not all restaurants are listed.  You can contact the restaurants to see if you can make a reservation.  Not all restaurants will make a reservation. 

On River Street to the right of the hotel if facing the River in order:

  1. Olympia Cafe (Greek & Mediterranean)
  2. Vic’s River Grill
  3. Huey’s: As seen in several movies including Cape Fear and Forces of Nature.
  4. Boar’s Head Grill & Tavern
  5. The Shrimp Factory
  6. Spanky’s River Street
  7. Lizzy’s Burger Bar & Grill

On River Street to the left of the hotel if facing the River in order:

  1. River House Seafood
  2. Fiddler’s Cafe
  3. Dub’s Pub

At Plant Riverside

  1. Savannah Tequila Co
  2. Graffito Pizza
  3. Riverside Biergarten
  4. Riverside Burger
  5. District Smokehouse
  6. District Seafood

On Bay Street

All directions are with your back to the hotel

To the left of the hotel

  1. The Cotton Exchange Tavern
  2. Vic’s on the River
  3. Squealing Hog BBQ

To the right of the hotel

  1. Moon River Brewing Company: Directly across the street from the hotel Indoor and outdoor seating.  A larger group can be accommodated.  This site is considered haunted.
  2. Churchill’s Restaurant & Pub & Rooftop Bar: Directly across the street from the hotel
  3. Savannah Smokehouse BBQ - 1 block up Bull and turn right on W. State
  4. Mint to be Mojito bar & bits - 1 block up Bull and turn right on W. State

City Market Area

  1. Little Duck Dinner
  2. The Chicken Box (Lady & Sons)
  3. Lady & Sons
  4. Vinnie Van GoGo’s
  5. B&B Burgers (Congress St & Broughton St)

Broughton Street (Shopping & Food)

Turn right off of Bull Street

  1. Ruan Thai Cuisine
  2. Flying Monk Noodle Bar
  3. Chive Sea Bar & Lounge
  4. Toast! All Day

Take a left off of Bull Street

  1. Kayak Kafe Broughton
  2. Jalapenos Mexican Grill
  3. Sushi Hana
  4. B&B Burgers (Broughton St)
  5. The Funky Brunch Cafe (8:00 am - 2:30 pm)

Additional Restaurants

  1. Collins Quarter 
  2. Fire Street Food
  3. Six Pence Pub
  4. Zunzi’s
  5. The Public Kitchen
  6. Mellow Mushroom
  7. Hitch
  8. Clary’s Cafe (Breakfast & Lunch Only)
  9. Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room (Lunch Only)
  10. Crystal Beer Parlor (Recommend car even though only one mile)

Rooftop Bars & Food

Grocery

Sweets

For Fun

Evening Tours

Note: The conference committee is not organizing any group evening activities

Here are some evening tours you can organize over the conference app or pre-conference. Members are welcome to plan their evening excursion with other conference attendees.

Tybee Island Excursion on Wednesday Night

Participation is optional and participants will cover all the expenses.  Those who want to participate will complete a form and will meet in the hotel lobby to carpool in personal cars or Uber/Lify share rides to Tybee Island.  

Please complete this form by July 3 for us to have an idea of the numbers.  A second email will be sent with more specific information.