Things to Do in Savannah, Georgia

Welcome!

We look forward to welcoming you to the Community Development Society Conference in Savannah, Georgia for the 2026 CDS Annual Conference scheduled for July 19 through 22, 2026.

What to Do in Savannah

First of all, Savannah is BEAUTIFUL! It will be hot and humid in July, but don your seersucker, bring a fan, and hop an Uber or Lyft (or drive) and head downtown and walk around. It is one of few cities in the American South that dates back to colonial times. Just wander around down River Street, through the city to the 22 squares, and take it all in. The streets are oak lined and draped with Spanish moss (neither Spanish, nor moss, it’s related to the pineapple) and dripping with southern charm. If you’d like, you can enjoy a cocktail while you stroll. There’s no open container law in Savannah and any restaurant or bar will offer you a plastic cup to take your drink to go.

If you are walking – a good route is to start at City Hall (2 E. Bay Street) and walk down Bull Street to Forsyth Park (10 Whitaker Street, pictured above).

Driving/Parking

If you drive, there is street parking with meters (usually with a 2 hour limit) and several public parking garages: Here’s a great resource for Parking in Savannah

Bryan Street Garage: 100 East Bryan St
Eastern Wharf Garage: 301 Passage Way
Liberty Street Garage: 301 W Liberty St
Robinson Parking Garage: 132 Montgomery St
State Street Garage: 100 East State St
Whitaker Street Garage: 7 Whitaker St

Uber/Lyft

If you take an Uber or Lyft, good places to be dropped off:

City Market (28-32 Jefferson Street)- Built in 1755, it’s a four block market, located between Franklin and Ellis Squares that houses local artists, shops, and restaurants.
Plant Riverside District (400 W. River Street) – This is a converted power plant with a number of restaurants and retail shops on the Savannah River. A highlight is the lobby of the J.W. Marriott Plant Riverside hotel, which features a full size chrome dinosaur skeleton and a large number of gems, minerals, and fossils. This is a must visit if you are traveling with children! From here, stroll east along the river and check out the shops along River Street.
River Street Sweets (13 E. River Street) – This is a local candy shop with homemade pralines, bear claws, candy apples, and other treats. From here, walk east along the river to see the Waving Girl Statue.
Factors Walk (Savannah Cotton Exchange at Bay and Drayton) – Explore the levels, and go down to River Street. Please be careful on the “stairs of death” that go down to River Street from Bay. They’re narrow, steep, and uneven.

Old Town Trolley Tour

To get a great overview of the city, I highly recommend taking the Old Town Trolley Tour. It includes a great tour, stops at 16 stops , and a ticket (around $35) gets you on and off access all day. There is free parking at the ticket office and both the Savannah History Museum and Georgia State Railroad Museum are right next door. You can also get tickets at City Market. Just keep in mind that the trolley stops at 5pm, so if you drive downtown, make sure you are near where you parked before the trolley stops running.

Stops include:

Franklin Square (15 Montgomery Street) – The First African Baptist Church, is located on the Northwest side of Franklin Square.
Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace (10 East Oglethorpe) – The home of the founder of the Girl Scouts of America. It is open for tours.
Madison Square (6 W. Harris St) – The Sorrel-Weed House and Green-Meldrim House, as well as Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room are nearby (see under Where to Eat).
Forsyth Park (700 Drayton Street)
Taylor Square (207 E. Gordon Street) – The Mercer Williams House and Clary’s Restaurant, both featured in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, are nearby.
City Market (28-32 Jefferson Street)
Davenport House (107 Habersham Street) – A historic home that was the beginning of Savannah’s historic preservation movement. Tours highlight the experience of those who lived in the home, both enslaved and free, in the early 19th Century. The Owens-Thomas House is also nearby.
River Street – stroll (or ride) along the Savannah River

Setting the Scene

Before you travel to the conference, you may want to watch 2 movies: Forrest Gump and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The bench where Forrest Gump sits as he tells his story is located in Chippewa Square (North side at the intersection of Bull and Hull) The original bench has been moved to the Savannah History Museum (303 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.), but the scenes were filmed in Chippewa Square.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is based on a non-fiction novel by John Berendt, covering the murder trial of Savannah antiques dealer, Jim Williams, and in addition to the story of the murder and the trials (he was tried 4 times before being acquitted), is part Savannah travel guide, featuring several local spots:

Mercer Williams House (429 Bull Street)- Jim Williams’ home and site of the murder – It’s now owned by Jim Williams’ sister and is open for tours. You can also check it out from Monterey Square but you can check out the from Monterey Square

Bonaventure Cemetery (330 Bonaventure Road) -It’s about 3 miles from downtown and well worth a visit. It’s a beautiful cemetery, featured in the film, and the final resting place of songwriter Johnny Mercer (Moon River) as well as veterans of the Civil War and the Spanish-American War, along with Danny Hansford, Jim Williams’ lover and murder victim.The Bird Girl statue, the iconic cover photo for the book, has been moved to the Jepson Center for the Arts, (207 West York Lane)
Clary’s Cafe (404 Abercorn) – Several scenes in the film take place here and they serve breakfast all day.
Club One– (301 Williamson Street) – They have drag shows on Friday and Saturday nights and sometimes Sunday drag brunch. Unfortunately, the location where the Lady Chablis performed closed in April, 2026, BUT they opened a new location across the street.

Savannah History

Founded in 1733, by General James Oglethorpe, Georgia was the last of the 13 original American colonies. Oglethorpe’s ship, the Anne, landed along the Savannah River in February, 1733. The Georgia colony was founded as a buffer between South Carolina and Spanish Florida, but the initial charter was intentionally structured to offer a new start to those in debt. Initially, slavery and large land holdings were prohibited and religious freedom was guaranteed. (the charter would soon be modified to allow for slavery and expanded land owning). About a month after arrival, Tomochichi, Chief of the Yamacraw tribe, met with Oglethorpe and they established a good relationship, entering into a treaty which allowed Oglethorpe to establish the City of Savannah. They maintained a good relationship and there is a monument honoring Tomochichi in Wright Square.

Savannah is known as America’s first planned city. Oglethorpe laid out the city in a series of grids with 24 squares that served as town meeting places and centers of business. 22 squares are still in existence today (some are referenced throughout this resource).

Some historic sites worth a visit include:

Congregation Mickve Israel (20 E. Gordon Street – entrance is on Bull St. across from Monterey Square)- Founded in 1733, the same year as Savannah, this Gothic Revival synagogue is home to the the third oldest Jewish congregation in America and the oldest in the South. It’s beautiful from the outside and they do tours, with a special exhibit on the Declaration of Independence and religious freedom at the time of the conference.

Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist – (222 East Harris Street) Haitian and French immigrants established the Congregation de Saint Jean-Baptiste in the late 1700s, and the cornerstone for the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist was laid on November 19, 1873. It’s a beautiful example of French Gothic architecture. The original building burned in 1898 and it was rebuilt in 1912. You can visit and tour or attend Mass here (it is an active Roman Catholic Church). It is handicap accessible by the elevator on Harris Street.

Gullah Geechee History

The Gullah Geechee people are the descendants of West and Central Africans who were enslaved and brought to North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia to work on rice, cotton and indigo plantations. Because these coastal plantations were isolated, the enslaved people were able to retain many of their indigenous African traditions. As they had varied native languages, to enable them to communicate, they created a new language, Gullah, a creole language spoken nowhere else in the world.

The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, which runs from Pender County, NC to St. John’s County, FL was designated by an act of Congress in 2006 to recognize the heritage of the Gullah Geechee people. Several locations on the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor are in Savannah.

To get an introduction to Gullah Geechee culture, here are some suggestions:

The Gullah Geechee Heritage Center – this is in the same strip as the Armstrong Center and offers programs, exhibits, and events to honor the cultural contributions of the Gullah Geechee people.
First African Baptist Church (23 Montgomery Street) – While not exclusively Gullah Geechee, this church is an important institution in the history of enslaved people in Savannah. It was organized in 1773 and is the oldest Black church in North America.
Pin Point Heritage Museum (9924 Pin Point Avenue) Pin Point is a community founded in the 1890s by formerly enslaved African Americans and their descendants. The museum, located in a former oyster factory, highlights coastal Georgia’s rich Gullah Geechee culture and the historical experience of growing up in Pin Point. (Side note: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas grew up in Pin Point)
Savannah Slavery to Freedom Tour – This tour is led by Gullah Geechee storyteller “Sistah Patt” and explores landmarks tracing the path from urban slavery to freedom.

Prohibition Museum (209 West Saint Julian Street near City Market) – This museum covers the rise and fall of Prohibition in the U.S. It also has a speakeasy at the end! (You can actually go to the speakeasy without going through the museum, as well.)

Historic Homes

In 1955, the Davenport House was slated for demolition to make room for a parking lot and a group of seven women came together and purchased the home. They created the Historic Savannah Foundation to preserve Savannah’s historic buildings, and are credited with starting the historic preservation movement in Savannah.

A few historic homes worth visiting:

The Davenport House (323 E. Broughton) – “The house that started a movement.”

Green-Meldrim House (14 W. Macon St.) – Built in 1850, this was General Sherman’s headquarters during the Civil War. Sherman allegedly gave President Lincoln Savannah as a Christmas gift.

Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters (124 Abercorn) Built in 1819, this home does particularly well highlighting the lives of not only the wealthy families living in the home, but also the enslaved people who lived and labored here.

Sorrel-Weed House (6 W. Harris St.) – Thought to be haunted, this house offers historical tours and ghost/paranormal tours.

Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace (10 E. Oglethorpe Avenue) – This is the home of the founder of the Girl Scouts of America.

The Macabre…

Savannah is referred to as “the most haunted city in the U.S.” and has a bit of a tourist industry devoted to ghost tours so you have several choices.

If you want a fun, tongue in cheek tour, I recommend the Hearse Ghost Tour. You ride in a converted hearse and while the tour guide covers several macabre stories of Savannah, the tour features corny jokes and is more silly than scary. It’s a good time, though.
Savannah History and Haunts is a 90 minute walking tour by candlelight, hosted by a historical interpreter.
Ghosts and Gravestones is a trolley tour that includes local cemeteries.

If you are a bit more serious about your love of the macabre, check out the Graveface Museum (410 E. Lower Factors Walk) – The museum features a collection of artifacts from true crime, cults, sideshow history, 1950s roadside attractions, secret societies, and the occult as well as a collection of serial killer artifacts (and there are pinball machines to play at the end!).

Where to Eat

There are many wonderful restaurants in Savannah, but here are some of the iconic spots:

The Olde Pink House (23 Abercorn Street) – Formerly known as the Habersham House, this home was built by the Habersham family in 1789. In 1812, it became Planters Bank, the first bank in Georgia. Currently, it is a beautiful restaurant that serves upscale southern cuisine, lunch Tuesday-Thursday and dinner every night upstairs in the dining room. It’s very good, but a bit pricey.
Wilkes Dining Room (107 W. Jones Street) – This is worth a visit. The doors open at 11am every day (line up well before 11) and diners are seated at tables of 10 and share southern staples such as fried chicken and cornbread dressing, sweet potato souffle, black-eyed peas, okra gumbo, corn muffins, and biscuits, served family style. (The menu changes every day)
The Pirates’ House – (20 E. Broad Street) – This began as an inn in 1753 and was a notorious spot for pirates and sailors. This is reported to be one of the most haunted locations in Savannah. Blackbeard is believed to be among its visitors and it is mentioned in Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Currently, it is a seafood restaurant and worth a visit. There are tunnels underneath that lead to the Savannah River, rumored to be used to force or “shanghai” drunken sailors to become ship crew.
Leopold’s ice cream – (212 E. Broughton Street) – Founded in 1919, by three brothers, George, Peter and Basil Leopold, this is a Savannah staple. Expect a line down the block nearly any time of day, but the ice cream is worth the wait. Savannah Socialite is my personal favorite. The inside is charming as well, with autographed photos of the many celebrities who have been through here.
Crystal Beer Parlour – (301 W. Jones Street) – Initially opened as the Gerken Family Grocery Store, it was sold in the early 1930’s to William “Blocko” and Connie Manning. The Crystal was one of the first restaurants in the U.S. to serve alcohol after the repeal of Prohibition. It’s a casual restaurant. The food is great and they have several gluten free options. Highly recommend!
Boars’ Head Grill and Tavern (1 N. Lincoln Street/River Street) – Located in an 18th Century cotton warehouse, this is the oldest restaurant on River Street. They have steaks, seafood, pork chops, pretty classic American fare. It’s reasonably priced and very good. The atmosphere is charming, low ceilings, dark wood, exposed brick.

Beaches, Hiking, and Other Outdoors Options

The closest beach option is Tybee Island – This is Georgia’s oldest beach town and is only about 20 minutes from downtown Savannah. It’s a charming beach town that in some ways feels suspended in the early 1980’s.

The northern end of the island is a great place to visit historic sights such as the Tybee lighthouse (30 Meddin Drive, Tybee Island, GA: the tallest and oldest lighthouse in Georgia), the Tybee Island Museum, and Fort Pulaski (101 Fort Pulaski Road, Savannah, GA), a 19th Century military fort. There are also some great local arts and crafts shops in the northern end of the island along with the iconic Huc-A-Poo’s pizza (1213 US-80, Tybee Island, GA).
The southern end of the island is more of a bustling beach town. The water is pretty calm and warm, so it’s great for ocean swimming. In addition to beach activities, walk out on the Pier for fishing or ocean gazing and walk up Tybrisa Street for a range of beach shops, ice cream, candy, and snacks. I particularly like Jimmy’s Seaside Sweets (18B Tybrisa Street) for ice cream and candy. Stop by Wet Willie’s on Tybrisa for a range of frozen cocktails or the “Weak Willie” for a non-alcoholic option.
The Tybee Island Black History Trail, a project of the Tybee MLK Human Rights Organization, Georgia Southern University and Tybee Island Historical Society, “documents the arrival of enslaved Africans on Tybee and follows their ancestral journey to present-day Tybee…exploring legacies of enslavement, segregation, and the Civil Rights Movement.”

Jekyll Island is a bit farther away (about 94 miles/1.5 hours). It is a beautiful island with 22 miles of biking paths and wildlife and history programs. Make sure to visit the Driftwood Beach (pictured above). There is a $10 entry fee to get on the island, which includes parking.

Wormsloe Historic Site (7601 Skidaway Drive) – This is about 12 minutes from the Armstrong Center and has a stunning 1.5 mile live oak lined drive, as well as hiking trails, as well as the tabby ruins of Wormsloe, the colonial estate of Noble Jones (1702–1775), a carpenter who arrived with James Oglethorpe and the first settlers of Georgia.

Whitemarsh Nature Preserve (68 Johnny Mercer Blvd.) – Located about 20 minutes from the Armstrong Center, this park seems much more remote than it is, and has 2.4 miles of trails for walking or jogging

Skidaway Island State Park (52 Diamond Cswy)- Located about 12 minutes from the Armstrong Center, this park has 6 miles of trails for hiking or biking (they have bikes for rent), as well as birding and geocaching.

George L. Smith Park (371 George L. Smith State Park Road in Twin City, GA, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Savannah) – Rent kayaks or canoes and paddle through a cypress grove, go biking, birding, fishing, geocaching, or hiking.

Child Friendly Ideas

If you are making a vacation of the conference and bringing your family along, here are some fun ideas for things to do with children in Savannah (some of these are also listed above)

Fun things for kids include:

Take a stroll through the J.W. Marriott Plant Riverside District (400 W. River Street) lobby. There is a full size chrome dinosaur skeleton as well as other fossils, gems, and minerals. It’s right on the Savannah River.
Take a walk along the river to see the giant shipping containers drift by. It’s a good time for adults and kids! Make sure to stop by Savannah’s Candy Kitchen (225 E. River St.) for a treat.
Forsyth Park (10 Whitaker Street) has a fantastic playground.
The Telfair Children’s Art Museum (207 W. York Street) has several interactive art exhibits and activities for children.
The Georgia State Railroad Museum (655 Louisville Road) – There are train cars to explore and you can even take a ride on a train (check the schedule on the website).
Savannah Children’s Museum – located next to the Railroad Museum – is an outdoor museum with an exploration maze, a puppet theater, an art maker space, a sensory garden, and more.

Some additional ideas of kid-friendly activities in Savannah can be found on this blog: https://bridgesandballoons.com/things-do-do-in-savannah-ga-with-kids/