I had been to Savannah several weeks before this trip for my Apricot Lane photo shoot, otherwise Bryan and I had never been to the city! We quickly found ourselves falling in love with this really incredible place! The history, the spring flowers, amazing food and incredibly nice people are just a handful of our favorite parts of the city. After two days in town, we absolutely agreed that we’d be back again, and are already looking forward to it!
We brought Henry and Eloise and would do so again as it’s a very ‘kid friendly’ city, but if you’re looking for a romantic getaway or a great spot for a girls trip, I’d highly recommend Savannah as well.
The weather was perfect as we were there the first week of April. Shorts and short sleeves for the kids, light dresses for me. We were told by many that Georgia gets extremely muggy as the year goes on, so without having experienced that time of year for ourselves, it seems the consensus is that Spring is a pretty good time to visit.
How We Got There:
The closest airport is Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV). It’s a smaller airport, or at least it feels like it, and there was only one airline that offered direct flights from Indianapolis: Allegiant. We had never flown Allegiant before, but I’m glad we did – it was honestly great. There was a huge walkway between rows with more space than any other domestic airline we have been on, comfy seats, and very clean. We opted for the highest level ticket which included checked and carry on bags, as well as seat selection (still considerably cheaper than alternative options, all of which had a stop compared to our direct flight). Food and drink was available for purchase, but the flight was an hour and a half, so we were good with the snacks we had packed or grabbed from the airport shops. If Allegiant is a good option for you when searching for airfare on your next trip, we’d definitely recommend it!
From the airport to our hotel was 20-30 minutes, easy! We rented a car as we knew we’d need one for the rest of the week. We spent two days in Savannah and four in Hilton Head.
Where We Stayed: Perry Lane Hotel
I’m not one to over-hype or exaggerate a hotel or a restaurant, but in this case, Bryan and I agree: Perry Lane is amongst our top handful of hotels we have ever stayed at. It is phenomenal! Our kids did great there, and we’d take them back, but we saw lots of couples, several on honeymoons, and this would be a fantastic spot for a weekend (or longer) getaway with a partner to relax and enjoy.
Upon arrival, you are greeted with free champagne, white or rose, your choice. They pour free champagne daily, from 11 AM to 11 PM. No, this is not a drill!
To one side of the lobby is a fantastic coffee shop, a bar, and a full restaurant. Other side of the lobby on the way to the elevators are two very funny statues that are moved regularly by the hotel staff and our kids thought it was the funniest thing every time we came down. It was essentially springtime elf of the shelf, Perry Lane style!
The rooms are spacious, clean, and very upscale. Ours had two queen beds, and between them was a table, with bench seating that we utilized daily. What a smart usage of otherwise dead hotel space.
Staff was incredibly friendly and helpful with directions or recommendations. We’ll 100% be back at this hotel for all of the reasons listed above, but let’s be honest, it’ll be post baby #3 so I can enjoy the champagne!
Where We Ate:
Emporium Kitchen & Wine Market – This is the hotel restaurant at Perry Lane. It was perfect for us to stop here the night we arrived as it was a bit too late for us to head out for dinner. Food was delicious, we had a cheese board, brussel sprouts, and shared some delicious grouper. There is a fantastic wine list here and some amazing cocktails – Bryan had the End of Kenobi, he always orders cocktails with egg white and it was delicious!
Collins Quarter – This was a short walk from our hotel to Forsyth Park and it was one of your most suggested food stops for us! We had a fantastic brunch out on the patio and the atmosphere was so fun! Great spot to take kids and there is a huge playground right next door.
The Olde Pink House – Another spot that was highly recommended and we absolutely understand why now. The building itself was built in 1771, and at some point during your meal a staff member will give you a rundown of all that has happened in that building over 200 plus years – it’s an incredible story! It is allegedly haunted, just in case that freaks you out, no paranormal activity for us, but the food was a very good distraction! The deep dish chicken pot pie was the star of the show for us, and the kids were very happy with their chicken strips and mac and cheese!
Leopold’s Ice Cream – I’d love to tell you about Leopold’s, but every time we walked by there was a line down the block! So, if you happen to be in town, and there’s no line, grab some (apparently) amazing ice cream and please let us know how it is! Down the street from Leopold’s is a Ben and Jerry’s with no line, so don’t worry about Henry and Eloise, they did manage some ice cream!
Huey’s on the River – Another highly recommended spot with a great view (we sat outside) of the Savannah River and all of the passing boats. Henry was a very happy guy here! The food was awesome, but the crab cake benedict was probably the best thing we ate.
Byrd’s Famous Cookies – along the river there is a ton of shopping and a number of restaurants – as well as this cookie shop that we were told not to miss. They were very, very good! We had the scotch oatmeal and the key lime. Yum!
The Grove – this is a fun spot to grab a drink and an appetizer on the rooftop! Our kids did fine there, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it as a dinner spot.
Mint to be Mojito Bar – a random stop for us as we were walking around downtown, but so glad we stopped in! You get to build your own mojito (or several other cocktails), non alcoholic options available, and they are so good! A great stop on a hot day for sure!
The Wayward – this is the Perry Lane Hotel bar and it was a great spot to stop for a drink. Bryan watched part of the final four on their tv and said the cocktails were great!
Activities :
We could have probably spent at least another day in Savannah as there was a lot to see and do, but our two favorites:
Carriage Tour with Savannah Carriage Tour: We opted for a private tour (was all that was available at time of booking) and had a blast. We had our own carriage with a guide for an hour and Eloise was entertained the entire time, might have just been by the horse! The history of Savannah is incredible and the buildings, architecture, and trees/plants/flowers are stunning. Everything feels historic, but it’s so well maintained and pretty. You could take a picture on just about every block and it was so cool to have it narrated along the way. We learned a ton, and are so appreciative of the significance of the city and all that it’s been a part of.
Forsyth Park: A huge park in the center of town that is filled with beautiful fountains, large grass areas, a playground, and tons of other events going on made this a great stop for us. We had brunch at Collins Quarter and made our way to the playground afterwards. A slow stroll through the park with a coffee was a great break to our day afterwards with several stops along the way because it was too gorgeous not to!
Walk, Eat & Shop in the Plant Riverside District: We loved walking around this area right by the water! There are tons of restaurants, shops and sweet shops all around. We ate breakfast at Huey’s on the River and then spent an hour or two walking the district. Super relaxing & fun! PS. Don’t miss River Street Sweets – one of the biggest candy stores known for their handmade pralines! YUM!
All the fashion items I packed for our spring trip to Savannah can be found HERE.
