Day 1: Three Museums in One Place
Start your Savannah vacation with a visit to Tricentennial Park, which is just a short walk from much of the Historic District. Home to three museums, the park is a unique mix of living history and play space for families.
At the Savannah History Museum, take a self-guided tour that transports you to 1733, when native tribes and the first European settlers populated the area. Museum installations explore the history of not only Savannah but also the United States. The exhibits “Savannah in the American Revolution” and “Undercover: Quilts, Coverlets & Creativity” showcase Savannah’s role in the American Revolution and Civil War. Other exhibits highlight the city’s artistic and cultural contributions — learn about Juliette Gordon Low, who was the founder of the Girl Scouts and a Savannah resident, and see the bus-stop bench from the movie “Forrest Gump.” (In nearby Chippewa Square, you can sit and make your own movie at the site of this famous film scene.)
Next, head to the Georgia State Railroad Museum, where you can take a ride on a working historic steam or diesel locomotive. As you wander the museum on a guided or self-guided tour, check out a restored private luxury rail car and step inside a model train room, where small-scale trains ride through a partial model of the city.
The final museum in the triad, the Savannah Children’s Museum, is a great place to burn off energy. The entire museum is outdoors, with plenty of interactive exhibits to awaken children’s imaginations. In the sensory garden, kids get hands-on as they learn about healthy lifestyles and the environment.
Can’t-miss food: Just a block from the Savannah River, The Pirates’ House was a working inn for sailors dating to the 1700s. After a renovation in the 1940s, it became a full-service restaurant and bar. Costumed pirates will visit guest tables upon request. The place accepts reservations and has a children’s menu.