The oldest city in the state of Georgia was designed by James Oglethorpe to be a debtor’s prison for England.
Back in the 17th and 18th centuries, the below-street-level prisons in England were overrun with prisoners whose crime was only owing money.
One of Oglethorpe’s friends found himself in that unfortunate position.
That prompted the city planner to take the job on the condition his friend would be offered passage to the new world.
Savannah‘s unique city of squares was beloved and was officially America’s first planned city.
Perhaps a little too beloved.
The king reneged on the agreement to send over debtors and instead sent colonists to the new colony in Georgia.
Hurt and betrayed, Oglethorpe never got to see the vision come to fruition, as he vowed to stay away.
That’s just one of the interesting stories to keep your child’s attention when visiting one of the oldest cities in America!
Come along with us as we share the top 10 things to do with kids in Savannah!
10 Things to Do in Savannah GA With Kids
1. River Street
Perhaps the most popular touristy thing to do after arriving is to take a stroll on River Street.
As the name might suggest, this is the long stretch of sidewalk between the shops and the actual river.
This is also where you can catch a riverboat tour.
River Street is also home to the candy company with the same name.
Guests can walk inside and see pralines being made live.
Hotels, restaurants, and other kitschy shops line the strip, often utilizing two levels overlooking the river.
On a busy day, you can find musicians livening up the place.
Of course, there are plenty of art installments to check out as well.
2. Tybee Island Beach
If you’re this far down on the coast, you might as well take the short drive south to Tybee Island.
This is a three-mile stretch of sand leading out to some comparatively calm waves.
For your convenience, there’s plenty of parking and a spot where you can take a quick rinse.
A handful of drink stands and high-end restaurants with a view can be found along the shore as well.
It should be noted that you’ll do a favor for the group by bringing food with you from Savannah proper before arriving.
There are only a few places beachgoers will have access to that has food, other than a couple of gas stations.
3. Forsyth Park
If you’re looking for a less crowded place, this might be your best bet.
Not because there aren’t tons of people visiting but because not only is the park quite large, the sidewalks are extra wide to accommodate the foot traffic.
Want a spot for quiet reflection?
In one corner lives a rose garden that is only open until 2 pm each day.
Roses of every sort are well tended here within the short walls and gated entrance.
Toward the middle of the park, no child can resist the giant xylophone.
Wide open green spaces are a great place for a picnic or to run off some of that excess energy.
4. Trolley Tours
One thing Savannah has in abundance is trolley tours.
Trolleys are like big, open shuttle buses with speakers to hear the tour guide.
Visitors can hop on a tour at one of several locations across the city.
Typically, you can expect to be on a trolley for up to an hour and a half.
That can go even longer if there’s a special event or meal involved.
On the ride, you’ll learn a lot about Savannah’s past and its many historic buildings.
If you’re unsure, just look up some trolley tours upon arrival.
Some are during the day, some take place during the early evening, and some have ghosts.
More on that later.
5. Riverboat Cruise
As mentioned, Savannah is a port city.
Riverboats started out as a practical way to travel up and down the river on a smaller scale than a massive ship.
Just ask Mark Twain and the Mississippi River.
Modern-day, these antique boats are a big attraction.
Riding on one is sort of like stepping back in time.
Interested cruisers can find more info on River Street or look up online.
These boats are for passengers to enjoy leisure strolls around the river, either for the love of water or scenic dinner-scapes.
6. Tybee Island Lighthouse
Welcome to the oldest and tallest lighthouse in the state!
For going on 300 years, Tybee’s lighthouse has been a beacon to everyone coming in from the coast.
If you’re up for a challenge, you can climb up the 178 steps to the top.
Touring the lighthouse takes about an hour and a half.
The museum discusses several rebuilds and eventful pasts.
Do you have a child that finds themselves curious about the more morbid parts of life?
Bonaventure Cemetery is a unique place to indulge those interests.
It’s also a place for movie lovers, as two movies were filmed here.
As with any location that is two centuries old, there’s a lot of history here.
A game you could play with the little people is to look for graves with bells attached.
We all know the popular show Saved By The Bell, but did you know the phrase originated because people were being buried alive?
Bells with strings leading down to the casket can be found throughout the 160 acres.
The most visited grave is of a little girl named Gracie who has a life-size statue of her likeness on her grave.
She’s been buried alone since her family moved back north after her passing.
8. Candlelight Walking Ghost Tour
Being called one of the most haunted cities in America is great for tourists and businesses alike.
Combine that with the fact that everyone loves a good tour and you have a special kind of ghostly experience.
Due to the city’s reputation, there’s more than one candlelight tour, which means you will have a unique time each tour you go on thanks to multiple locations.
The walking tour guides you back through historical events within a radius of downtown with spooky stories to boot.
Bring a camera, who knows what you might catch.
9. Girl Scout Headquarters of Georgia
Technically, the Girl Scout HQ can be seen on a tour or just walking by.
However, if you have a daughter who is a girl scout, or was thinking about it, this could be a very special experience.
This is the actual place where Girl Scouts originated by Juliette Gordon Low.
The building is Savannah’s first National Historic Landmark and would be more interesting to tour than you might think.
10. Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
The city is cool, but sometimes kids are more fascinated by nature.
At Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, there are trails, educational shorts, and a miniature walkthrough of surrounding nature inside the nature center.
SNWR is right at the line between Georgia and South Carolina, so you get a greater idea of what lurks in the region in general.
Savannah Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Savannah Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there so many ghost tours in Savannah?
You don’t get to be one of the oldest cities in the country without a plethora of stories to tell.
Savannah started out as part of the Georgia colony, but it wasn’t an average city.
This is a port city, which means there have always been people from all walks of life and geography coming through.
From sailors to merchants and all kinds of investors in between, Savannah has surely seen her fair share of diversity.
A lot can happen when you mix a wild variety of people together over centuries.
There are stories of lovers waiting for their partners by the river, women throwing themselves to an untimely death after broken hearts, all-out brawls, and much more.
Dramatic stories start to stick after a while.
With a little theatrics, you have a business opportunity in a tourist city.
Not to mention that the location has been featured on the TV show Ghost Hunters.
When is the best time to visit Savannah?
Depends, how well do you handle humidity?
Most would agree, the temperatures are less exhausting in spring and autumn.
Travelers really pack in the city around Labor Day, coming in after will be much less congestion to contend with.
Going in October or early November is great for the weather if you didn’t have intentions of swimming in the ocean.
Feel free to take a blanket to the beach and just enjoy listening to the waves.
Is it just me or is there a bad odor driving into Savannah?
It’s not just you.
Visitors have been complaining for many years about a smell that singes nose hairs.
While it’s very much a slap in the face, it usually dissipates once you cross over into downtown.
That’s not helpful if you’re staying just outside or living on the outskirts.
So, what’s causing the perpetual stink?
To be fair to Savannah, it’s not uncommon for there to be unpleasant odors in cities that sit on rivers or inlets.
New Orleans, for example, has similar complaints.
What we have here is essentially a mixture of mud and rotting moss grass, among other things.
Hopefully, one day there will be a sweet-smelling solution.
Is Savannah where Forrest Gump was filmed?
Perhaps the most famous scenes from the entire movie did happen in Savannah.
The setting in question is the ongoing scene where Forrest is sitting on a bench waiting for the bus.
That real spot is in Chippewa Square.
If you’re adding the square to your trip list, there is something you should know.
There will be no Instagram shots taken of you on that famous bench.
It has actually been moved to a local museum.
A big, green bush is now in the grass where the bench housed Tom Hanks.
However, everything else is there, including a statue in the background.
