Even a simple walk around Savannah is like a trip back in time. But while pre-war homes and forts abound, there are other, less obvious historic sites that also feature prominently in Savannah's early history. Mickve Israel, one of the oldest Jewish congregations in the United States, was founded in 1733 along with the Savannah Foundation, and houses the oldest Torah in the United States. Georgia's first synagogue (built in 1820) is considered one of TripAdvisor's “15 BEST Things to Do in Savannah”, and this gothic beauty was named one of the “Most Beautiful Synagogues in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler.
FREE at more than 300 locations in and around Savannah. The guide provides a complete overview of what Savannah has to offer in terms of shopping, restaurants, activities and events. If you want to preview Savannah Scene before your arrival, you can check out the guide online. Here are 30 fun things to do in Savannah, Georgia with kids, including family-friendly hotels and delicious restaurants in Savannah, Georgia.
For more family fun in Georgia, check out our review of Sea Island Resort, Georgia and our list of 50 fun things to do in Atlanta with kids. All Savannah Children's Museum exhibits are outdoors. Photo courtesy of Cogdrell and Mandala Architects The Savannah Children's Museum features more than a dozen exhibits and programs designed to expand children's imaginations, such as an exploration maze, a reading corner and a sensory garden. Since the museum is completely outdoors, it may close due to inclement weather, so call ahead or check the museum's Facebook page for accurate information about the closure.
ArtZeum is an interactive children's museum within the Jepson Center for the Arts. Children can enter a reproduction of a painting, such as the house of the artist Gari Melchers, inspired by his work The Unpretentious Garden. Other activities include a wall where children can choose what works of art are displayed and an area for them to learn about architecture and create their own buildings. Take a family walk along River Street.
Photo courtesy of Tyler Edi Take a walk along the waterfront and watch the majestic river boats and large barges pass by. River Street frequently features musicians who play live jazz and blues. The street is for pedestrians only and is full of shops and restaurants, ideal for a family evening. Ellis Square has a water fountain for children to run around, shaded tables, a life-size chess set, and CAT bikes available for rent.
It is located at the entrance of the City Market, on the west side of the park, and Paula Deen's The Lady and Sons restaurant, just one block east of West Congress Street. Explore this sprawling 30-acre park with two children's play areas, a summer splash area, open fields, and tennis and basketball courts. Forsyth Park is also home to the city's most famous fountain, which was installed in 1858 following the model of the fountains in the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Some days, the road to the fountain is lined by local artisans who work to the sound of live music.
A popular spot for weddings and family photos, this picturesque sanctuary includes a children's garden, a two-acre pond, nature trails, and the historic Reinhard House, a 19th-century farmhouse. Gardens include rose gardens, orchards, ferns and more. The National Wildlife Federation has recognized the Savannah Botanical Garden as an official wildlife habitat. The avenue that leads to this historic site, lined with live oaks and Spanish moss, is one of the most popular photos of Savannah, Georgia.
Wormsloe is the oldest standing structure in Savannah and the colonial estate of Noble Jones, a carpenter who arrived in Georgia in 1733 with James Oglethorpe and the first group of colonists from England. Visitors can interact with historical interpreters during programs and events, view the artifacts unearthed in Wormsloe, and watch a short film about the site and the founding of Georgia. About a 20-minute drive from downtown Savannah, Tybee Island captures the island atmosphere of a tropical vacation. With white sand beaches and a picturesque lighthouse, Tybee Island has a wide selection of hotels, house rentals, shops and restaurants.
Day visitors can park at one of the many paid parking lots near the quieter and less developed beaches in North Tybee or the bustling beaches in the south. The island's parks include Jaycee Park, which has paved trails, restrooms and a giant playground; and Tybee Memorial Park, which has a playground, restrooms, a barbecue pavilion, and basketball, tennis and volleyball courts. The UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island has 16 saltwater display tanks that showcase a variety of Georgia's marine life. A public contact tank allows visitors to get up close and personal with some of Georgia's marine invertebrates, such as snails and crabs.
A boardwalk overlooking the Skidaway River supports educational programs and is accessible to the ADA. The boardwalk is part of the ADA-approved Jay Wolf nature trail, which winds through the maritime forest and along the salt marshes of the Skidaway River. Picnic tables line the cliff in front of the back door, along the Skidaway River, and offer a perfect place to have lunch. Kids can enjoy swimming in the large pool and watching the boats go by at this riverfront hotel, which has two restaurants, a Starbucks and a pool bar and grill.
Adults will love the PGA's 18-hole professional golf course and lush spa. Centrally located in the historic district of Savannah, Georgia (approximately 800 meters from the riverfront), this hotel features outdoor pools, a restaurant, games for children, laundry facilities and a 24-hour business center. Located on the banks of the river and with direct access to the shops and restaurants of River Street, this hotel has an indoor heated pool, extra beds and cribs on request, laundry service, in-room yoga classes with YogaAway, concierge service and water taxis. Do your children like to draw on tables? No problem at Henny Penny's.
Enjoy a family atmosphere with freshly baked pastries made from scratch, artisanal coffee and an art space for crafts with the little ones. The art space is open every day from 9 a.m. at 3 p.m., and there's no need to book. Unicorn hot chocolate is a kids' favorite, of course.
This kid-friendly restaurant is ranked 135 in the American Legion and serves classic American food in a retro setting. Children will especially love the milkshakes that are served in frosted cups. Savannah's Candy Kitchen has been making candies from scratch for more than 40 years. From their famous original Savannah chocolates and saltwater candies to crumbly, hand-stretched peanuts, kids are sure to love this Savannah, Georgia favorite.
We're going on a day trip to Savannah soon just to visit these museums, because I really want to go. Since becoming a travel writer, I've heard nothing but incredible things about the Savannah Children's Museum and the Georgia State Railroad Museum. Continue with another 90-minute tour of Savannah from the water aboard the famous Savannah Riverboat. For more than 30 years, Old Town Trolley Tours has offered sightseeing tours that highlight the best that the city of Savannah has to offer.
The birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, also known as the “Wayne-Gordon House”, is the first headquarters of Girl Scouts, located in Savannah, Georgia. Visitors can choose between two impressive ships with which to explore the picturesque Savannah River on board, the Georgia Queen and the Savannah River Queen. From the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge and the Oatland Island Wildlife Center to the islands off the coast of Georgia, there are plenty of opportunities to hike in nature. These same business leaders were responsible for founding the Savannah Colored Library Association in 1906.
The agency offers tours for the whole family that offer one of the most authentic and local experiences offered in the historic city of Savannah. Millions of visitors flock here every year to tour Savannah's four-block complex between two historic squares, located just a couple of blocks from the Savannah River. Customers will have the opportunity to enjoy evening dinners, entertainment and unforgettable tours of the city's historic waterfront aboard a Savannah River boat cruise. The guide provides a complete overview of what these places have to offer in terms of shopping, restaurants, activities and events.
Ice cream flavors include standard chocolate and vanilla, as well as exquisite creations such as lemon cream, rum soup and Savannah Socialite, with Georgia nuts and bourbon-infused caramel. From museums and historic sites to island trips and dolphin watching, Savannah, Georgia offers plenty to do while maintaining a relaxed, small-town atmosphere full of Southern hospitality. .
