10 Things To Do On A Mother-Daughter Trip To Savannah Georgia

I recently took a trip to Savannah, Georgia with my mom…and boy was it great! We had made plans pre-pandemic that obviously got delayed. Finally, we decided to bite the bullet and just make it happen and I’m so glad we did as this small city shot to the top of my list of favorite places I’ve visited in the U.S.

We decided on Savannah for a few reasons — great weather, southern charm, and amazing architecture and history.

We had a blast exploring the city over 3 nights, 4 days. It really was the perfect amount of time to take in most of what the city offers.

If you aren’t familiar, Savannah is very close to the coast, so if you are able to add a day visiting the ocean and Tybee Island, that would be a great idea. We decided to focus on the city itself. It’s a smaller city and walkable. So after our Uber dropped us off from the airport 20 minutes away, we hoofed it EVERYWHERE. {There are trolley tours and plenty of Ubers and Lyfts if needed though!}

We stayed at an Airbnb built in 1868 in the middle of the historic district and felt it was a great location. There are tons of great Airbnbs and Bed & Breakfasts — some even supposedly haunted! There are some chain hotels on the outskirts of town, but in a city like this, I would skip them and go for the charm. You won’t be disappointed!

10 Things To Do On A Mother-Daughter Trip To Savannah, Georgia

We packed in a lot during our trip, and I wanted to share our favorites to inspire you if you’re ever able to make it to Savannah. It’s a short flight from Michigan, and a very walkable city, so it’s a pretty affordable trip overall, and a great one to do as a mother-daughter trip or with girlfriends.

Explore the city’s 22 squares

The entire city was planned around 22 park-like squares, which offer plenty of shade during the hot months. With benches sprinkled throughout, they are great for resting your feet for a bit and admiring the amazing oak trees covered in Spanish moss. Each and every square was beautiful in its own way. Be sure to check out the most famous one — Forsyth Park with its gorgeous fountain, and Chippewa Square, home to the infamous bench scenes in the movie Forrest Gump.

Enjoy High Tea at Gryphon

One of our favorite things we did was enjoy high tea reservations at Gryphon, a cool tea room located in an old apothecary that is on the campus of SCAD {Savannah College of Art & Design}. After, make sure to check out the student-run store across the street for some really neat art. I totally would have bought some pieces if I had room in my suitcase!

Take a ghost tour

There is a LOT of history in this town, which one was a major hub for the slavery and cotton trade. We took a nighttime ghost tour at the Sorel-Weed House, and it definitely felt eerie knowing some shady history happened there. If you are up to learning some history and maybe some tales, this is a must-do while in Savannah.

Visit Jones Street

You know the saying “keeping up with the Joneses”? Well, one of the tales is that saying is because of this street in Savannah! {Who knows the real truth, but interesting nonetheless.} This street is a must-visit as it is lined with the most charming old homes you will ever see. They are all immaculate and so darling.

While there, stop into Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room for a true southern lunch. We unfortunately couldn’t make this work this trip, but I hear it’s delicious!

The Olde Pink House

This is a Savannah icon. Located in the heart of the city, The Olde Pink House is hard to miss with its bright Jamaican pink color. There are tons of unique rooms throughout the house to dine in. While it is upscale, I found prices to be fair and the service to be excellent. We did book reservations a few months in advance, which is a must if you want to dine here as it is extremely popular.

Tour the cemeteries

I know, it sounds morbid…But there are some REALLY cool cemeteries here with a lot of history. Our Airbnb was across from Colonial Park Cemetery, which is the city’s oldest cemetery. Knowing thousands of people were buried there from the Yellow Fever epidemic was sad, though it felt right to give our respects to those names that have long been forgotten.

We also took a tour with Dash Tours through Bonaventure Cemetery, which is where many famous locals are buried. We loved hearing about the history of all the families there. Our guide, Tim, really knew his stuff and I highly recommend a tour with him. He picked us up in the city and took us there, which was very convenient.

Visit Factors Walk

This area of the city is a MUST visit. You will see it right before hitting the river. There are three different levels that were once used for cotton trading. No doubt you will get a little creeped out here with its extremely steep and historic steps and dark alleys. For this reason, go during the day, as it seems like a popular spot for homeless to sleep protected from the elements. Otherwise, I was SO intrigued.

We were told it was built using whatever sailors found at the seas, so you will see all types of bricks and stones used throughout. Warning my friend Kim gave me — do not wear heels in this city 😉 LOTS of uneven pavement! {And if you’re like us and get a yummy booze slushy from Wet Willie’s, you may need a minute before climbing the stairs back up – LOL}

Shop!

There are two main areas full of shopping — River Street and Broughton Street. There are tons of fun stores to visit if that’s your thing. We enjoyed popping in and out of all the shops while exploring. My absolute favorite store there was E. Shaver, Bookseller. If you love a great book store, this is a MUST. It has three cats and several rooms full of books. I could’ve spent hours here.

Check out Mercer Williams House Museum

If you’re a history or book lover, the Mercer House if for you. It’s the premise of the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and is full of some crazy quirky history. It was $12.50 to tour with a guide, and it was well worth it to learn the history of this fascinating spot.

Eat at The Pirate’s House

Located on seven blocks from where city founder General Oglethorpe landed in 1733, Savannah’s World Famous Pirates House is located on one of the most historic spots in Georgia. It was first opened in 1753 as an inn for seafarers, and fast became a meeting point for pirates and sailors from the Seven Seas. Definitely try the honey pecan fried chicken for a delicious meal, and ask your server about hauntings they have experienced.

Savannah Planning Resource

If you are planning a trip to Savannah, I cannot recommend visiting the website Savannah First-Timer’s Guide and joining Erin’s group on Facebook. I learned SO much here and was so thrilled to pack just about everything we wanted to do into our trip.

Have you been to Savannah? What were your favorite places there?