Family trip report on the go

Question

We (2 adults, 2 kids that are 6 and under) arrived at the airport Saturday afternoon, picked up our rental car and headed to our rental in the HD. After getting our stuff unloaded and set up, it was already after 6 (= hangry kids. And me, who am kidding.) so we called Savannah Pedicabs and got a ride to River Street. This was an excellent decision, our driver Jaime was awesome, and arranged a pick up spot for us for when we were done with dinner.

Dinner the first night was at River House seafood. Service was top notch, from the hostesses to our waitress to the manager. This place is very kid friendly, and also has enough interesting things to look at inside to help keep the, occupied The blue crab dip appetizer with house made chips was delish. The kids had cheeseburgers that looked good, and the adults had crab bisque (good but quite salty, and I like salt), flounder over goat cheese orzo (mediocre), and the bourbon pecan salmon (this is SO good).

The next morning we took advantage of the overcast skies and cooler temps to take a leisurely walk to breakfast. My kids are amazed by the size of the magnolias and the crepe myrtles, and I could spend all day looking at the moss covered trees. But we were hungry (as always) so made our way to B. Matthews for breakfast. Again, all the service was absolutely great. The kids were delighted with their fancy French toast plates that came with their own little syrup pitchers. I’ve spent the day scrubbing syrup off of their faces, elbows, hair, the works. The grownups ordered the crab cake Benedict and the fried chicken biscuit with sausage gravy, which were well worth the 12 million calories. I was going to get a Bloody Mary but learned they couldn’t serve them until 11 - not sure if that’s every day or just Sunday.

I was happy I hadn’t had a Bloody Mary afterwards when we were navigating the stairs down to river street. We poked in and out of shops for a while, made what I am sure is only our first visit to a candy store, and took a break to eat our treats on a bench and watch the boats on the river. We then made our way back to our rental, detouring toward everything that looked like a square that we saw.

After a break in the rental for a bit, we loaded up in the car and made the short drive to the Savannah Children’s Theater for their final production of the Wizard of Oz. This was such a fun experience! It was my kids’ first time at any sort of live theater/play production, and I was thrilled that they were so captivated. Highly recommend this place if you have kids. I wish my hometown had something like this, I loved being able to introduce them to theater in an environment specifically designed for kids.

Around 6:30 we walked to Huey’s on the River for dinner. The staff was a bit frazzled and the place smelled a bit but overall it was a good experience. We had the barbecue shrimp appetizer, grownups had a roast beef debris/red beans combo plate and the jambalaya pasta. Giant plate of beignets for dessert! All the food was good, I just wouldn’t go back there for it given the other options around.

The streetlights were coming on as we walked home, and we’re thinking about arranging a pedicab tour one night to see the HD twinkling at night. Hope our second day is as good as the first!

Answer

It sounds like your first day in Savannah with the family was wonderfully smooth and enjoyable, balancing kid-friendly activities with delicious local dining. Your use of Savannah Pedicabs was an excellent strategy for navigating River Street without worrying about parking or tired little legs. Jaime, your driver, clearly enhanced the experience with his helpful guidance and personalized service.

Dinner Highlights – River House Seafood

Blue crab dip appetizer with house-made chips – highly recommended, flavorful and a great start to the meal.
Kids’ cheeseburgers – well-prepared and kid-friendly, keeping little ones happy.
Adult dishes: crab bisque (tasty but quite salty), flounder over goat cheese orzo (mediocre), bourbon pecan salmon (standout dish).
Service was excellent, from hostesses to waitstaff to management, making the dining experience smooth and pleasant.

Breakfast at B. Matthews

Kids’ fancy French toast plates – adorable individual syrup pitchers; messy but fun.
Adults’ selections: crab cake Benedict and fried chicken biscuit with sausage gravy – very satisfying and indulgent.
Note on drinks: Bloody Marys served only after 11 am; plan accordingly for early breakfast.
Walking through the Historic District after breakfast allowed the kids to enjoy the magnolias, crepe myrtles, and moss-covered trees, making the morning both scenic and educational.

Afternoon Stroll and Activities

Explored River Street shops and candy stores – great for a leisurely snack break and people-watching along the Savannah River.
Walked through various squares – a perfect way to introduce the kids to Savannah’s beautiful historic architecture and lush public spaces.

Savannah Children’s Theater

Wizard of Oz production – highly engaging for young children, first exposure to live theater.
Theater environment is designed for kids, keeping them captivated and making the experience enjoyable for parents as well.
Recommended for families, especially for children under 10 experiencing live theater for the first time.

Dinner at Huey’s on the River

Barbecue shrimp appetizer – flavorful and well-prepared.
Adult entrees: roast beef debris/red beans combo and jambalaya pasta – good quality, though the atmosphere was a bit frazzled.
Dessert: giant beignets – fun and satisfying end to the meal.
While the food was good, other dining options in the area may be preferable for future visits.

Evening Planning

Consider arranging a pedicab tour one evening to enjoy the Historic District illuminated at night – a magical experience and easy on tired legs.
Evening walks after dinner allow for scenic exploration and help wind down after busy days of sightseeing and meals.

Overall, your first day balanced sightseeing, kid-friendly activities, and excellent local food. Utilizing pedicabs for transportation, scheduling manageable walking tours, and selecting restaurants with attentive service made the day stress-free and memorable. Following this pattern for subsequent days should provide a similarly enjoyable family experience in Savannah’s Historic District.