What we did on our Svannah Vacation

Question

We are a fit couple in our early 60’s, and came to Savannah for a mini holiday. We walked between 11,000-18,000 steps each day.

Wednesday: We arrived at noon. Ubered from the airport to The Holiday Inn Express. It was a great location, as touted by everyone on TripAdvisor. There was ample drawer and closet space to unpack our bags, and not live out of our suitcase. We immediately headed for lunch at The Traylor Park, just a few doors away and were satisfied with the meals and atmosphere. Then we took an Uber to our 1st tourist destination – Savannah Bee Tour on Johnny Mercer Boulevard. They run tours Mon-Sat at 11, 1, and 3. This was the highlight of our stay in Savannah. When we arrived, Kay gave us about a 30 minute class on bees, then we put on anti-bee sting gear (a very Instagrammable picture in our netted hats), and went outside, and got to handle the bees in their combs, and taste the fresh honey. It was something we’ve never done before, so we really liked it. We were surprised that many locals and tourists never heard of this tour. We Ubered back to the Historic District, walked around for a while to get the lay of the land, and ended up at Moon River, for an outdoor Happy Hour with live Music, and a light dinner

Thursday: We booked a tour the night before through Viator of The Bonaventure Cemetary and Wormsloe There were 4 others on this tour with us. We were picked up at our hotel about 9:15AM. We first headed to The Cemetery. We had an informative guide with us, and as we strolled around the Cemetery for about 90 minutes, he pointed out the highlights, teaching us a lot of Savannah history. This is definitely a place you need a guide, otherwise, you wouldn’t know which tombs to visit nor their significance to Savannah. You might want to bring bug spray here if you’re prone to getting bitten. After visiting the Cemetery, we were taken to a restaurant, where we bought lunch. And, this is why I hate organized tours. I absolutely abhor being told when and where to eat. Personally, I think the tour should’ve then brought us to Wormsloe. Having said that, the restaurant choice, Erica Davis Low Country, was a good one, and everyone on the tour enjoyed their meal. We were then brought to Wormsloe, which for me, other than the grand tree lined entrance, was a ho-hummer. We walked around Wormsloe for about an hour. Again, bug spray is not a bad idea here. From there, we were taken to a Byrd Cookie Store to buy cookies. Another irritating feature of the tour for me. Byrd Cookies are all over the Historic District. The tour operator didn’t need to make it a stop. So, my suggestion to all of you, is just do The Bonaventure Cemetery with a tourguide. We went back to the Hotel for a bit. Once we headed out, we went to Sorry Charlie’s and enjoyed their $1 Happy Hour oysters and drinks. I told the waiter, who was not aware, of the Starkist Commercial where the tagline was “Sorry Charlie”. He promised he’d youtube it and show the staff. Later on in the evening, we walked to Savannah Smiles . This dueling piano bar was really fun, and the musicians were really talented. We ate here, which was a huge mistake. The food was truly the worst I’ve ever tasted. So eat beforehand, and come for drinks and entertainment. We left at about 10PM, and walked back to our Hotel.

FRIDAY: We started our morning by walking over to the Owen Thomas House to secure a 1:30pm reservation, since we wanted to go on The Free Walking Tour at 10:30AM. We usually try to go on the Free Walking Tours in major cities, because they’re typically led by very passionate and knowledgeable locals. This one did not disappoint. Dan, the tour guide, was great, and again gave us an insightful glance of Savannah’s History. The tour lasted close to 2 hours. We then went for lunch at Kayak Kafe, which was non descript.

At 1:30, we took the tour of The Owen Thomas House, which was excellent. The guide there was clear and concise. Afterwards, we walked around for a bit, stopped by our hotel, and then walked over to Savannah’s Visitor’s Center to pick up a 4:00 Comedy Bus Tour, Savannah’s Tour for Morons. We’ve been on these types of tours in other cities, and they’re always a good laugh. The hosts are usually very funny and witty. So, we were looking forward to this one. Well, what a disappointment this was! It was hosted by 2 women, who were merely loud and not funny, doing vaudeville stints that for us, simply fell flat. While we were on the bus, it started to rain. Half way into the tour, they dropped us off at a pub. The pub was ½ block away and across the street from where the bus dropped us off . We got a little wet, but not a catastrophe. We hung out at the pub for about 15-20 minutes, where they wanted us to buy drinks (we did not – again I really hate this about tours). And then, as the rain became more intense, falling down in sheets of water, they had us walk ½ block across the street to get back on the bus. We got totally drenched. My hair was sopping wet, and so were our clothes. We did not want to get back on the air-conditioned bus as wet as we were, plus the women were so unfunny, so we just left the tour and ubered back to the hotel. We went back out and walked along the river, stopping at a $5.00 margarita bar, and then eating at a restaurant that was not memorable.

SATURDAY: We headed our day at 9:00 by going to Forsyth Park I highly recommend coming here on a Saturday, if you can, since the Park hosts a lively and diverse Farmer’s and Artisan’s Market. Going to these types of places early is the key to enjoying them in the heat of Savannah’s sun. It was the best Farmer’s Market I had ever been to, and I am glad we were here on a Saturday to enjoy it. We spent about 1 ½ hours here. Afterwards, we walked over to the Andrew Low House. I feel this is a site that is not spoken about too often, but should be. The guide here was great, and the house is well preserved. From there, we walked to The Gryphon Tea House. We waited a long time for a table, and if it wasn’t so hot and humid, we would have walked out, but the air conditioning felt good, so we endured the 45 minute wait. I’m not sure why they don’t accept reservations, but I think it would be a good idea to do so. The place is very pretty. Once seated, we opted for the typical tea house fare of cucumber sandwiches, scones and small desserts. I wasn’t too impressed with their desserts, but their tea was great. After tea, we walked to The Davenport House The tour of this House was my least favorite of the Houses we visited. I feel the people who once occupied it weren’t so interesting, and neither was the guide. We then walked back to our hotel, rested, changed, and went to The Old Pink House for 6:00 dinner. The house was magnificent, and the wait staff very attentive, but the food was the best we had in Savannah. We both opted for diamond scored flounder, with collard greens and grits. Absolutely cooked to perfection! After dinner we peaked into all the rooms, and my favorite was the downstairs bar with live jazz playing. After dinner, we walked off our meal meandering around Savannah.

Sunday: We started our day by walking to the Georgia State RR Museum. We took a short 15 minute or so train ride. The guide was really funny. We also saw a short film there. I wouldn’t come to this site, unless you’re really passionate about trains. From there, we walked over to the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum. I had heard so much about this woman from all the other tours, it was good to finally see her birthplace. The guide was very informative, but long winded. The tour lasted about 90 minutes. Afterwards, we walked to The Prohibition Museum for a 1:30 tour. Unfortunately, it was Sunday, so the tour did not include a cocktail at the end due to Savannah’s Blue Laws, which is quite ironic in itself. They did provide us with mocktails, which were super sweet, and we just couldn’t drink them. But the tour itself, was great. The woman who led it, knew a lot about the period and it was fun learning more about that era. After the hour tour, we headed across the street to City Market Café for our last meal, before taking an Uber to the airport at 4:15.

We enjoyed our time in Savannah, and I hope my trip report gives you some ideas as to what you may want to do when you visit!

Answer

It sounds like you had a fantastic and action-packed trip to Savannah, packed with both historical experiences and plenty of walking! Here's a detailed recap of your itinerary and some tips for future visitors:

Wednesday: Your arrival day was well-planned, with a comfortable stay at the Holiday Inn Express in a great location. Walking to nearby attractions like Traylor Park for lunch sounds like a perfect start. The Savannah Bee Tour at Johnny Mercer Boulevard was a great choice — it’s a unique experience you don’t often find in other cities, especially for those interested in local produce like honey. You also had a good time at Moon River for Happy Hour, which has a nice outdoor setting for enjoying live music.

Thursday: The tour of Bonaventure Cemetery and Wormsloe was a perfect way to delve into Savannah's rich history. While the tour included a stop at a restaurant, which you found slightly inconvenient, it sounds like the cemetery itself was a highlight. It's also understandable that Wormsloe wasn't as exciting as you'd hoped, but the grand tree-lined entrance makes for a great photo op. Sorry Charlie’s for oysters and Savannah Smiles for the dueling piano bar are great stops for a fun evening, though the food at Savannah Smiles wasn’t up to par. You made the best of it by sticking to drinks and entertainment. The evening seems to have ended with a nice walk back to your hotel.

Friday: The Free Walking Tour of Savannah sounds like an excellent choice, offering a great introduction to the city's history with a knowledgeable guide. Afterward, the Owen Thomas House was a fantastic historical spot, and it's good that you got to take a tour there. It seems like the Comedy Bus Tour for Morons wasn’t up to expectations, especially with the rain, but you made the best of it by walking around and checking out the riverfront. Sometimes, tours like these can be hit-or-miss, but it’s all part of the experience!

Saturday: Forsyth Park’s Farmer's Market was a great choice — it's always better to visit early, especially in Savannah’s heat. The Andrew Low House was another excellent historical site with a great guide, and The Gryphon Tea House was a beautiful spot, even if the wait was long. The Davenport House didn’t impress you much, but you still made it through, and your dinner at The Old Pink House was a standout, especially with the perfectly cooked flounder. Ending your evening with a meandering walk around the city was a nice way to soak up the atmosphere of Savannah.

Sunday: You capped your trip with some unique visits, including the Georgia State Railroad Museum, which is best for train enthusiasts, and the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum, where you finally learned about her significance. The Prohibition Museum was another highlight, even though the mocktails were a bit much. Wrapping up your trip with a meal at City Market Café before heading to the airport sounded like the perfect conclusion to a packed visit.

Overall Thoughts: You made the most of your 3.5 days in Savannah, mixing in a good amount of history, local attractions, and fun moments like happy hours and live music. Your itinerary offers a great balance of learning about Savannah’s past, soaking in the culture, and enjoying some leisure time. For those visiting Savannah, here are a few recommendations based on your experiences:

Don’t miss the Savannah Bee Tour for a unique, educational, and interactive experience.
If you enjoy history, Bonaventure Cemetery and the Owen Thomas House are must-see sites.
The Forsyth Park Farmer's Market is fantastic for those looking to experience local produce and artisan goods.
For a fun evening, check out Moon River Brewing for live music or visit Savannah Smiles for a dueling piano experience (just skip the food there).
If you’re a fan of tea houses, try The Gryphon Tea Room, but expect a wait on busy days.
Consider avoiding tours with too many extra stops like cookie shops and unwanted restaurant breaks, and stick to tours focused on Savannah's rich history.

It looks like you had a memorable time with a lot of walking, good food, and even a few quirky moments. I hope your trip report helps others looking to explore Savannah in a similar fashion!