Three Days of Southern Charm in Savannah

DAY 1

Savannah is laid out in a grid pattern with a series of public squares tucked away. Each has its own history and features, like the setting for the famous bus stop scene in the film Forrest Gump, which is in Chippewa Square. Pop into one of the many historic homes within this area that now operate as museums. The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace is an especially popular stop for Girl Scout troops, while the Mercer-Williams House was the setting for the real-life events depicted in the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The Bird Girl sculpture on the book’s cover is just one treasure inside the Telfair Academy, the region’s oldest art museum. Between the main museum and the Jepson Center for the Arts, the collection ranges from 19th-century European paintings to contemporary sculpture.

Grab an alfresco lunch at the Collins Quarter, an Australian-inspired cafe two blocks away. The menu features signature coffees including a popular spiced lavender mocha, as well as much-loved brunch fare such as avocado toast and eggs benedict. Once satiated, make the short walk to the City Market area, Savannah’s original retail hub that dates back to the 1700s. It’s home to the American Prohibition Museum, which has exhibits on the “failed experiment” in Savannah and the rest of the nation, as well as bootlegging, moonshining and more. End your visit with a cocktail at the museum’s speakeasy, which serves classic drinks from the period.

Plan ahead and make a reservation at The Grey, a James Beard award-winning restaurant in the city’s former Greyhound bus station. Here, chef Mashama Bailey crafts artful takes on traditional Southern dishes. In the evening, watch the sun set from one of Savannah’s rooftop bars. Peregrin at the Perry Lane Hotel has a pool and craft cocktails, while Perch is a laid-back alternative overlooking Forsyth Park, the city’s largest green space.