A Guide To Visit Savannah, GA Roadtrip to Charleston, SC
DAY 1
Miami, FL drive to Savannah (7 HRS)
Breakfast @ The Collins Quarter
Explore Forsyth Park
Lunch @ The Grey
Sweets @ River Street Sweets
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Savannah to Charleston (2 Hrs)
I have never really been on a road-trip but somehow, someway, my husband convinced me to make the drive up from Florida to New York — stopping by Savannah and Charleston on the way. Took us about 7 hours to get to Savannah so we left at 1 am to make the most of our day (crazy, I know). A car full of snacks, music, and “alternating” drivers (I drove for an hour). Savannah is one of the most romantic cities in the US. Its historic district is only more romantic with its horse-drawn carriages and storybook mansions that predate the Civil War.
A daytime trolley tour will take you past the major sights, while an evening ghost walk might include a stop in the famous and beautiful Bonaventure Cemetery. Travel to Savannah to see a city that’s equal parts traditional and pioneering, with a young, bohemian vibe that sets it apart from its Southern neighbors.
The Collins Quarters
Savannah has a lot to offer - historical beauty, Southern hospitality, and cobblestone streets - but we were starving so first up was some 8 am breakfast at The Collins Quarters. Such a quaint little spot, it’s fashioned after the coffee café restaurants of Melbourne. They serve an all day brunch menu and we were surrounded by the hustle and bustle of people coming in and out enjoying brunch. But apparently by night, the café transforms into an candle lit restaurant. The design of this three-year-old restaurant combined all my interests: natural light, white subway tile and a bold color palette. I also loved that there was a walk-up take-out window for those who don’t have time to wait.
Forsyth Park
We walked off the eggs Benedict and Avocado toasts, all the way down Bull Street to Forsyth Park, passing quite a few park squares. Along the way there’s: Mercer Williams House Museum, Green-Meldrim House, SCAD and its Art Cafe, and so many other places.
Chippewa Square: Home to the famous bench where Forrest Gump sat!
Jones Street: Voted the most beautiful street in America by Southern Living.
Owens-Thomas House: Another beautiful historic mansion in Savannah.
Sorrel-Weed House: a Historic mansion that is also supposedly haunted.
Juliette Gordon Low House: Home to the founder of the Girl Scouts.
Eventually we looped around the fountain at Forsyth Park and made our way back down. It’s all so manageable on foot, and there’s a bit of a gritty edge to the city that keeps it interesting. We devoted the rest of the afternoon to shopping along Broughton Street and wandering aimlessly among River Street (this charming cobblestone street is located right along the river, as the name implies).
Savannah is a very pedestrian-friendly city. When it was first founded, it was laid out in a grid pattern around 22 tree-lined public squares. You can easily get around all of downtown and the historic district on foot.
The Grey
That afternoon, we walked to lunch at The Grey, which has garnered all sorts of national acclaim. If you know anything about me, then you’ll know I’m a lover of architecture, therefore I appreciate a good Art Deco adaptive reuse. Located in the former Greyhound station (hence the name), the Grey was modeled to reflect the 1920s era the building was originally built in, custom-designed into a swanky bar restaurant. The Grey appealed to both our taste buds and our design preferences.
From there we quickly stopped by River Street Sweets to grab some snacks for the road, went straight to Charleston. Took us about 2 hours and once we got there, WE SLEPT!
Day 2
Charleston, South Carolina
Lunch @ Magnolias
Walk down Rainbow Row
Explore King Street
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Dinner @
Continue ROAD-TRIP to NY
Charleston is much more than its picture-ready cobblestone streets, clopping horse carriages, and classical architecture. Much of the port city’s allure lies in constant reinvention and little surprises (like free-range guinea hens clucking up and down Legare Street, sous chefs flying by on skateboards heading into work, or Citadel cadets honking their bagpipes on sidewalks in summertime). Charleston’s cultural and culinary scene has exploded citywide, giving way to cutting-edge new galleries, boutiques, bake shops, breweries, distilleries, and coffee shops, not just in downtown, but in suburban and beachfront venues, too.
86 Cannon Hotel
One of the most charming places I have ever walked through, 86 Cannon is an absolute MUST for those who want a cute, romantic getaway. Nestled in the heart of Charleston, 86 Cannon is a luxury boutique inn located in a restored historic 1860’s house. You are first welcomed with a glass of champagne and friendly staff, then enjoy a enjoy a European-style continental breakfast in their cafe every morning. It is in close proximity to King Street for shopping and dining, but tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, a combination that makes it an ideal retreat location.
Rainbow Row
Our favorite spots in Charleston were small roads that seemed to have immeasurable character, also known as Rainbow Row. They had survived the test of time and were monuments to the city’s culture and history. If you adore old, colorful, Southern buildings as much as I do, this is the place for you. We spent hours in this one section alone!! The marble and wrought iron are perfectly paired with the adorable shutters and planter boxes of each house. The colorful, distressed walls seem to tell stories of the city’s long history. And the towering oaks that are infused with the sidewalk add even more character as you walk along the streets
King Street
King Street, the main shopping thoroughfare, regularly shuts off to traffic and becomes a walking mall, where locals stroll their pets (from poodles to miniature pigs), listen to live music, and sip wine on sidewalk tables. Winter brings oyster roasts, camellia blossoms, and January’s restaurant week. Spring brings the SEWE wildlife festival, Charleston’s annual Wine + Food Festival, and tours of houses and gardens, all amidst the heady scents of wisteria, jasmine, and magnolia blossoms. Spoleto (Charleston’s international arts and performance festival) kicks off summer with a bang, followed by barbecues, fried chicken, wine and art strolls, craft brew tastings on open patios, creekside shrimp and crab boils, and plenty of beach time. Fall ushers in horse and hound gatherings at Middleton Place, the Southern Ground Music and Food Festival, the Lowcountry Field Feast, and another semi-annual tour of homes and gardens.
There are so many facets to this thriving city: waterways, beaches, plantation retreats, cypress groves, bird sanctuaries, golf, and downtown venues. Even locals haven’t exhausted all there is to do here, so plan on returning again and again to make new discoveries and revisit favorites.
Day 3
Overnight stop in Baltimore
Continue ROAD-TRIP to NY
After Charleston we continued our road trip up to New York. Stopping overnight in Baltimore, then continuing the final 4 hours from there.