Local Area Attractions

What to do and see! Here is a list of a few of our favorite things in the area:
On the Island and Nearby

• Wormsloe State Historic Site – Our sister site right across the river! The Oak Avenue is worth the trip in itself. Museum and film on the beginnings of Savannah, daily tours, and often costumed interpreters in colonial dress telling stories of how life was in Savannah over 250 years ago. Open Tues – Sun 9-5 7601 Skidaway Road, 912-353-3023
• UGA Aquarium – Beautiful piece of the property with trails on the north end of the island. Educational and informative museum and 16 tanks with local fish, turtles and invertebrates. Open Mon - Fri 9-4 & Saturdays 10-5 30 Ocean Science Circle, 912-598-2496
• Pin Point Heritage Museum – This is a must see, take the tour with Gail or any of the knowledgeable staff, they all love to share the history of this place. The museum is located in the old A.S. Varn & Son oyster and crab factory that closed in 1985. For nearly one hundred years Pin Point was isolated and self-sustained, a Gullah/Geechee enclave founded by first-generation freedman where family, religion, and work were deeply connected to the water. Only Open Thursdays and Saturdays 9-5 9924 Pin Point Ave, 912-355-0064
• William H. Ford Museum at Bethesda & Historic Whitefield Chapel – Located on the beautiful campus of Bethesda Academy founded in 1740, this museum showcases the history of this haven for children of settlers who died from the fever epidemic that swept through the colonies. This is a great addition to round out a day of visiting Wormsloe and Pin Point. These three sites were in operation simultaneously 100 years ago and have fascinating stories that are intertwined throughout history. Only Open Thur – Sat 10-4 9520 Ferguson Avenue, 912-401-0663
• Tour of the Island – Besides the park and the UGA Aquarium, a majority of the island is a large residential community called The Landings with about 8,500 residents. Features include 2 marinas, 4 restaurants, tennis courts, 6 golf courses, fitness center, and 3 outdoor pools. If you have interest in seeing what it is like to live on the island contact their Real Estate Office, The Landings Company, and ask about their discovery packages or if there are any tours available. 1 Landings Way North, 1-800-841-7011 or 912-598-3217 It is also fun to ride bikes from the park to the Village, a little shopping area with a grocery store, banks, gas station, Hallmark store and Pharmacy.

Downtown

• Massie Heritage Center – An often missed museum in downtown, however it is one of the best priced options with a great 3D scale model of Savannah. It is a great way to start a trip to the city and get a good overview of downtown. Open Mon – Sat 10–4, Sun 12–4, 207 East Gordon Street, 912-395-5070
• Harper Fowlkes House – An often missed house to tour and is also one of the most reasonably priced. While some home tours downtown are very restrictive, rehearsed tours, this 1842 Greek Revival Mansion is open to the public to tour through with informative staff and interesting furnishings. Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10-4 230 Barnard Street, 912-234-2180
• Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist – If you like churches, this is the one to see. This 1896 Roman Catholic Cathedral has beautiful stained glass inside and they welcome visitors as long as they are not having services. 222 Harris St, 912-233-4709
• Owens-Thomas House – This is another great house to tour and see one of the finest examples of English Regency architecture in America. Run by the Telfair Museum, you can purchase tickets to both and their art museum the Jepson Center for one great price!

Open Monday 12-5 Tues - Sat 10-5, Sunday 1-5 124 Abercorn St, 912-790-8889

• Ships of the Sea Museum – The benefits to this is you see a historic home, but instead of looking at furnishings, each room is filled with model ships. Beautiful outside garden as well. Open Tues - Sun 10-5 41 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, 912-232-1511
• Green Meldrum House – Another often overlooked historic home, but well worth the visit. A visit here rounds out the house tours with one of the South’s finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture. Now serves as the rectory for St. Johns Episcopal Church. Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 10-4, Saturdays 10-1, Closed: Dec 15th – Jan 15th and 2 weeks prior to Easter 14 West Macon Street 912-233-3845
• Forsyth Park – When I think of a park I think of Skidaway Island State Park, however if you are going to hang out in a “park” in Savannah it is likely this one. The iconic fountain, and large green space for frisbee, football or just a picnic on a blanket, this is a place to hang for young and old alike. South end of the Historic District

• See all the squares downtown – 22 of the original 24 still remain, Ellis Square was the last one restored in 2010. James Oglethorpe’s plan for the city in 1733 still remains and is celebrated with the continued use of these public squares today. Downtown Historic District
• River Street – It may seem like a bit of a “tourist trap,” however you can get a drink, and sit on a bench and watch the ships go by. And there are some really cool memorials along River Street, be sure to find The African American Monument, The Statue of Florence Martus “The Waving Girl”, the 1996 Olympic Yachting Cauldron, and the World War II Memorial. North end of the Historic District
• City Market – Located on the original site of the market used by farmers and traders of all kinds to sell their goods and wares in the early 1700’s, City Market offers the best of what is old and what is new in Savannah. Today, it comprises a four-block area of restored warehouses and shop fronts adjacent to Ellis Square. Restaurants, shops, art galleries, and often events and live music can be enjoyed.

Tybee Island Lighthouse & Museum – Tours are self-guided of the lighthouse and head keepers’ cottage. Beautiful views after you make the journey up the 178 steps to the top! Open every day, except Tuesday 9-5:30 30 Meddin Ave, Tybee Island, 912-786-5801
Tours

• Olde Town Trolley Tours – A 90 minute tour of downtown with 16 stops along the way. Great overview of the city, hop off and visit a museum or grab lunch, trolleys run about every 20 minutes to pick you up again. We sell tickets with pick-ups from the park on Fridays and Saturdays at 9am, bring you back at 4:30pm. 234 MLK, Jr. Blvd. or 214 W. Boundary St. & Oglethorpe Avenue 912-226-6805
• Old Savannah Ghost Tour – “Trolley Tales Historic Haunts” This trolley tour has a very informative and entertaining guide and takes you into the Pirates’ House Rum Cellar and the Sorrel-Weed House. 250 MLK Jr. Blvd. 912-234-8128

Forts

• Fort McAllister – This State Historic Park showcases the best-preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy on the banks of the Ogeechee River. The earthworks were attacked seven times by Union ironclads but did not fall until 1864 -- ending Gen. William T. Sherman’s “March to the Sea.” Visitors can explore the grounds with cannons, a furnace, bombproof, barracks, palisades and more, while a Civil War museum contains artifacts, a video and gift shop. Open daily 8-5 3894 Fort McAllister Road, Richmond Hill, 912-727-2339
• Fort Pulaski – For much of the 19th century, masonry fortifications like Fort Pulaski, were the United States’ main defense against overseas enemies. However, during the American Civil War, new technology proved its superiority to these forts. The Union army used rifled cannon in 1862 and compelled the Confederate garrison inside Fort Pulaski to surrender. The siege was a landmark experiment in the history of military science and invention, which rendered brick fortifications obsolete. The fort was also used as a prisoner-of-war camp. Operated by the National Park Service Open daily 9-5 US Highway 80E, 912-786-5787
• Fort Jackson – Named after James Jackson, one-time governor of Georgia, Old Fort Jackson is a beautifully preserved fort along the Savannah River offering cannon firings and daily interactive programs. Open daily 9-5 1 Fort Jackson Rd, 912-232-3945

Islands that you can only get to by boat!

• Ossabaw Island – As a State Heritage Preserve, visitation to the island must be for natural, scientific and cultural study, research and education. However the beaches are open to the public daily (must have a boat to get there) and they offer programs and events throughout the year that include transportation. Ossabaw Island Foundation 912-233-5104
• Sapelo Island – Most of the island is state owned and does have regular ferry service, however you have to book a tour for transportation around once you get there. Most tours include visiting the Gullah/Geechee Community of Hog Hammock, beach, Reynolds Mansion, & Lighthouse. Visitor Center on the mainland: Open Tues - Fri 7:30–5:30, Saturday 8-5:30 1766 Landing Road SE, Darien 912-437-3224
• Daufuskie Island – Daufuskie Island offers a glimpse of what other sea islands were like before bridges and causeways opened them to development. The subject of Pat Conroy's novel, The Water Is Wide, Daufuskie Island has a timeless quality and is still accessible only by boat. The Westin in partnership with Bloody Point Golf Club now offers ferry trips to the island. Visit the beach, play golf, rent a golf cart and check out the self-guided Rob Kennedy Historical Tour, Billie Burn Museum, local artisans, & community farm.

The Westin: 912-201-2021 Bloody Point: 843-341-3030

• Little Tybee Island – A pure, uninhabited nature preserve, accessible only by boat, “Little” Tybee Island is actually more than twice Tybee Island’s size. This wilderness gem showcases rich coastal salt marshes; pristine beaches; natural dunes and subtropical forests of live oak, pine, and palm. Wildlife includes egrets, herons, white ibis and the endangered wood stork. Sea Kayak Georgia offers kayak rentals to get to Little Tybee, Open 10-6, winter hours vary Sea Kayak Georgia, 1102 Hwy 80, Tybee Island 912-786-8732
• Cumberland Island – One of the largest undeveloped barrier islands along the Atlantic coast. The island has one of the largest maritime forests remaining in the United States and one of the largest wilderness areas in a National Seashore on the east coast. Passenger Ferry service available, reservations recommended Visitor Center Open daily 8-4 113 St. Marys Street, St. Marys 912-882-4336

Visit some of our other great State Historic Sites along the coast

• Howfyl Broadfield Plantation – In the early 1800s, William Brailsford of Charleston carved a rice plantation along the Altamaha River. The plantation and its inhabitants were part of the genteel low country society that developed during the antebellum period. Ophelia was the last heir to the rich traditions of her ancestors, and she left the plantation to the state of Georgia in 1973. Visitors today can visit a museum featuring silver from the family collection, view a brief film and walk a short trail that shows where rice once flourished and tour the antebellum home. Open Wed – Sun 9-5 5556 U.S. Hwy 17 N. Brunswick, 912-264-7333
• Fort King George – This is the oldest English fort remaining on Georgia's coast. From 1721 until 1736, Fort King George was the southern outpost of the British Empire in North America. His Majesty’s Independent Company garrisoned the fort and endured incredible hardships from disease, threats of Spanish and Indian attacks, and the harsh, unfamiliar coastal environment. Using old records and drawings, this 18th century fortification has been reconstructed for public tours. Structures include a blockhouse, officers' quarters, barracks, a guardhouse, moat, palisades and museum. Open Tues – Sun 9-5 302 McIntosh Rd SE, Darien 912-437-4770
• Fort Morris – When the Continental Congress convened in 1776, the delegates recognized the importance of a fort to protect their growing seaport from the British. Soon afterwards, a low bluff on the Medway River at Sunbury was fortified and garrisoned by 200 patriots. When the British demanded the fort’s surrender on November 25, 1778, the defiant Col. John McIntosh replied, “Come and take it!” Today, visitors can stand within the earthwork remains and view scenic Saint Catherines Sound. A museum and film describe the colonial port of Sunbury and the site’s history. Open Thur – Sat 9-5 2559 Fort Morris Road, Midway, 912-884-5999