A Day in Savannah: History, Spanish Moss & the Riverfront

Savannah wasn’t originally part of our Hilton Head Island trip.

It was a last-minute addition—and sometimes those turn out to be the best days of a journey.

My wife suggested spending the day in Savannah since it was only about an hour’s drive from Hilton Head. We had heard so much about the city’s Historic District, beautiful squares, Spanish moss-covered trees, architecture, and riverfront that it seemed too close to pass up.

I had traveled to Savannah several times before, but almost entirely for business. This time was different. I wasn’t arriving for meetings or rushing between appointments. I was coming back as a curious traveler, with a camera in hand and time to actually experience the city.

For my wife, it was her first visit to Savannah, which made the day even more exciting.

First Stop: Chippewa Square

We drove directly into Savannah’s Historic District with a list of places we wanted to explore.

Our first stop was Chippewa Square, perhaps best known to visitors as the location associated with the famous bus-stop scenes from Forrest Gump.

At the center of the square stands the bronze monument to James Oglethorpe, the founder of Georgia. Nearby is the historic Savannah Theatre, dating back to 1818.

The square itself commemorates the Battle of Chippewa from the War of 1812.

But what immediately caught our attention wasn’t a date or monument.

It was the atmosphere.

Huge trees draped in Spanish moss framed the square, with historic buildings appearing through the branches in almost every direction. We stopped at Gallery Espresso for a quick coffee and simply enjoyed the view.

Savannah has trolley and shuttle options for exploring the Historic District, but we decided to walk.

That turned out to be the right decision.

This is a city that rewards you for slowing down.

Walking Through Savannah’s Squares

Our next stop was Madison Square, another beautiful green space shaded by Savannah’s signature trees.

At its center stands a monument to Sergeant William Jasper, a hero of the American Revolution who was mortally wounded during the Siege of Savannah in 1779.

As we continued walking, another side of Savannah became increasingly apparent: its architecture.

One building that particularly stood out was the Sorrel-Weed House, an impressive historic mansion influenced by Greek Revival and Regency architecture.

And that is part of the pleasure of walking through Savannah. You don’t necessarily need to be heading toward a landmark.

Sometimes the streets themselves are the attraction.

Shrimp & Grits — Savannah Style

By now, it was almost lunchtime.

Savannah certainly doesn’t lack restaurant choices, but we had one particular place in mind: The Public Kitchen & Bar.

I had heard about its shrimp and grits, so naturally that was what I ordered.

It didn’t disappoint.

Creamy grits, flavorful shrimp, and the kind of Southern comfort food that feels perfectly matched to Savannah.

I would easily rank it among the best shrimp and grits I’ve had.

My wife chose a pasta dish, which was equally delicious.

We hadn’t made a reservation, but arriving a little before the main lunch rush worked in our favor. By the time we finished, lines were beginning to form outside.

Sometimes timing really is everything.

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

After lunch, we continued to one of Savannah’s most recognizable landmarks: the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.

The cathedral is striking from the outside, with its French Gothic architecture and twin soaring spires.

Inside, the details are equally impressive—stained glass, marble, decorative columns, and beautifully vaulted ceilings.

When we first arrived, the cathedral was closed for a service, so we waited until it reopened before continuing our visit.

It was worth the wait.

After hours of walking through Savannah’s outdoor spaces, stepping inside the cathedral offered a completely different experience—quiet, intricate and grand.

The Birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low

From the cathedral, we made our way to the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

The historic home, courtyard and museum provide a glimpse into her life and into Savannah society of another era.

It was one of those stops that adds another layer to the city.

Savannah isn’t defined by one period of history. Everywhere you walk, different chapters seem to overlap.

Is This Savannah’s Most Photographed Street?

My wife had another place on her list.

Jones Street.

Often described as one of Savannah’s most beautiful—and most photographed—streets, it wasn’t difficult to understand why.

Historic homes line the brick-paved street while enormous live oaks create a natural canopy overhead. Spanish moss hangs from their branches, softening the entire scene.

This was Savannah exactly as we had imagined it.

We slowed down, took photographs and simply enjoyed walking beneath the trees.

No major attraction was necessary.

The street itself was enough.

Monterey Square and the Pulaski Monument

At the end of our walk through the Jones Street area, we reached Monterey Square.

The square was laid out in 1847 and named to commemorate the Battle of Monterrey during the Mexican-American War.

Dominating its center is the monument to Casimir Pulaski, the Polish-born hero who fought for American independence.

Pulaski was mortally wounded during the Siege of Savannah in October 1779.

Standing there was another reminder of just how much American history is packed into a relatively small part of Savannah.

Forsyth Park: An Iconic Savannah View

From Monterey Square, we continued toward one of Savannah’s signature sights: Forsyth Park Fountain.

The fountain, framed by a long oak-lined walkway, is one of the city’s classic photographs.

But Forsyth Park is more than its fountain.

Its open spaces, mature trees, walking paths and monuments make it a gathering place as much as a tourist attraction.

We spent some time strolling through the park before continuing past buildings associated with the Savannah College of Art and Design.

By this point, we had covered a lot of the Historic District on foot.

It was time for a change of scenery.

From Historic Savannah to the Riverfront

We drove toward Savannah’s riverfront and the Plant Riverside District.

Almost immediately, the scenery changed.

Instead of quiet squares and historic homes, we were now looking across the Savannah River toward the towering Talmadge Memorial Bridge.

One of the most interesting sights along the riverfront is the transformation of Savannah’s former power plant.

Originally built in the early 20th century, the industrial complex has been restored and incorporated into JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District.

Rather than erase the building’s industrial past, the redevelopment made it part of the experience.

Today, the riverfront around it is filled with restaurants, shops, hotels and places to simply sit and watch the river.

We walked along the waterfront, taking in the views of passing boats, historic buildings and the bridge rising above the Savannah River.

It felt completely different from the Savannah we had explored earlier in the day—and yet somehow still connected to it.

A Different Savannah This Time

As we headed back toward Hilton Head Island, I kept thinking about how different Savannah felt compared with my previous visits.

The city hadn’t changed.

The way I was experiencing it had.

On earlier trips, Savannah had mostly been somewhere I traveled for business.

This time, I walked its squares, photographed its Spanish moss-covered trees, learned some of the stories behind its monuments, tasted its Southern food, wandered down its historic streets and ended the day beside the Savannah River.

What began as a last-minute addition to our Hilton Head itinerary became an entire day of discovery.

And perhaps that is one of the best lessons of travel:

Sometimes the places you didn’t plan to visit become the places you’re happiest you didn’t miss.

— Triyana Diaries | Traveling with curiosity, one story at a time.