Savannah is such an amazing destination to visit, no matter what the occasion—a girls trip, bachelor party and even a family weekend! My family and I recently took a quick weekend trip to Savannah to check out the new Plant Riverside District and experience the city as a family. It was a lot of fun and I was so pleased that there was so much to do with kids! Here is a list of 9 things to do in Savannah with kids.
Plant Riverside District
Even if you aren’t staying at the JW Savannah at Plant Riverside District, this is a must visit. The history that this old power plant holds for the city and what they have done to restore it is really incredible. Not only is there a beautiful hotel and many restaurants to choose from, but inside the lobby is a treasure trove of historic fossils and geodes with amazing stories to tell.
Electric Moon Skytop Lounge
Ok, I know this sounds like an adult bar, but we actually went here twice during our visit! During the day it’s an amazing place to grab a bite, and maybe a cocktail or two, and let the kids slide from the top level down to the bottom level, and then do it all again! Mom and Dad can even take their drinks down the slide and hang out with the kiddos in these fun swivel chairs or to play ping pong. The food and drinks were delicious, too and there are gorgeous views of the river.
City Market
A five minute walk from the district is City Market. It’s a fun little area with tons of shops, restaurants and bars. And because of Savannah’s open container law, you can take your alcoholic beverages to go. Here you can also grab a horse-drawn carriage ride if you wanted to prolong your stay and get a tour of the area.
Savannah’s Candy Kitchen
The most magical part of City Market for the kiddos is Savannah’s Candy Kitchen. A jaw-dropping display of any candy you can think of plus handmade chocolates and pralines that are worth indulging in.
We left with a hunk of chocolate and a bag of cotton candy—the kids had never had it before, so they were super happy!
Visiting the Many Squares
As you walk through the city, there are these gorgeous squares, each one completely different. We continued on our walk further into the city and explored some of these squares, including Chippewa Square, made famous from the Forrest Gump bench scenes.
The kids loved exploring what each one looked like and their favorite was a wide open grassy area where they played tag with each other while Brett and I finished a coffee in the sunlight to warm up.
Sight Seeing on the River
The river makes for a beautiful backdrop for a walk and there are tons of restaurants, shops and bars along the several mile river walk. And one of the most incredible parts about the river is seeing the ginormous container ships sail by. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before! I wish I would have snapped a photo, but it was so breathtaking each time I completely forgot! The first time we saw one, Reece called out “Dad! We are moving!” It was really cute!
Savannah Square Pops
Right on the river is a cute little kiosk called Savannah Square Pops. A delicious and handmade popsicle treat for the kids for good behavior, right on the riverwalk. Great for snacking on the go as you explore more of the river walk and River Street.
Take a Walk on River Street
You have to walk up some historic steps from the riverfront to get to River Street, which was an adventure in itself. Walking along River Street there is so much to pop in to see! From eclectic coffee shops to handmade bath products you can smell from the street, breakfast joints and Bloody Mary’s to go. We definitely could have kept walking here if the kids weren’t ready to head back to the Electric Moon slide.
Ride the Trolley
If we were staying longer than two nights, and it wasn’t 36 degrees out, we would have definitely jumped on the trolley. With kids, this kind of entertainment is always the best because the open air trolley seems like a ride to them, and you save their tired legs from too much walking—save yourself from the “My legs are tired!” speech! The hop on hop off is a great option for venturing out to Savannah’s most popular destinations like Forsyth Park.
We had such an amazing time as a family here and we would definitely plan a trip back. It’s a great little city with so much to see and the kids really enjoyed it.
Wow! I want to go!