Everything you need to know about visiting Savannah with kids

11.08.2023 - 12:45 / lonelyplanet.com

It’s a running joke in the South that how you greet someone can reveal volumes about where you are from. For instance, in Atlanta, they ask, “What do you do for a living?” In Charlotte, they ask, “Where are you from?” In Charleston, it’s “What’s your mother’s maiden name?” and in Savannah, it’s “What are you drinking?”

It’s not that the refreshments are boozy, but more that the Hostess City is dripping with Southern charm – there’s always a pitcher of sweet tea stocked in the fridge to welcome visitors of all ages.

In addition to the hospitality extended by locals, there’s also a plethora of attractions, activities and intentionally-designed streets inviting families with children to make this their next vacation destination.

There’s something about the relaxed pace and viridescent spaces that draw families to every corner of Savannah’s iconic squares.

Wide, flat, paved streets are sparsely crowded and shaded courtyards are easy to navigate by foot. Given its claim to fame as America’s first planned city, one wonders if founder James Oglethorpe had envisioned a city filled with women pushing perambulators and small children swarming its impeccably manicured squares. Public garages are conveniently located throughout downtown so families can find a spot to park, pop open even a double stroller and start walking through the town comfortably.

But don’t be fooled by this sleepy city’s pace or that relaxed Southern drawl. From Tybee Beach to the riverfront, playgrounds to cemeteries, and trolleys to the Savannah Belles Ferry, this city bursts with a variety of scenery and modes of transportation to keep families engaged and on the move.

While it’s still cool in the morning, head to the Children’s Museum, a rainbow labyrinth situated outdoors on the grounds of an old railroad station. Amidst the brick archways of what once was the Central of Georgia Railway Carpentry Shop, young children can feed their curiosity with hands-on play. They can explore a dizzying maze constructed of multicolor wooden panels, build towers with Legos or life-size blocks, and slide down winding chutes or scale walls.

Unlike typical indoor facilities in other cities, Savannah’s Children’s Museum doesn’t feel like the chaotic frenzy of parents chasing after kids as they run from one station to another. The outdoor experience muffles noise and tempers moods to produce an easy-going play environment that adults can appreciate.

Access to the play area is provided via the Georgia State Railroad Museum, so little ones will also be able to see actual rail cars.

The South’s history springs to life in the streets of the old town, where live oaks draped in Spanish moss, marble and cast iron statues and Georgian architecture whisper stories of its