In early August, I had the pleasure of partnering with Visit Savannah and Visit Tybee for an Instagram takeover as my husband and I enjoyed a little weekend giveaway. It was an extra special trip because it was also the weekend we found out we were expecting a baby!
Our vacation kicked off in Savannah, a city best described as “magical.” As soon as you drive into Savannah, you’re greeted by large oak trees draped in Spanish moss, historic landmarks, cobblestone or brick roads, colorful homes, eclectic shops, and, of course, southern hospitality.
Visit Savannah was incredibly kind to offer us a VIP pass, giving us access to some of the best tours and museums the city has to offer. My personal favorite was the Sixth Sense walking ghost tour. We lucked out with a guide who grew up in Savannah, offering us first-hand knowledge of her beloved city. The tour was spooky yet informative and very fun! Heads up though – wear your walking shoes! [100% met my Fitbit step goal that day.] I was especially intrigued learning about the haunted Kehoe House, a Queen Ann mansion built on Columbia Square in 1892. It’s now an upscale bed and breakfast, but I’m not sure I’d have the courage to stay there… [Learn more about why it’s so haunted here.]
Another tour we enjoyed was the hop on/hop off trolley tour via Old Town Trolley Tours. This is a fabulous way to explore the city. We decided to ride the tour the entire way through, then used the trolley as a form of free transportation to get around the rest of the day. The guide will provide you with lots of historical facts and point out some of the most famous spots, such as where the bench scene in Forrest Gump was filmed.
My husband, Patrick, was in charge of picking the museums. He’s a huge history buff, so his first pick was the Webb Military Museum. I’m not going to lie, I’m not overly enthusiastic about history, but even I was impressed by this museum and its abundance of military artifacts. Some of those included original uniforms, newspapers, headgear and part of a fighter jet.
Patrick’s next pick: American Prohibition Museum. This museum was AWESOME! As soon as you walk through the doors, you time travel back to the roaring 20s. The exhibit is decked out with galleries, vintage cars, thrilling reenactment videos, and unique ways of presenting our nation’s prohibition history. Then, the best part… the museum ends with a speakeasy where you’re allowed to enjoy a cocktail. [Or two!] Oh, and the cocktails look straight out of the 20s, too. I give this exhibit five stars! [Just wish I could have enjoyed one of those cocktails… or two.]
Now, let’s talk food. AKA: my favorite topic. Savannah never disappoints in this category. Here is a list of restaurants we ate at during our weekend getaway:
- Rise Biscuits and Donuts: Best chicken biscuit I’ve had in years
- East End Provisions: Highly recommend the pork fondue, grilled cheese, and blackened salmon salad
- Olde Pink House: My absolute FAV restaurant in Savannah. Make sure you book a reservation well in advance. I recommend everything on the menu… everything!
- The Collins Quarter for brunch: Spiced lavender mocha = OMG
- Leopold’s: Best ice cream in town. Loved the cake batter flavor
- Treylor Park: Nachos Grande is a must, loved the shrimp & grits tacos
- Goose Feathers for breakfast: Delicious pastries & egg sandwiches
NEXT STOP: Tybee Island! Let me just start by saying if you’re ever in Savannah, Tybee Island is only about 25 minutes away and it’s the easiest drive. This was my first time visiting “Savannah’s beach” and I’m so glad I did.
Tybee is an adorable island, filled with friendly locals as well as tourists, authentic shops, non-chain restaurants, charming inns, historic landmarks, and everything else you want to see in a beach city.
Unfortunately, we only had one night to spend in Tybee Island, so we were focussed on a few main things: Visiting the famous Tybee lighthouse, checking into our inn, eating well, enjoying some beach time, and watching the sunrise.
Tybee Island Light Station and Museum: First off, the lighthouse is breathtaking, and the station has been guiding mariners safe entrance into the Savannah River for over 285 years, according to tybeelighthouse.org. I’m actually still in shock I was able to successfully climb up the lighthouse, given that it stands 154 feet above sea level and it’s 178 steps to the top. BUT, once you make it to the top, the view is incredible!
Of course, my history-loving husband also enjoyed seeing the Head Keepers Cottage and museum next to the lighthouse, which was built in 1881.
Admirals Inn: We loved staying at the Admirals Inn. The location was incredibly convenient to all of the hot spots in Tybee Island, including restaurants we could walk to, and being right across the street from the pier. Having been recently renovated, other perks of Admirals Inn include comfy beds, a luxurious shower, and friendly staff members. [Thanks for hosting us, Admirals!]
Eating well: We may not have been in Tybee for more than 24 hours, but we sure did eat some yummy food during our short timeframe.
- StingRays Bar and Grill: Loved the wings and the fish po’boy
- Wet Willies: No, it’s not food – but you can get a delish drink to-go and walk with it right on down to the beach
- AJ’s Dockside Restaurant: I actually turned to the Visit Tybee Instagram followers and asked for suggestions and so many people said to try AJ’s. I’m glad we did because our dinner was amazing. It’s a great location, right on the water, with incredible sunset views. We enjoyed the shrimp and grits, crab soup, and especially loved the buffalo shrimp.
- Seaside Sweets: You can’t go to the beach and not have ice cream – that’s just unacceptable! Seaside Sweets is located in the shops by the pier. Loved the strawberry ice cream.
Enjoying some beach time: We soaked up the sun right next to the pier and we had perfect weather. Since we were only there for one full day, we only experienced one tiny portion of the Tybee Island beaches, but it was very clean. The water felt incredible, too.
Watching the sunrise: I know it’s tough waking up early, but out of everything we did on Tybee Island, I would recommend this the most. One of the best spots to watch the sun come up is next to the pier. We conveniently stayed within walking distance, so it was super easy to roll out of bed and post up on the beach.
We got to the beach around 6:20 a.m. and the sky was already filled with vibrant shades of pink, orange and yellow. The view was spectacular and simply stunning.
You can watch more from my Visit Tybee Instagram takeover in the YouTube video below:
Thank you again, Visit Savannah and Visit Tybee, for teaming up with me for this fun and unique opportunity. My husband and I had the best time staying along Georgia’s gorgeous coast and we’re already looking forward to our next trip back to both Savannah and Tybee Island!
FOLLOW: Visit Savannah and Visit Tybee on Instagram
Amusingly Katie 