SAVANNAH, GEORGIA: MY FAVORITE TRAVEL MEMORY OF 2020
For my last post of 2020, I wanted to share my favorite travel memory of the year before things got locked down so that I could end the year on a positive note. The brightest spot in 2020 for me was my trip to Savannah, Georgia. It's a place I've wanted to visit for some time now. It was a last-minute decision to make a quick detour there, and now I am so thankful I did considering how life just stopped a couple months later.
For those who have never visited Savannah, you should definitely add it to your list. You've likely seen it though in movies, and anyone who has watched Forest Gump has definitely seen parts of it as it's where Forest eats his famous box of chocolates.
Savannah has incredible architecture and an extremely rich history that will keep you interested at every turn. Instagrammers will feel like they've died and gone to heaven with all the public greenery, magnificent fountains, and Spanish moss dripping from every tree. For the ultimate Spanish moss experience, make a trip out to the Wormsloe Historic Site for a mind-blowing drive down an avenue of oak trees overflowing with Spanish moss. Wormsloe is also the home of the oldest structure in Savannah, in addition to being a really cool, historic, and beautiful place.
As I'm always recommending walking tours, I did manage to squeeze in this Savannah ghost tour pub crawl which was loads of fun. Protip, you can walk around with your adult beverages during the tour so you don't have to finish them at every stop. This increases the possibility that you'll remain upright for the whole tour.
FOOD
The biggest standout for me here, and really anywhere, is the food! OMG, the food... Here are a few dining options below that you should add to your trip.
Husk - For dinner or lunch you can't go wrong with Husk. It originally started in Charleston, but now has expanded to Savannah. Everything is delicious, but I have a soft spot for the fried chicken and the cheese and grits which I present below as Exhibit A and B.
(Cheese and grits at Husk)
(Fried chicken at Husk)
Little Duck Diner - Fun for breakfast or lunch, the food is very much diner-inspired but somehow manages to seem healthy without tasting healthy. I guess it's what one would call a modern diner.
The Collins Quarter - This is probably the ultimate brunch or breakfast spot, so definitely start some of your days here. I recommend everything as the food is delicious and the vibe is chill so you'll have a good time.
Green Truck Pub - If your goal is to dine where the locals eat, then you need to drop by the Green Truck Pub as it will assure that you spend some time outside of the Historic District. You may get confused at first because it isn't full of tourists, but you'll get over it. They have a fine selection of local craft beers if you're into that, and while they don't just have burgers on the menu I must insist that you get a burger. They're magical.
Treylor Park - Eat tasty food in an unpretentious environment surrounded by good people. This should probably be the name of Treylor Park, but I realize it's not as catchy and would take forever to type as a URL.
Mad Mac's Bakery & Cafe - Swing by for a quick treat with one of their liquor-infused cupcakes. Then continue on with your day. A warning that it might get a bit messy, so not something you want to consume on-the-go.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room - I love fried chicken, so I was really disappointed that I couldn't fit this into my schedule. At least it can be an experience for me to look forward to when I can safely travel again. Mrs. Wilkes is cash-only and doesn't accept reservations. Every morning from Monday to Friday people line up and wait for the doors to open at 11:00 a.m. and hope they make it in before the doors close at 2:00 p.m. As they say in the Hunger Games, "may the odds be ever in your favor".
Vinny Van GoGo - The place to go for a cheap, fast, and delicious New York style pizza slice. If you're thinking of going somewhere else in Savannah for a tasty slice of NYC fuhgeddaboudit.
Soho South Cafe - Another spot for a healthy-ish lunch or brunch. I'm sure it's not really healthier, it just felt like things were healthier. Check them out online and draw your own conclusions.
DRINKS
Some spots to drink that are all fun in their own way. I'm going to categorize them below based on a super scientific scale I just made up that goes from "Less Chill" to "Super Chill".
Less Chill (Think cocktail lounge where you're trying to impress)
Surprisingly Chill (It seemed like it could be a pretentious cocktail lounge, but it was so not that at all.)
More chill (Just relax and have a good time)
Super chill (Anything goes, LOL)
The Rail Pub - Probably just only swing by on their karaoke night if you've got a group of friends who want to get drunk and sing poorly.
As always, let me know what you think of my choices and let me know what other spots your would add to my lists.