Today’s installment of Atlanta Real Estate Forum’s brand-new “Long Weekend Destination” series showcases Georgia’s most historic city: Savannah. Whether you’re a history buff, the “foodie” of your friend group, love trying new things or simply want a stroll around a city fused with both history and a contemporary edge, Savannah should be your next long weekend destination.

One of America’s oldest cities, Savannah was founded in 1733 as the thirteenth and final establishment of the original British colonies. Though the city’s long and rich history is its main attraction, it manages to include both its heritage and the tastes of the modern age at all its local establishments. Explore a city influenced by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), hear ghost stories, enjoy Southern and coastal cuisine and more under a cloak of Spanish moss and live oaks.

Tips for Your Trip

• The historic downtown area is very walkable, so ditch your car and enjoy slowing down and taking in all the views.
• Include making reservations at the local restaurants in your trip planning. Savannah’s cuisine scene is lively and active, so there could be long waits at many popular spots.
• Head to www.VisitSavannah.com for suggestions on everything to do in Savannah, whether it’s your first time to the city or you need hotel recommendations.

History Tours

Savannah is so richly laced with history that you can find it almost anywhere, from a restaurant to a hotel or one of the city’s many public squares. For an in-depth look into Savannah’s past, visitors can head to any of Savannah’s old churches, including the iconic First African Baptist Church, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and more for photo-ops, breathtaking architecture and lessons about the city’s religious history.

For those who want to dive into 300 years of architectural history, visiting Architectural Tours of Savannah is highly recommended. Jonathan Stalcup, local author, SCAD graduate and owner of the tour establishment leads small groups on a leisurely walk through the city’s antebellum, Regency, federal style-buildings and more.

Head to Forsyth Park, the largest of the city’s public squares, and stroll around the square that has been present since Savannah’s founding days. You can visit the iconic Forsyth Park Fountain, take in the views of the live oaks and Spanish moss or drop in at the visitor center to learn more about one of America’s oldest public squares.

Ghost tour enthusiasts can visit The Pirates’ House, allegedly the oldest-standing building in Georgia and today a family-friendly restaurant and excellent spot for stories of some of the city’s most fascinating characters through the years. The bravest among visitors can book a walking tour of the Bonaventure Cemetery: a Southern Gothic, Spanish moss-covered ground with live oaks older than the United States and tombstones that are green with age and centuries of creepy stories.

Restaurants

The only problem with Savannah is that the delicious local cuisine can’t all fit into one weekend, but here are some suggestions for the most buzzed-about restaurants, bakeries, candy shops and more.

A weekend in Savannah is all about slowing down and enjoying the locale, and no bakery captures this motto better than Back in the Day Bakery. “Slow down and enjoy the sweet life” by choosing from their extensive list of morning treats and coffees. For lunch, line up at Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room before 11 a.m. so you can enjoy a family-style meal with strangers. Fried chicken, corn muffins and more Southern cooking has never been so delicious. For dinner, head to the Green Truck Pub or The Olde Pink House, where you can eat local and embrace the calories. (You’ll walk them all off, anyway.)

There is always tons of variety in Savannah’s City Market, a bustling area filled with boutiques, restaurants and, of course, the Savannah Candy Kitchen. You’ll want to stop here for brittle, pralines and more to take with you when you want a sweet treat during the day.

These are only a few of the excellent restaurants you’ll want to visit and try out, so be sure to check out the recommendations on Trip Advisor or Visit Savannah.

Miscellaneous “Must-Visits”

Savannah’s bars, nightlife and entertainment scene is as unique as the city. Visit the Savannah Theater for a a haunting tour. The Grey, located in an early-1900s Greyhound Bus Station, is an excellent place to raise a toast to your weekend trip and enjoy dinner. Happy hour is best celebrated at Abe’s on Lincoln, where you can catch open mic nights, drink-and-draw events and more in a casual setting. Of course, you won’t want to miss exploring the shops, tasty food items and nightlife on River Street.

Choose Savannah for your next long weekend destination. You may love this city so much that you want to live there! Lamar Smith Homes, a new home builder Savannah, GA, offers affordable master-planned communities with extraordinary amenities and a variety of home plans focused on home buyer needs. Enjoy life just minutes from Savannah’s vibrant historic district that you’ll be exploring for years. For more information, visit Lamar Smith Homes’ website.