Southern Hospitality – Savannah, Georgia

Savannah Historic District

 

 

 

Thanksgiving 2018 brought us to Savannah, Georgia for good camping and Southern Hospitality.  We were fortunate to find plenty of both! Don’t own an RV, but still want to give RV life a try, Rent an RV in Savannah.

When planning a Fall trip, be sure to check the weather before leaving and allow yourself some wardrobe choices.  During our stay, the weather was great, but cool and almost always breezy, which added a chill to the air.  Daytime temperatures were in the 60’s and the evenings tended to be in 40’s.

Itinerary

Day 1
Houston to Frog City RV Park, Duson, LA
Approximately 250 Miles (4 Hours)
Gas Stop – Lucky’s at RV Park. (Good accessibility for Gas and Diesel)

Day 2
Frog City RV Park to  Montgomery South Park and Cabins, Hope Hull, AL
Approximately 416 Miles (7 Hours)
Gas Stop – Love’s Hope Hull, AL (Same exit as RV Park). Location is new and doesn’t currently show on Google Maps (Good accessibility for Gas and Diesel)

Lunch Stop:  Mississippi Welcome Center, Pearlington, MS

Day 3
Montgomery South RV Park and Cabins to Creekfire RV Resort,  Savannah, GA
Approximately 340 Miles (6 Hours)
Gas Stop – Grady’sTruck Stop, Metter, GA (I-16 Eastbound Exit 111) (Good accessibility for Gas and Diesel)

Lunch Stop:  I-16 Eastbound Rest Area

We spent 5 nights in Savannah and returned along the same route that we came.

Another route option for this trip is I-10 East to I-95 North.  We did consider this route.  The mileage and driving time is approximately the same on either route.  Due to this year’s hurricane season, particularly Hurricane Michael, we decided to take the more northern route.  There are more road changes on this route, but most of the trip is still on Interstates and 4 lane highways.

Things To Do

Savannah – Day 1

Our day started with a trip to Fort Pulaski.  The admission fee is good for 5 days.  This Civil War fort is well-preserved and has an interesting history.  Be sure to stop in at the vistors center to watch the video and have a look around to understand the fort better.   There are several trails including one that takes you to the point for a look at Cockspur Light House.  There are restrooms, but no concessions, so be sure to pack drinks and a lunch.  Also, be sure to pack bug spray.  The entire area is marshland and even in November, there were mosquitos.  Allow 2-3 hours to fully explore the fort and the grounds.

Tips:

Tennis shoes worked fine, but hiking boots would have also been appropriate.  On the day we visited, there was a heavy dew and our shoes did get damp.

There is sufficient parking for RV’s.

Fort Pulaski

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our second stop this day was the Tybee Island Light House.  The admission fee helps to maintain the preservation of the light house and grounds. You can climb to the top.  It is 178 steps.  There are 6 landings, so you can take a short break, but no seating anywhere within the light house.  It is worth the climb.  Your admission fee to the light house also includes access to the Battery across the street.  Inside the Battery is a museum cataloging the interesting history of Tybee Island.

Tybee Island Light House

Our final activity for the day was a walk along the beach (accessed from a boardwalk beside the Battery).  Due to the season and temperatures during our visit, the beach was relatively empty.. I am sure that in the summer it can get very crowded.

 

 

 

Tips:

The streets around the Light House are narrow and somewhat winding and parking is limited.  We wouldn’t want to drive an RV in the area.  However, we did see a sign for an RV Park while on the island.  We didn’t visit the park, but would assume that the road leading into it would be appropriate for an RV.  We saw lots of people bicycling and even bike rental. If you don’t have a tow vehicle and wanted to spend a couple of days on the Tybee Island, this might be a good option.

Savannah – Day 2

On Day 2, we jumped over to South Carolina to visit the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.  It’s only a short drive from Savannah and well worth the trip.  Be sure to stop in at the Visitors Center before proceeding to the Wildlife Viewing Area.  They will provide a trail map and information sheet on some of the birds and animals that you may see.  There is no cost to visit.  The Visitors Center does have restrooms.  The wildlife drive doesn’t have any facilities.  Also, neither location sells concessions, so be sure to bring water, snacks AND BUG SPRAY! The drive around the refuge is only 4 miles long, but allow a couple of hours to go through it. You are allowed to stop along the way.  You will see much more wildlife by getting out of the car and looking around.  There are some trails.  We had mixed results on the trails.  In some cases, the reeds are too high and it is difficult to see anything over them.  On another trail, we saw various birds and a couple of alligators.

Tips:

Tennis shoes would likely work, but we opted for hiking boots.

We did see a Class C Motorhome driving through the wildlife viewing area.  It is a one way road, so once you decide to go, you have to continue.  While the road was ok, there are lots of low hanging branches.  Not a drive we would undertake in our Class A.  Also, pets are not allowed in the refuge.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alligator at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wormsloe Historic Site

After the wildlife refuge, we made our way to Wormsloe Historic Site.  After entering the large stone arch, stop at the small building on the right to purchase your tickets.  From there you proceed down an oak lined drive back to a parking area and museum.  The tickets is a brochure with trail maps. It is interesting to see the tabby ruins and walk along the trail.  There were some longer trails, but due to time constraints, we couldn’t explore them.

Tips:

We opted to wear hiking boots.  Tennis shoes would be appropriate, but if it has recently rained the area would likely be muddy.

We don’t feel that a Class A Motorhome would fit through the arch at the entry.  Even a smaller RV would potentially struggle to find parking, so we would recommend you visit in your tow vehicle.

Savannah – Day 3

Old Fort Jackson

We started the day by visiting Old Fort Jackson. This fort was built in 1808 and used during 3 wars.  The fort has daily cannon firings at 11 am and 2pm.  This includes a reenactment of a battle and visitor participation is encouraged.  At the end of the reenactment, the cannon is fired.  It is actually a fun way to present all of the historic information.  The walk around the fort is interesting and there are several other cannons on display.  Again, the parking is tight and we wouldn’t recommend trying to visit in an RV.

Our next stop, Bonaventure Cemetery, is considered a must-see when visiting Savannah.  Though not the oldest cemetery in Savannah, it was considered fashionable to be buried in this location, even if it meant being moved here sometime after you were buried elsewhere.  The historic area of the cemetery is located in the back.  There is an app available for $4.99 (details on the Bonaventure website) that provides a tremendous amount of information and the locations of the most notable residents.  We would advise getting the app for use while visiting.  If you choose not to get the app, be advised the areas around the graves are private property and, in most cases, the families have NOT given permission for visitors to come into the grave area.  It is considered trespassing, so it is best to stay on the well-laid out paths.  Also, burials are still being held at the cemetery, so be sure to show the appropriate respect to the families.

Tips:

Get the app!  I know it was mentioned above, but it is well worth the money.  The information provided really enhances the experience.

Wear comfortable shoes.  We saw lots of people attempting to drive around and see the monuments, but to truly appreciate the cemetery you need to be able walk on the paths through the various sections.

Bonaventure is not RV-friendly.  The interior roads are narrow and parking is very limited.

Get the App to find out the story of young Gracie Watson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Bonaventure, we grabbed lunch at Sweet Potatoes.  It is good home cooking and friendly service.  Don’t forget to save room for dessert!

And who can visit the Most Haunted City in America without going on an evening Ghost Tour.  Our tour was booked on Ghost and Gravestones Tour of Savannah .  The tour is conducted on a trolley and only requires limited walking.  During the tour, our host, Dr. Bell, offered interesting facts about the historic district, its homes and prominent residents, some of whom are said to still be hanging around.  The tour is good for all ages.   Our tour was full, so advance reservations are probably a good idea.

Tips:

Dress appropriately.  The Trolley of Doom is open air.

The Historic District is quite congested and we would advise against driving an RV in the area.  Taking a shuttle or Uber would likely be a better choice.

Savannah – Day 4

For our final day, Thanksgiving Day, we made reservations for a Savannah Riverboat Cruise.  The cruise included a buffet lunch and a 2-hour river cruise.  Our cruise was for Thanksgiving, but dinner and sightseeing cruises are available year around.  It was a nice way to end our time in this great city.

Tips:

Be sure to check the dress code for the cruise you select.  During our lunch cruise, the wardrobe choices varies, but an evening dinner cruise might require more dressy attire.

Georgia Queen