Looking for things to do in Savannah that don’t require admission or that allow you to soak in its natural beauty? Let this list launch your Savannah sightseeing adventures!

1. Count the city squares

22 of Savannah’s original 24 squares remain today, and strolling them is a great way to discover the city. Almost every square marks an important person or event in Savannah’s history. For instance, Chippewa Square displays an imposing statue of Savannah’s founder, General James Oglethorpe (this is also the square where Forrest Gump waited for his bus), while Johnson Square’s central obelisk marks the grave of Nathanael Greene, who was granted land outside Savannah as a gift for his service in the Revolutionary War. There are plenty of explanatory plaques in these squares so that you may simultaneously soak in the space’s beauty and receive a fascinating history lesson!

2. Witness Savannah’s #1 industry…

Shipping! Take a stroll along Savannah’s riverfront, which was voted among USA Today’s 10Best “Attractions and Activities” for its waterfront shops, restaurants, and bars, and be sure to check out the ships in the city’s busy port! These massive skyscraper-high vessels testify that Savannah’s container shipping industry is #1 in the U.S.!

3. Be more local than locals at Factors Walk

Discover tucked away cafes and boutiques that are unknown even to locals. From River Street, wander up the cobblestone lane and climb the steep steps to find the backside of what were once waterfront warehouses where men used to bale, “factor,” and sell cotton. Here factors determined the amount of cotton that would be sold to merchants and then roamed the city to buy and sell this product, giving this area its unique name. Today there’s still a lot of buying and selling, but in the form of boutiques, specialty shops, art galleries, restaurants, and cafes!

4. Flaunt your skills at Forsyth Park

This 30-acre park has been the pride of Savannah since 1851 and is one of the best places in the city to stroll and people watch. Witness locals playing soccer, tennis, or basketball, or maybe show them how it’s done yourself! The central fountain is the park’s highlight and looks exotic because it is: it’s modeled after the fountains of the Place de la Concorde in Paris. There are also countless events that take place in the park, from a Farmer’s Market on Saturdays to concerts during the Savannah Jazz Festival, so no matter the time of year there is always an exciting activity to participate in!

5. Tutti Frutti, anyone?

It’s hot out there so grab some ice cream! There’s no better place for one than Leopold’s Ice Cream, which has been a Savannah staple for more than a century. With dozens of flavors, many of which rotate monthly, you are sure to find a delicious, refreshing flavor. If you appreciate history, try Tutti Frutti since Johnny Mercer, who grew up just a block from the shop, wrote his famous song of the same name in honor of his favorite ice cream spot!

6. Enjoy an afternoon jaunt to Wormsloe Plantation

The remains of this 18^th-century plantation containing Georgia’s oldest standing colonial structure are definitely worth a fifteen minute ride outside town. The mile-long entrance archway of live oaks, the world’s longest oak avenue, immediately awes you, but there is so much more to entertain the whole family. Interact with costumed interpreters, visit the museum, and stroll the six miles of scenic trails for breathtaking views of the marshland surrounding the remains of the 1745 tabby house of Noble Jones, who settled Georgia with James Oglethorpe in 1733.

7. Walk with the dead

Although greater Savannah has about 80 cemeteries, I’d recommend its most haunted one: Colonial Park Cemetery, begun in 1750 and containing over 9,000 graves. According to legend, during the Civil War Union General Sherman’s troops used their bayonets to carve new dates on many of its headstones. For instance, it appears one man lived to be 421 and another 544! Many believe this desecration led to the cemetery’s high paranormal activity.

8. Be a part of history at the City Market

You can thank the City Market for your visiting Savannah today. While the market was the center of the city’s commerce in the 1700s, by the 1950s it had become so run-down that the city decided to tear it down and replace it with a parking garage. This act spurred many disappointed locals to begin Savannah’s preservation movement. As a result, the current City Market was rebuilt with remnants of the old market, and the Historic Savannah Foundation has saved over 400 historic buildings, making Savannah the popular historical tourist destination it is today. Now, the City Market is one of Savannah’s hot spots for restaurants, art galleries, shopping, and nightlife.

9. Discover Savannah’s out-of-the-way bars and breweries

While downtown Savannah has lively nightlife, it can get a bit touristy so I recommend leaving the center to find authentic, hip spots such as Starland Yard. This “food truck park” takes up almost an entire city block with the “Yard Bar” offering a creative variety of drinks, including spritzes, drafts, and refreshing cocktails. On-site Vittoria Pizzeria’s authentic Neapolitan pizzas and the rotating food trucks mean there is always something tasty to munch on. This “yard” of Astroturf is surrounded by old shipping containers turned art, creating a funky vibe. Two Tides Brewing Co. is just around the corner and is also worth a stop for its fruit sour.

10. Drink anywhere you want!

In downtown Savannah, you are allowed to drink alcohol in public! Just make sure that you drink from an open container, specifically a plastic, 16-ounce cup, anywhere from River Street to Jones Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to West Broad Street.

So there you have it! There is enough outdoor fun to be had for an entire vacation so that when all the sights are open again, that will just be icing on the cake! Or should I say…ice cream cake!

I would love to hear what you like to do outdoors in Savannah. Comment below!

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