Savannah is one of the most beautiful cities in the American South. Its historic district — a grid of 22 shaded squares framed by live oaks and Spanish moss, surrounded by Federal and Regency townhouses — has remained remarkably intact since the 19th century. The city was spared during Sherman's March to the Sea in 1864, which accounts for why it still looks the way it does.
Walking the squares is the essential experience. Chippewa Square, Johnson Square, and Forsyth Park are among the finest, though all 22 are worth exploring. The River Street waterfront runs along the Savannah River on a bluff below the historic district, converted from 19th-century cotton warehouses into shops, restaurants, and bars.
The best single museum stop is the Owens-Thomas House, an 1819 Regency villa that stands as one of the finest examples of English architecture in America. The Telfair Academy and Savannah History Museum are also worth an hour each.
For lunch, Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room on Jones Street has been serving communal Southern food since 1943 — sit at long tables with strangers and pass the fried chicken and collard greens. The Olde Pink House is the more formal option for Low Country cooking. Leopold's Ice Cream on Broughton Street, open since 1919, rounds out the obligatory stops.
Beyond the city, Fort Pulaski is a fascinating Civil War fortification 15 miles east. Tybee Island, 18 miles out, is the local beach. Further south along the coast are the Golden Isles — St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island — worth at least a night each.