As we left Savannah, I realized how happy I was that I treated myself to a spring break this year. Not intentionally, though. I didn’t even realize I was on spring break until the trip had already started. We spent time in both Savannah and Charleston a couple of weeks ago and the only regret I have is the length of the trip. I wish it was longer. I’m still dreaming about the amazing food there and the southern charm we found with each step we took. We started out in Savannah and were immediately immersed into all the city had to offer.

Our arrival into Savannah was late at night, but we were able to find a dinner option that was actually on our to do list. We checked into our hotel, and headed over to Moon River Brewing Company, where we dined on burgers and a couple of the beers they brew in house. Our waitress could not have been more hospitable and welcomed us despite our late arrival.

We woke up the following day ready to take on the city. Knowing that we only had a day and a half meant that we had to take advantage of every minute. We started out the day by heading to Collins Quarter for a quick caffeine fix. Mine was a spiced lavender latte which turned out to be what I expect they serve in Heaven. Once we had coffee in hand, we took off to Chippewa Square to take a picture where the famous Forrest Gump bench used to stand. What can I say? We were channeling our inner tourists.

“Life is like a box of chocolates.”

“When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. When I had to go, you know, I went.”

One of the best parts of Savannah is that you will find charm around every corner. We spent most of the day wandering in and out of squares, parks, and neighborhoods and it was the perfect way to experience the city. We strolled along Jones Street, which was named America’s most beautiful street by Southern Living. I understand why it was given the title.

Jones Street

After that stroll, we made our way over to Forsyth Park and researched lunch spots. There were beautiful trees covered in Spanish  moss and people enjoying the park in a number of ways: snapping pictures of the fountain, going for a run, or playing soccer. We settled on The Distillery and took on two stereotypical southern taste treats: fried green tomatoes and crab cakes. It was then decided that we could easily get on board with the southern diet.

Forsyth Park

Once we were sufficiently stuffed, it was time to head back towards the river and explore the Historic City Market, a spot that has been around since the 1700s. It was full of cute shops, bars, and restaurants, and we were lucky enough to catch some live music there. To get a true taste of the city, we figured it was best to take advantage of the no-open-container law and grab a drink at the ever so classy Wet Willies. Nothing says southern charm like a frozen daiquiri bar, right? We made our way into Byrd’s cookies for samples and souvenirs and took off to River Street, where we discovered Savannah Bee Company and River Street Sweets and promptly filled our stomachs with more sugar.

Spring break, woo woo!

That night, we had one of our favorite meals of the trip. We dined at The Grey, a restaurant housed in a 1938 Greyhound bus station. It’s a trendy spot that combines the classic feel of the original building with excellent service and food options. Even our table neighbors were easy to talk to and full of recommendations from the menu. The cocktails we ordered were full of flavor and the three dishes we chose couldn’t have been more perfect. Though we were sufficiently stuffed, we found ourselves at Lulu’s Chocolate Bar to finish the night.

The Grey

The next morning, we popped in to The Coffee Fox for our wake up drinks and made our way over to The Paris Market. It was quite possibly one of the cutest stores I’ve ever set foot in. Full of things from candles and stationery to antique stamps and unique lighting, I could have spent hours exploring that store. Since we were on a time crunch (and my suitcase nearly weighed the 50lb limit), I had to control myself.

Black and white everything

We finished out the day by strolling down River Street again. Each one had more character than the last and was likely framed by an old oak tree covered in Spanish moss. The history of the city is steeped into nearly every building, but trendy boutiques, restaurants, and coffee shops could be found throughout.

Views from River Street

As we hopped in the car to head to Charleston, I thought about how in one city, we took a step back in time and also dined at an extremely trendy restaurant. Savannah is a great combination of old and new.