Top Things to do in Georgia Coast
Top Hotels in Georgia Coast
- 1. Jekyll Island Club Resort
- 2. River Street Inn
- 3. The Marshall House
- 4. Homewood Suites by Hilton Savannah Historic District / Riverfront
- 5. Hyatt Regency Savannah
- 6. Mansion on Forsyth Park
- 7. The Inn at Sea Island
- 8. Perry Lane Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel
- 9. Best Western Central Inn
- 10. The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa
10 Historic Sites in Georgia Coast That You Shouldn't Miss
The Georgia Coast offers myriad sights for the visitor, from Savannah's cobblestone streets and charming towns and islands, to historic lighthouses, sand dunes, plantation era sites and the mysterious Okefenokee Swamp. Island hop from Savannah to Cumberland Island. Camp on the Colonial Coast under Spanish moss-draped oaks. Take a riverboat tour of Savannah. Walk with wild horses on Kingsland's beaches. Encounter alligators in the Swamp. Golf among marsh grass. Let the Georgia Coast work its charm.
Restaurants in Georgia Coast
1. Savannah Historic District
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14,018 reviews
Savannah's picturesque historic district brings the traditional southern atmosphere to life.
Reviewed By mmwinters
The Savannah historic district will thrill those who love American history, especially colonial or civil war times; African American history; art and architecture; seafood or southern foods; trees and landscaping; fountains and sculptures. Several convenient modes of travel will help you get around - trolleys, horse-drawn carriages, Uber type services, and the free DOT bus system. Parking for cars is limited. I think it would be difficult to try to see things with your personal car. Be sure to wear a good pair of walking shoes and stay hydrated. It’s hard to recommend the “best” things to see and do. As a history lover, I wanted to see it ALL and hope to return someday to see the places I couldn’t get worked in. I think Savannah, budding and blooming in the spring, would be the most beautiful time to tour. August is very hot and humid, but bearable because the the sites are just so darned interesting and the beach is nearby!
2. Temple Beth Tefilloh
3. Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 178 reviews
Where writer Flannery O'Connor spent her childhood, during the Great Depression on Savannah's LaFayette Square. Off-hour, group, and private tours are available by request.
Reviewed By SarahG-AVLLit - Asheville, United States
If you're a literary tourist, this is a stop you don't want to miss! This is a unique opportunity to see an immaculately restored middle class home from the Depression era. The guides are well versed in the history of the home, its restoration, and the life and career of its most famous resident. We had a great time and were glad we made this stop!
4. Harrington School
5. Green-Meldrim House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 317 reviews
(Closed Holy Week: April 5-13, 2020) * * * Our docents are always eager to introduce visitors to this National Historic Landmark, one of only 2,500 in the United States. Located on Madison Square in the heart of historic Savannah, this was the headquarters of General Sherman during the Federal occupation of Savannah in 1864. It is also one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the South and designed by architect Mr. John S. Norris. Since 1943, the house has served as the active parish house for adjacent St. John's Church (Episcopal). Most of the volunteer docents are members of the church. As a result, the house may be closed for church events. Please check the website to see if the house is open on the day you wish to visit. Several Savannah events are hosted at the house: Tour of Homes (November), Savannah Antiques & Architecture Weekend (March), NOG’s Secret Garden Tours of Savannah (April), as well as many music events. To learn more, visit the website.
Reviewed By G8083YQchristinam - Newport, United States
I took a tour of this home as part of a History Walking Tour and it was like a history textbook come to life. The tour guides were very knowledgable and friendly. Overall it was a home filled with great history and beautiful rooms!
6. Fort Frederica National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,112 reviews
This beautiful park was the site of one of the first British colonies.
Reviewed By mekopp - Middletown, United States
I always take my national park passport book with me when I travel. When I realized I was about 20 miles from this site ,we drove to see it and get my stamp. I was so pleased with our visit. First of all , there is a legit introductory movie. I love when historic sites have this because it really does set the stage. When we got outside the visitor center there were people in colonial dress. One asked me if I wanted to make a candle. The blacksmith made and gave us a hook. This site is home to over 5000 artifacts and many of them were on display. It’s really an interesting piece of colonial history. Being from the north, I forget that the south has its share of colonial history as well. This site was beautiful and I could have spent more time here if I wasn’t traveling. The town of Frederica Georgia was also beautiful.
7. Juliette Gordon Low's Birthplace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,572 reviews
The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace is Savannah's first Registered National Historic Landmark. Enjoy a guided tour, tracing the arc of Juliette Gordon Low's life and the Movement she founded that continues to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
Reviewed By 159camilley - San Angelo, United States
Our scout troop is graduating from high school this year and most have been in scouts since 1st or 2nd grade. We visited on 3/12 which was the 108th birthday of Girl Scouts. A very special visit for us indeed. Even if we weren't a troop of scouts the Juliette Gordon Low birthplace is worth visiting. She and her family were quite special and the home is a beautiful house on an equally beautiful street.
8. Hamilton-Turner House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 46 reviews
This allegedly haunted Victorian house is filled with antiques from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Reviewed By Charlotte716
This exquisite Inn made our trip to Savannah very special. It’s location looking out over Lafayette Square, the interiors, the breakfasts, and attentive staff make us ready to recommend the Hamilton Turner to anyone who visits Savannah.
9. Wormsloe Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,719 reviews
A breathtaking live oak avenue leads visitors one mile down a colonial road to a vistor center, where they can watch short historical film, tour a museum, and browse a gift shop. A walking trail leads to the 1737 tabby ruins of the oldest remaining structure in the Savannah. Trails meander past scenic marsh views to the Colonial Life Area, where costumed interpreters provide living history demonstrations in the afternoons, weather permitting. Five more miles of nature trails are available for those who are more adventurous.
Reviewed By sayrenas - McDonough, United States
Y’all...Live Oaks give me ALL the heart eyes so when we arrived at Wormsloe to drive down the Avenue of Oaks, I fell in love! The trees themselves are beautiful and made this destination well worth the visit for me; however, we continued to explore and enjoyed further exploration of the tabby ruins and the marsh. We also happened upon a blacksmith demonstration, which was quite interesting to watch. All in all, we would come back and would most definitely recommend this site to others.
10. Hog Hammock
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 43 reviews
An African-American community and a preserved historic village on Sapelo Island.
Reviewed By SScottTours
Read this review for the ultimate Sapelo insider's information. First & foremost, as an off-the-beaten-path type traveler, permit me to say that Lucy is The Ultimate Sapelo Information Specialist as a 26-year resident and former manager of The Reynolds Mansion. Her hubby Captain Mikeis an engaging fellow but Lucy is THE hostess with the mostess. This is priceless on an island where there isn't much direction otherwise so DO NOT underestimate the value of her as a resource. You find most AirBnB properties on Sapelo are impartial and "you're on your own" sort of places. This is a plus in some cases elsewhere but for the price, location plus Lucy's knowledge, it's really a hard value to put a price on or pass up. Lucy does a whole wonderful sit-down introduction on the apartment, safety features and goes over the island map with you. Plus, you get a CAR with the rental that generally she picks you up in at the docking hour. Mike rents most of the cars and if you want to upgrade you can do that but we had no issues with the rugged Isuzu Rodeo. We cannot emphasize enough that this is a major advantage on the island for getting one's bearings, for little trips to the store, or dock for a picnic, beaches, or just when you're tired of walking or cycling. It breaks up everything so nicely. And take note! Golf carts cannot go certain places where island vehicles can and golf carts, nor vehicles are permitted up most of the North end of the island where a lot of very cool stuff that you'll want to see is. Truth be told, in some respects, this is a "younger" person's adventure going up the North end. You'll find that you will be required to bike it and or walk it and this is NO easy task! We did nearly 50 miles of walking in 3 days both for the exercise and partly because unless you have a semi-serious mountain bike, it is very unlikely you will get to the North end on your own outside of a guided tour. For the history buff, it is well worth it, but the roads after rain are particularly prohibitive for general beach bikes (which Lucy & Mike have) and we recommend 2-3 pairs of walking shoes as some portion of the muddy areas are impassable by bike alone. We broke the North end up into 2 days on foot. Doing Raccoon Point one day, and the Western half the 2nd day that includes multiple tabby ruins sites, The Chocolate Plantation & mysterious Shell Rings. You could really justify a whole day or 2 days just to that end of the island if you wanted to track down the old duck ponds or wander off the paths as we were inclined. This is also the greater wildlife area for certain. We saw gators, otters, tons of armadillos, a wonderful pack of the elusive wild pig piglets, hawks, American Bald Eagles and sighted the wild cattle from a distance. We do recommend the day tour with JR Grovner or his father who come from the oldest descendants of the island. Sans a tour, of particular value is Lucy's library of books that range from great Sapelo history annals to those for wildlife & plant life enthusiasts. The library is part of the apartment. Lastly, let's talk about all-important cuisine. Lucy includes in her AirBnB description the phone numbers of several island cooks. There is Lula's Kitchen near Lucy & Mike's home & is worth eyeballing but is more sporadic during the offseason but if you smell her cooking, go around and knock. We were honored to have Mary Bailey cook for us and she delivered a fantastic feast of fresh flounder, shrimp & grits, biscuits, veggies, pumpkin pie, the works! Her island counterpart, Sharon (Shu-rohn) Grovner brought us meatloaf, mashed potatoes, salad, homemade mini-pies, peas, bread and was amazing too. As these women work hard all day and have to go off the island for ingredients, we opted to tip more than double their asking price which was entirely worth it to us. Oh, near Lucy's is the only island store and has limited morning, early afternoon hours. They have some basics, water, canned goods, ice cream, shrimp, oils, bug spray, sunscreen, snacks, beer & wine, but lacks in other supplies. So you MUST pack for your stay. There's a simple, but dandy kitchen in Lucy's place. The island post office is also close but closes early afternoon but be sure to swing by to get their Sapelo Island stamps as a souvenir! Lastly, Lucy & Mike live below in what you realize is their take on a kind of colonial-era tabby house. They live a fairly quiet lifestyle so you don't hear them much but they're always a phone call or knock away for any needs. As we arrived on a Sunday, they invited us to church with them at The First African Church of 1866 and it was the perfect start to our visit. The choir was amazing, Pastor Banks very uplifting and it was an honor to be introduced as guests and recognized by such a historic congregation. If you're on Sapelo on a Sunday, do not miss this opportunity. They don't seem to mind photos & video but don't forget to tythe to the church. This is perhaps the greatest closing thought we can offer and what we mean is spend everywhere you can on this island and think of how you can spend with the locals while there. For all of its virtues, it is in many ways dwindling and in an hour of great cultural & economic suffering. While the world hopes this is only temporary and a cycle or long arc to a boom or new era of prosperity, Sapelo is still at risk. This is not really the message the islanders put out there but its something that becomes quickly apparent with one's advance research and also while there. But a beautiful beginning to adding your energy to the island is by landing at Lucy's Place first and foremost. We realize now being gone that her smile at the dock was like the whole island smiling to greet us too and made everything all the more indelible and endearing. We can't wait to encounter it again.
