By Lindsey Grovenstein, Staff Writer
Welcome to Armstrong State University, freshman.
For the next few years, Savannah is going to be your home. And lucky for you, Savannah is a wonderful host. So much so that she is called the “Hostess City of the South.”
Every year, thousands of tourists travel to Savannah. So naturally there are plenty of things to do. Savannah’s main attraction is the downtown area. While you’re here, you’ll definitely want to acquaint yourself with it.
Becoming familiar with Savannah isn’t as difficult as it would seem, and you don’t have to stand out as a tourist doing it. After reading this, transitioning into a Savannahian should be a breeze.
The first thing you should do, besides settling into your new school schedule, is to take a tour downtown. There are a lot of really great trolleys and walking tours that are fun and will teach you about the area.
The Old Savannah Tours are some of the best trolleys in the city. It stops at key points throughout the town, and you are able to get on and off the bus as you please, giving you a more personalized experience.
The tours aren’t just historical, though. Savannah is one of the most haunted cities in America, so there are ghost tours to take after dark. Take a walking tour through the cemetery or ride in the back of a hearse to experience the city’s many hauntings.
The tours are the easiest and fastest way to become familiar with the city and what it has to offer. But if you insist upon not doing it, at least take a stroll through the squares.
Savannah has 22 squares, and each is unique. Some have memorials, some have fountains, and giant Spanish oaks with dangling moss will surround most of them. (There are a few squares without Spanish moss, which are said to be haunted.)
Besides the history, Savannah also offers plenty of places to eat. Stop by and get a hamburger at Green Truck Pub and try a BBQ taco at Blowin’ Smoke. Five Spot on Habersham is a hot spot and serves local food. Go to Zunzi’s and get The Godfather. Wake up early and eat brunch at B. Matthew’s. For pizza, try Vinnie Van Go Go’s and Screamin’ Mimi’s. Then top it all off with delicious desserts from Lulu’s Chocolate Bar.
If you’re going on a date, don’t take them to a chain restaurant when there are plenty of places to impress your date —Elizabeth’s on 37th, the Olde Pink House, Local 11 Ten, Alligator Soul, and plenty more.
Savannah also has a great nightlife. Another one of her attractions is the open container policy. Yes, you can walk around downtown with a beer. Walk down Congress Street on a Saturday night then go into one of the bars and ask for a beer to go.
Every month Savannah has First Friday, which includes booths and live music at the riverfront and fireworks at night. Art March is also on First Friday, where various shops and galleries open to display new artwork.
Every Saturday there’s a Farmer’s Market in Forsyth Park where local farmers sell their goods.
Throughout the year, there are all types of events and festivals happening. There’s the Savannah Film Festival, Savannah Music Festival, Savannah Stopover, Sidewalk Art Festival, Picnic in the Park, Beach Bum Parade, and of course St. Patrick’s Day, just to name a few. And the city is constantly doing things like showing movies in the park or hosting Fashion’s Night Out on Broughton Street.
So as you can tell, there are plenty of things to do in Savannah, and you have plenty of time to do them. Check back with The Inkwell for upcoming events in the area.
