Il Pasticio, The Lady & Sons, Savannah Bistro, Vic’s on the River…all are wonderful restaurants. But I wouldn’t risk taking junior there, especially if he were in the throws of terrible twos.

Savannah visitors with young children may want to try a few of these more kid-friendly restaurants. Not only will they have a high-chair handy, but if your tike sucumbs to a crying fit, no one will turn up their nose. They are also reasonably priced.

- Juarez, 420 E.  Broughton Street – It’s a wonderful, inexpensive Mexican restaurant that serves Chicken Fingers and French Fries (pollitos y papas). It’s a nice sized place, and no one seems to mind when your kid throws a little rice on the floor. If you need a distraction, there’s some colorful murals on the wall that are a great way to point out primary colors (they are also masterful pieces of artwork, painted by SCAD students)

- Clary’s, 4430 Habersham Street - A nice feature of this breakfast/lunch restaurant is a little play area for kids. Coloring books, toys, miniature table with tea and coffee pots sit in the front of the restaurant. So, you can enjoy an incredibly delightful short stack of blueberry pancakes while the kids entertain themselves. (Clary’s on Habersham is a few miles from the famous Clary’s on Abercorn Street. To get there, you need to head out of the Historic District toward the Southside of town).

- Screamin’ Mimis, 513 E Oglethorpe Ave - A bunch of NJ folks opened this great pizza place a few years ago, and they have a lot of tolerance for kids. There’s a blackboard or two where the kids can write on, and it’s so informal, just about anything goes. Screamin’ Mimis also delivers.

- Mellow Mushroom, 11 W Liberty St - This pizza chain is pretty kid-friendly too, and a staple for SCAD students.  The pizza is good, albeit quite different than the NJ/NY-influenced  Screamin Mimis.

Many of the vacation rentals in the Historic District, including the Heritage House and Gaston Street Getaway, will accept dogs (up to 20 pounds). Some hotels and B&Bs will also allow Spot to spend the night.

There are quite a few dog parks, too.  One of our favorites – which is located downtown – is the Matilda Beasley Dog Park. This park was created in 2008, and is behind the East Broad Street Elementary School.

Heading South from the Historic District is the Savannah Dog Park, located on 41st and Drayton streets in Savannah’s Starland Community. This park has a shaded, fenced-in area where Fido and Spot can play off the leash.

You can also bring your dog to some downtown restaurants, like Vinnie Van Go-Go’s, provided they sit outside.

Or course, you can bring your dog to Forsyth Park and the city’s wonderful squares. But please keep him/her on a leash.

For more Savannah dog-friendly resources, visit  Savannah Dog Park.

* Locals aren’t in the know: Don’t be upset if you ask a local where a certain square is located – most locals don’t know the names of all the squares.

* You don’t necessarily need a map: It’s next to impossible to get lost in the Historic District – all the streets run perpendicular and the river is North.

* The best view in town is up: To get a superb look at the downtown from 16 stories high, ride to the top of the Hilton Savannah Desoto on East Liberty Street.  Slip into the main ballroom and ask an employee for permission to take a couple of photos.

* Don’t confine yourself to the beaten path: Veer off it slightly to eat at The Pirate’s House on East Broad Street (on the outskirts of the Historic District), and ask if you can see the tunnel where slaves were escorted from the river.

* Keep it authentic:  Try dining in one of Savannah’s historic restaurants – The Olde Pink House, built in 1771 for James Habersham, one of the wealthiest Americans of his time; or 1790 Inn and Restaurant, located in the cellar of Savannah’s oldest hotel.

* Make sure you relax: Have coffee at Gallery Espresso on the corner of Bull and Perry Streets, and sit outside for some of the best people watching in America.

* Think about the Revolutionary, as well as Civil, War -  The “Siege of Savannah” occurred in 1779, when Franco-American forces attempted to retake Savannah from the British. The siege failed, leaving Savannah in British control until 1782. A landmark commemorating the Siege is off of Martin Luther King Boulevard.

* Enjoy the Spanish Moss from a distance: While the Spanish Moss draping the city is beautiful, don’t pick up any that has fallen to the ground. It’s laden with Red Bugs, also known as Chiggers, and they’ll bite.

* Remember:  The Lady and Sons Restaurant is not the only game in town: While Paula Deen’s restaurant is certainly the most famous, there are other wonderful places to eat.

* Don’t forget your running shoes: Forsyth Park is a great place for a jog or a brisk walk.