Child-friendly activities and a beach too!
Traveling with children under 6 is always a bit challenging. You need kid-friendly restaurants, plenty of diversions, parks and easy site-seeing opportunities.
If you’re interested in something more historic and less expensive than Disney World, you may want to try a Savannah vacation, particularly in the spring/summer months.
Savannah has the best of both worlds. It has a 100% walkable Historic District, with landmarks from the civil and revolutionary wars, as well as Tybee Island, a beach 20 minutes by car. So it’s a great way to split your time and keep both the parents and kids happy.
Historic District for Kids
The downtown Historic District – known for its beauty and rich history – also has wonderful places for kids to play. After living in Savannah for four years, we got to know them quite well (see pics below). Here are some of our favorites:
Roundhouse Railroad Museum – A favorite with boys. This outdoor museum has locomotives and a massive operating turntable from the 1800s. Kids can climb on the trains and let their imaginations run wild.
Whistle Stop Cafe – near the Roundhouse Railroad Museum on MLK Blvd., this cafe is actually a locomotive train. It’s great for breakfast and lunch.
Oatland Island- a wildlife habitat just outside of the Historic District. Plenty of animals to keep the family entertained – birds, alligators, deer, snake and many others.
Forsyth Park – This historic park, off of Gaston Street, features a nice playground for kids, as well as large fields where they can run around. A coffee shop, the Sentient Bean, is nearby.
More than 20-well-coiffed squares – While these squares are a must-see for parents, kids love to play in them. Almost all the squares have historic monuments, so you can get a nice walking tour in while pushing a stroller.
River Street – While it’s highly focused on tourism, kids love to walk down this cobble-stone street and watch the boats on the river and the trolleys on the street.
There’s also events all spring and summer long that are perfect for kids. A good resource to find them is Southern Mamas.
Historic District Vacation Rental
To get the best value for your vacation, try staying in a vacation rental in the Historic District, like the Gaston Street Getaway or Heritage House. You can walk to all the activities downtown, make meals in a fully equipped kitchen, and spread out in a house (instead of trying to cram the family into a hotel room).
Moreover, it’s only a twenty-minute ride to the beach. And, you can save money by staying downtown, instead of paying the in-season fees for beach rentals.
Hope Joelle doesn't fall in!
Colby pushing his sister's stroller near St. John the Baptist
Joelle and Colby playing in Forsyth Park
Resting at Forsyth Park