Land and Sea: Savannah Historic Trolley Tour and Cruise

When people reach Chippewa Square, they usually feel like something’s missing from the iconic landmark. Known by locals and tourists alike as the “Forrest Gump” square, Chippewa Square doesn’t actually have a bench like in the movie, but it’s certainly famous nonetheless! Just a stone’s throw from the famous-yet-benchless square is the Savannah Theatre, which opened in 1818. This theatre is the oldest one in the country and still produces shows nightly.

Savannah has no shortage of spooky stories to tell and haunted houses to tour. The Sorrel Weed House is one of the most haunted houses in the country, so it’s only fitting that it appears on our list of stops, especially for the Grave Encounters Tour. The home is also a beautiful example of the architecture and design the Antebellum period was known for.

Arguably one of the most important stops in Savannah, Forsyth Park’s picturesque flowers, foliage, and fountain encourage you to pause and stroll for a while. Snap a photo in front of Savannah’s iconic fountain (the one that turns green around St. Patrick’s Day!). Walk the perimeter of the park and take in the sights of Savannah’s architecture or sit for a spell under one of the many live oak trees

The Massie Heritage Center is the oldest school in continuous operation in Georgia. Opened in 1856, the center offers a “Nineteenth Century Classroom,” where students experience a school day as if they were in the late-1800s. For everyone else visiting the Massie Center, there are plenty of artifacts to learn about and exhibits to check out.

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is known for its part in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade as well as its ranking as a popular wedding venue location. The cathedral is located on a corner of Abercorn Street and overlooks Lafayette Square. If there isn’t a ceremony or mass taking place, visitors are allowed to tour the cathedral, stand beneath the stunning stained-glass windows, and wander the pews.

The Pirates’ House. Offering quite the contrast to the other locations on this list, The Pirates’ House opened in 1753…to real-life pirates! The inn was used by travelers and sailors, looking to rest on solid ground after roaming the seas. Although no pirates frequent the establishment now, the building serves as a restaurant, so it’s still full of boisterous, happy guests.

Take another step back in time when you visit the Owens-Thomas House. This mansion with its adjoining slave quarters, carriage house, and fragrant gardens were built in 1819. Guests are invited to tour the grounds to learn about the complicated, unfortunate relationship between those with and without power. The rooms are outfitted with period furniture and decorations and a few interactive exhibits.

Just a few blocks from the Owens-Thomas House sits the other two parts of the Telfair Museum family: the Jepson Center and Telfair Academy. The Jepson Center is Savannah’s art museum, a breathtakingly modern building home to both permanent collections and temporary exhibits. (Children can play in the Artzeum and and engage with the pieces in the interactive Techspace.) The Telfair Academy is another art museum, except this one has rooms decorated in 19th century décor as well as 19th and 20th century American and European art.

Reynolds Square is the epitome of Savannah’s squares. This particular block of land is filled with moss-covered live oaks and holds a statue of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. However, the square is actually named after Georgia’s first governor, John Reynolds. Nearby you’ll find the deliciously famous Leopold’s Ice Cream, The Ole Pink House, and the Lucas Theatre. Eat some food, indulge in some ice cream, catch a show, then hop back on the trolley!

Nowadays, passersby are driving cars rather than horse-and-buggy, but the experience of wandering the aisles and checking out local vendors is quite similar!

Another iconic building in Savannah is City Hall. The building opened in 1905, but its unique gold dome was originally copper. Located right off Bay Street and Factors Walk, City Hall is also a stone’s throw from plenty of other popular places in downtown, such as City Market and Ellis Square.

Franklin Square is a last-but-not-least stop. If you’ve ridden the trolley around the entire city, you’ll have seen all that the city has to offer and still end up right in the heart of Savannah. Franklin Square (designed in 1790 and named after Benjamin Franklin) is adjacent to City Market and Ellis Square and just a few blocks up from Bay Street and River Street.

Cruise along the Savannah River and see Savannah from a different perspective!