Savannah Self-Guided Discovery: Historic Squares & Southern Charm

Immerse yourself in the enchanting beauty of Savannah where time seems to slow beneath canopies of live oaks draped in silvery Spanish moss. This self-guided walking tour leads you through one of America's most beautifully preserved cities, following the town plan laid out by General James Oglethorpe in 1733 — a grid of elegant squares that remains virtually intact nearly 3 centuries later. Wander past Forsyth Park's fountain, stand in the square where Forrest Gump sat on his bench, and peer through wrought-iron gates at the Mercer-Williams House, scene of the events immortalized in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Savannah's story stretches from its founding as a utopian colony through the Civil War, the cotton trade that built its grand mansions, and the civil rights movement that shaped its modern identity. Along the way, encounter soaring cathedrals, vibrant art markets, the cobblestone riverfront where cotton ships once docked, and the beautiful Bonaventure Cemetery.