I love Savannah, Georgia! There’s something so magical about stepping into that southern charm and forgetting that you’re actually in the 21st century. In September, we were able to enjoy a long weekend back in Savannah, Georgia, with one significant change: we brought our corgi pup!
At first, I was worried that having Atlas with us would significantly hinder how much we could explore. After all, museums and many other inside activities aren’t an option when you have a dog with you. Thankfully, Savannah is an incredibly pet-friendly city, and we didn’t miss a thing! Most of its beauty is outdoors, which means Atlas was free to come with us for everything we wanted to do!
Now, whether or not you have a dog with you, I highly recommend all of these activities for great looks at the city’s history and Southern charm–plus a couple of tasty stops. The fact that they’re pet-friendly is just a bonus! Keep reading to see the perfect itinerary for a weekend in this lovely historic city!
Saturday in Savannah
Wormsloe Historic Site
Time to Explore: 1 to 2 hours
Cost: $10 per person
Dog-Friendly Rating: 4/5
Hike Intensity: 1/5
Start your morning with an early trip to Wormsloe Historic Site. While the name may not sound familiar, you probably know this place from its iconic mossy drive that’s often featured as a part of idyllic Savannah. Be sure to get here as early as possible so that you can get the perfect picture without cars in the background!
This former plantation offers several easy walking trails through forests and along the edges of marshland. During your walk, you’ll pass not only beautiful scenery but also several historic points, including the oldest standing structure in Savannah. Wormsloe also has a colonial life area and museum that talk about the history of the plantation.
Your furry friend is welcome to explore all the trails with you as long as they remain on a 6-foot or less leash. However, they cannot enjoy the museum or gift shop with you, so keep that in mind.
Forsyth Park
Time to Explore: 1 hour (or as long as you want)
Cost: Free
Dog-Friendly Rating: 5/5
After a peaceful morning at Wormsloe, head back to the historic district and spend some time relaxing at Forsyth Park. This 30-acre park is best-known for its gorgeous Forsyth Fountain, but there’s a lot more to see and do here.
On Saturdays, you can shop at a weekly farmer’s market on the grounds! If that isn’t your thing, there is plenty of green space to walk around, have a picnic, or relax in the shade while you people-watch. There are also tennis and basketball courts, and a cafe.
The park is also the perfect place to spend time with your pup and get him or her some socialization. Lots of people bring their dogs here for exercise, and low water fountains ensure that your pup stays hydrated on even the hottest summer days!
Treylor Park
Time to Eat: 1 hour
Cost: $8-$15 per item
Dog-Friendly Rating: 5/5
You should have worked up quite the appetite by now, so it’s time to try some of Savannah’s best food! I discovered a new favorite restaurant during our last visit to Savannah: Treylor Park! Yeah, it sounds a bit trashy, but this quirky restaurant serves up reinvented classics that are downright delicious!
We stumbled upon the restaurant’s website because it was pet-friendly but ended up choosing it because of the raving reviews. And the crowds, when we arrived, confirmed that we’d made a good decision.
The menu is full of fun items like cheesesteak egg rolls, low country flatbread, Miyagi chicken sandwiches, and chicken and pancake tacos. We had such a hard time deciding what to eat! We finally settled on PB&J chicken wings, the Chupacabra chimichanga, and the grilled apple pie chicken sandwich. For dessert, we split an entire bourbon pecan pie (we thought we were just getting a slice!). 10/10 recommend every item we ordered, and I will definitely revisit this restaurant if given a chance!
You will need to sit on the patio if you have your pup, but it’s no inconvenience. It’s a great space with lights, music, and a tv. Plus, they have water bowls out for your dog, and the staff is super friendly to both their human and four-legged guests.
Stroll Around the River District
Time: 1 to 3 hours
Cost: Free (shopping not included)
Dog-Friendly Rating: 4/5
After a hearty lunch, head down to the waterside district to enjoy Savannah’s popular River Street! This beautiful area along the water has an abundance of boutiques, galleries, and sweet shops to visit, plus an open-air market! Be sure to take a ride across the river and back on the free Savannah Belles Ferry while you’re there as well.
Some of the stores will be off-limits if you have a pup with you; however, many welcome leashed pets!
- Black Dog General Clothing Store
- Savannah Bee Co.
- City Market
- Rivers & Glen Trading Co.
- Nourish
- Blends a Coffee Boutique
- Goorin Bros. Hat Shop
- Bluemercury
- Copper Penny
- J. Parker Ltd
- Garden on the Square
- Leopold’s Ice Cream
Skidaway Island
Time: 1 to 3 hours
Cost: $5 parking fee
Dog-Friendly Rating: 5/5
Once you’ve done your fair share of shopping and exploration, chase the late afternoon sunlight over the waterways to Skidaway Island. This lovely state park offers several miles of trails through maritime forests, salt flats, tidal marshes, and more!
The waterways and marshes are particularly beautiful in the golden hour and sunset as the sun reflects off of them. It’s very peaceful this time of day as well, making it a very relaxing way to unwind from the bustle of the city.
For a trail that gives a little bit of everything, I highly recommend the Sandpiper Loop. However, there are plenty of trails to choose from, including ones that pass an alligator pond and go right by the International Waterway. If you do visit the Sandpiper Loop around sunset, be aware that the tidal marsh will flood the path around this time, and bring appropriate shoes!
Skidaway Island is incredibly pet-friendly as well! We passed many people out with their pups, and they all seemed to be having a great time. The park rules do require that your dog stays on his leash, and be sure not to let them wander into the water (there are gators here!).
Sunday in Savannah
Old Fort Jackson
Time: 1 hour
Cost: $9 per adult, $5 per child
Pet-Friendly Rating: 4/5
Beat the heat with another early start this morning and head over to Old Fort Jackson. This National Historic Landmark sits right on the Savannah River and is just a few minutes outside of town.
A small, brick fort, Fort Jackson wasn’t very intimidating, but it was fully equipped with plenty of firepower, which helped it guard Savannah against river attacks from the War of 1812 to the Civil War in 1864. Although it spent most of its career under Confederate control, the last group station here was the 55th Massachusetts, a fully African-American unit of the Federal Army. The fort was finally abandoned in 1905.
It’s a fun fort to visit, with a moat and drawbridge, barracks, and an impressive powder magazine. Guests (and their pups) can explore all of these, as well as see different types of cannons and walk along the parapets. There are also regularly scheduled talks that explain various parts of fort life, including flag signals, the purpose of the drum corps, and how different cannonballs had different purposes.
The only reason I give this a 4/5 pet rating is because the rifle and cannon demonstrations are extremely loud, and your dog may not appreciate the booms. Otherwise, I know Atlas had a blast sniffing all around.
Old Savannah Trolley Tour
Time: 90 minutes
Cost: $29 per adult
Pet-Friendly Rating: 3/5
A historic trolley tour is a fantastic way to see a lot of Savannah in a short time (and without getting exhausted in the heat). I highly recommend booking a 90-minute trolley ride with Old Savannah Tours. The drivers are incredibly knowledgeable, and costumed actors dressed like famous Savannah residents pop on for short, educational monologues at a few of the stops.
The tour goes through the entire historic district, giving you fun details the whole way! It’s not air-conditioned, but it’s still shaded, and a great option for those who don’t want to walk the entire historic district on a Southern afternoon. There is also a hop-on/off tour that costs a little more but allows you to explore different areas at your leisure.
Pets are welcome as long as they remain in your lap for the entire tour. Atlas alternated between sticking his head out the window and taking a nap because we wore him out at the fort. (That’s part of the reason I recommend starting your day at Fort Jackson.)
Get a Sneak Peek at our Old Savannah Tour on YouTube
City Market
Time: Up to 3 hours
Cost: Free (shopping not included)
Pet-Friendly Rating: 4/5
After your trolley tour, head over to the City Market by Ellis Square. Day or night, this area is practically thrumming with energy! You can spend time lazing around Ellis Square and shopping your way through the City Market. Ellis Square is a great space for pets and people alike, with doggie water fountains and lots of green space. The City Market is a great place to find a bite to eat for lunch as well.
Byrd’s Cookies
While you’re here, be sure to stop in Byrd’s Cookies, a Savannah favorite since 1924. Their cookies are incredibly delicious and they offer free samples and cute, miniature versions as well!
Also, they were probably the most pet-friendly store we visited on our whole trip. The staff went above and beyond for our tired and thirsty pup by inviting us inside to cool down for as long as we needed and even bringing out cool water for Atlas. We were very grateful for their kindness!
Woof Gang Bakery
If you are here with a furry friend, don’t skip a quick stop into the Woof Gang Bakery. This doggie bakery has lots of freshly baked goodies, toys, and treats that your dog (and possibly you) will go crazy over. Plus all the store is super cute and all the treats look good enough for humans to eat!
Savannah Botanical Gardens
Time: 45 minutes
Cost: Free
Pet-Friendly Rating: 5/5
It’s time to escape the busyness of the city once again by getting back into some of Savannah’s beautiful nature. The Savannah Botanical Garden is a quick, fun, and gorgeous stop that’s just a few minutes from the historic district. There are several lovely gardens here, including perennial, herb, fall, summer, spring, and winter, two rose gardens, and a quirky children’s garden (to name a few).
There is also a historic house on site, a pond, and some lovely sculptures and architectural elements within the gardens.
Leashed pets are welcome as long as you clean up after them, and they’ll have a blast sniffing all the flowers!
Watch Our Visit to Savannah Botanical Gardens on YouTube
Bonaventure Cemetery
Finish your weekend with a walk around one of the country’s most beautiful cemeteries! Bonaventure Cemetery is a stunning space with mossy oaks shading graves, both lowly and exquisite. The more prominent families from the area have large mausoleums or tower spires marking their tombs, while others have nothing more than a blank stone.
In lieu of headstones, many graves have sculptures that are worthy of being in a museum. Everything from angels to likenesses of the deceased sits peacefully beneath the Savannah sun in this cemetery by the river.
While the thought of walking around a cemetery may seem a bit morbid, this really is a lovely and calm experience, and you’ll definitely enjoy the beauty all around you.
Once again, pets are welcome as long as they are leashed and cleaned up after.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to a weekend in Savannah, GA! You will probably be very tired at the end, but you’ll also have seen some of the best natural beauty and history this town has to offer! In lieu of any of these, you could certainly do a house or museum tour. Just keep in mind what activities are feasible if you do have a pup in tow.
Please feel free to drop any questions or comments below! This is my first pet-friendly guide, so I’d love to hear your thoughts on the layout and relevancy, whether or not you travel with a dog.
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Thanks for reading and I hope you’ll be back again next week!
Happy travels!
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Yup, for pet lovers, I really recommend this list. I’ve done most of them when I was in Savannah! If you are looking for things to there this coming weekend, this list and the site https://www.visitsavannah.com/hotels-motels are the best guides for you!
Thanks for the feedback, Don! And the additional resource!