Sippin Gypsy Quick Tips for Playin': Savannah

Cheers to my Sippin Gypsy Team Rum! This post comes to you while enjoying my Sippin Gypsy Sparkling Lemonade, inspired by the history of piracy in Savannah GA.
I adore Savannah.  She is a beautiful city that has blended careful preservation of history with luxury and hospitality.  The historic part of the town is very easy to navigate and almost everything is in walking distance.  As usual, I want to offer a few tips before I list my favorite activities to help you enjoy this charming southern city.

1. Walking, walking and walking.  This town is set on an easy to navigate square grid.  But plan for time to get from one place to another.  Each street offers such beautiful architecture that you find yourself slowing down to enjoy  the details.  As in most historic towns, many of the streets and side walks are a bit uneven.  Bring comfortable shoes.

​2. Savannah is very protective of her peace and quiet.  Live music is well contained inside various establishments.  You won't be able to simply follow your ears from one place to the next based on the music you hear. Plot out what you want to hear for music, most live music wraps up by 10 p.m. or 11 p.m.  

3.  Savannah gets very hot and humid.  The historic town center was cleverly designed with well shaded squares for public use.  These squares are a good place to slow down and enjoy the shade for a few minutes.  

4. A Sippin Gypsy favorite: Savannah is also an 'Open Container' town within the heart of the historic city center.  You can enjoy one of their many restaurants and bars, try amazing southern cuisine and beverage and take a second cocktail to go. 

Savannah is a town most easily enjoyed in at least 3 days in my opinion.  Be flexible to the whims of the weather.  The South often welcomes her guests with afternoon rainstorms, but as long as you are prepared and can shift plans and timing slightly, these refreshing afternoon showers can be a welcome relief to the heat of the day and force you into a shop or restaurant you may not have even noticed! 

1. Bonaventure Cemetery
One of the most hauntingly beautiful cemeteries in America, perhaps even the world.  The Bonaventure Cemetery is the Earthly resting places of several famous names in Savannah's history, but beyond 'who' is there, it is the elegant homage to the lives of these people sprinkled under the gauzy blanket of moss draped trees.  This location is picturesque and humbling.  Go first thing in the morning as the afternoon can bring an intense heat that can diminish your experience here.

2. American Prohibition Museum
American has long battled with protecting rights vs protecting her people, Prohibition was not a shining example of America's past, it devastated companies and ran many families into poverty, but it was landmark time in America's past that has helped bring us to where we are now, and out of this tumultuous time came some one of my favorite past times, the cocktail!  The American Prohibition Museum carefully catalogs the journey America took from the start of passionate Temperance Unions to the ban of all liquor, wine and spirits and the creative ways American's still found ways to imbibe and foster an industry that couldn't be kept down in their belief of an American's right to choose.  There is a speakeasy themed bar as part of your journey where classic prohibition style cocktails are crafted in a charming 1920's setting.

3. Old Savannah Tours.  
This tour group offers a variety of ways to learn and enjoy Savannah.  My first visit we enjoyed the trolley tour with the 'on and off' option.  As we were driven to our next destination along their route, we could hear about the history of the buildings or squares we passed.  This also gave our feet a much needed break from all the walking.  There is also tours for the darker history of Savannah!  Want to know more about the ghosts that haunt the homes and squares and maybe even your hotel in Savannah? They have several different packages to help you pick what your group would enjoy the most.  As always I recommend starting your visit with a tour package.  This gives you the fastest overview of the city and you can make note of places you are passing that you want to get back to visit!

 4. Savannah Taste Experience.  
​What another fun way to see Savannah and try locations you really may not have plotted out for your visit.  This tour takes you to various iconic and historic food businesses around the city center.  You taste a small portion of the most popular item from each establishment.  The guides are personable and give you additional fun facts of their beloved city as you stroll.  This was easily enough food collectively to replace a meal. Don't forget, Savannah is an open container city, plan on ordering cocktails as well and take it with you!

5.Forsyth Park
Pack a picnic and enjoy the lush canopy of moss draped trees, beautiful homes and a peaceful fountain in the iconic  Forsyth Park.  There is a playground for kids, a stage that often hosts live music and a small cafe all within the park.  Across the street sits the Mansion on Forsyth with a charming lobby bar to grab your favorite cocktail 'to go' and enjoy as you relax in the park

6.  Tybee Island.  
No trip to a coastal southern city is complete without a day at the beach.  Tybee Island is a beautiful retreat well worth the drive.  The beach area offers several restaurants, or pack a lunch and just post up on the sand for the whole day.  If lounging in the warm Georgia sun for an afternoon isn't your preference, Tybee Island also has trails and tours to enjoy.  Either way, the sun is direct.  Layer and protect yourself and hydrate while sippin!

7.  Sip and Stroll.  
​If you can find a copy of "The Savannah Walking Tour and Guide Book" or even one of the towns helpful green and white free maps, just grab a cocktail and start exploring.  My favorite trek includes Bull Street from Foryth Park up to Bay St.  This road takes you along many of the historic homes and monuments.  Bay Street and River Street offer a lot of great restaurants and bars.  Visit Broughton St. for Leopold's Ice Cream and the Savannah Bee Company.  But make sure you trek up and down the other streets as well.  Try to never take the same route each time.  You'll find an abundance of local owned business, many SCAD alumni, that offer beautiful boutiques that are artistically designed and offer quality products.  Take a few minutes to take in the Colonial Park Cemetery as well as the awe and splendor of the churches that overlook many of the squares.