For a fun day trip from Jacksonville we love to escape to Savannah, GA which is known as the Hostess City of the South for good reason. It’s a fun trip where you can admire their manicured parks, blooming azalea bushes, and towering oaks as you explore their thriving art scene, history, and Southern charm. 

Shopping in Savannah

First, we stumbled upon Vintage, a colorful clothing store with a selection of vintage outfits as well as modern designs celebrating the city which make for better souvenirs than a typical tourist magnet. They offered a custom creation station where anyone can decorate a bag or wallet with patches or buttons for a fee. My daughter was excited to make her own wallet which I felt was a fun, hands-on memory but also act as a functional souvenir.

Next we visited the Book Lady Bookstore which felt like walking into someone’s English home with shelves of books from floor to ceiling. The exposed brick wall and colorful arm chairs scattered around made it feel historic with a touch of cozy. I found a corner filled with thrillers and went home with a collection of scary stories- one of my favorite souvenirs to collect on my travels.

King Street and the Stone Stairs of Death

I feel like a visit to Savannah isn’t complete without a stroll along King Street. Known for being a lively hub of music and entertainment, King Street holds restaurants, bars, and candy shops for whatever craving you may have as you walk along the riverwalk to observe the rushing waters of the Savannah River. The trek down to the water front is a steep one and the various stairs that get you there have been nicknamed the Stone Stairs of Death. They are not only notorious for their uneven footing but also for being the favorite path for inebriated tourists. You can actually join the Facebook group about unfortunate visitors who take on The Stone Stairs of Death with sometimes comical consequences.

Mead Tasting at Savannah Bee Company

If you survive the stairs, check out the Savannah Bee Company for a mead tasting! Mead is fermented honey and brewers are not as wide spread as craft beer. For about $15-20, you can sample a variety of meads at their mead bar. The options are between their standard meads and elevated options. Go with a friend and you can sign up for a tasting of each to sample them all. Mead can be as versatile as wine so this is a great chance to learn what options are available while catching a small buzz for your walk along the river. 

Oysters and Terrapin

We were on a mission to find some oysters because nothing says vacation more than oysters on the half shell. We got our fix at The Fiddler’s Crab House where we sat on their second floor patio and enjoyed some of the best fried fish I’ve had in a while. The restaurant is nothing fancy but I admired the exposed brick walls which were adorned with old newspaper articles. One in particular caught my eye about Terrapin Soup. 

Once thing I love about traveling, is the opportunity to learn about quirky trivia of the past and this trip lead me down the rabbit hole about turtle soup. The diamondback terrapin was once commonly found along the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States and was considered a normal part of the Native American diet for centuries. Even the name “Terrapin” came from a combination of various indigenous words meaning “good-tasting turtle”.

Initially, terrapin stew was just an affordable meal popular along costal communities and especially in the South. Then, seemingly overnight, turtle stew became a gourmet dish on the menus of the top restaurants in the country. With increase in popularity came the rise in demand, jump in value, and, sadly, decline in population. Surprisingly, Prohibition may have saved the small, coastal turtle by eliminating an important ingredient of Terrapin Stew- liquor. 

Our trip was short, but you could easily spend several days enjoying all the Savannah has to offer. If you live in Jacksonville, it makes for a great day trip where you can find a park, pack a picnic, and enjoy the open-container law with a cocktail in hand as your admire the city!