16 Exciting Things to Do with Kids in Savannah, Georgia
From exploring Savannah’s many historical sites and attractions to playing in the parks and enjoying the many outdoor activities, there’s something for kids to enjoy. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Go on a Safari Adventure
One of the coolest things you can do with kids in Savannah is go on a safari tour. It’s like visiting a zoo, but way better! Instead of seeing animals in cages, you get to see them running around in nature. This is a great way for kids to learn about different animals and how they live in the wild. There are many different safari tours to choose from, so you can pick one that fits your family’s interests and budget.
Look at the Stars
When the sun goes down, Savannah turns into a perfect place for stargazing. One of the best spots to do this is at Fort Pulaski National Monument. This place is on an island called Cockspur Island, and it’s really dark at night, which makes it great for seeing stars.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a telescope. You can still see lots of cool stars and shapes in the sky with just your eyes. Some famous star patterns you might see are Orion (looks like a big hunter), Scorpius (looks like a scorpion), and the Southern Cross. To stargaze, just find a dark spot away from city lights, lie down on your back, and look up at the sky. It’s a fun way to get kids interested in space and stars.
Enjoy a Savannah-Style Barbecue
When you’re in Savannah, you’ve got to try their special kind of barbecue. It’s cooked over an open fire, which makes the food taste really good. They usually cook meats like chicken, pork, and beef that come from the local area.
Before cooking, they put special spices on the meat to make it extra tasty. Having a Savannah-style barbecue with your family is a great way to try the local food and learn about the culture. It’s like a delicious history lesson.
Go on a Spooky Ghost Tour
One of the most popular and unique things to do in Savannah is to go on a ghost tour. Many people say that some of the old buildings in the historic part of the city are haunted. There are several companies that offer tours with local guides who know all about the spooky stories.
These tours are usually okay for kids and are a fun way to learn about the city’s history and old stories. It’s like stepping into a real-life mystery book!
Take a Boat Ride and Spot Water Animals
There’s something really exciting about being out on the water, especially when you’re looking for animals that live there. When you take a boat ride on a river or lake in Savannah, you can see all sorts of cool creatures.
Keep your eyes open for animals like turtles swimming around, fish jumping out of the water, ducks floating on the surface, and maybe even beavers building their homes. If you’re really lucky, you might even see an alligator or two! It’s like a water safari where you never know what you might find next.
Pick Fresh Fruits and Veggies at a Local Farm
Savannah has lots of farms and orchards where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables. It’s a great way to spend a sunny day with your kids. When you visit a farm, you get to see where food comes from and pick it yourself right off the plants. It’s like a treasure hunt, but instead of gold, you find yummy fruits and veggies.
This activity is fun because kids get to be outside, learn about farming, and taste super fresh food. They might even try new fruits or vegetables they’ve never had before. Plus, it’s a good way to show kids that food doesn’t just magically appear in the grocery store – it grows on farms and needs care to grow.
Explore Old Houses with Cool Stories
Savannah has many old houses that you can visit. These houses are like time machines that take you back to the past. One famous old house is called the Davenport House Museum. It was built way back in 1820, which is about 200 years ago! The house looks different from modern homes because it was built in a style called Federal.
Another interesting old house is the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters. This house is even older – it was built in 1816. It’s special because it shows a style of building called Regency. During a big war called the Civil War, this house was used as a hospital to help sick and hurt people.
When you visit these old houses, you get to walk through rooms where people lived a long time ago. You can see how they decorated their homes, what kind of furniture they had, and learn about how they lived. It’s like stepping into a history book and seeing it with your own eyes.
Go Birdwatching and Spot Cool Birds
Savannah is home to many different kinds of birds. Birdwatching is like a fun game where you try to spot as many different birds as you can. You can go on a tour with someone who knows a lot about birds. They can show you where to find the most interesting birds and tell you cool facts about them.
If you want to go birdwatching on your own, you can rent some binoculars. These are special glasses that make far-away things look closer. With binoculars, you can see birds up in trees or flying high in the sky. Birdwatching is a great way to spend time outside and learn about nature. You might see birds with bright colors or hear birds with funny calls.
Visit a Petting Zoo and Make Animal Friends
Going to a petting zoo is super fun for kids. At a petting zoo, you get to meet farm animals up close and even touch them. You might see animals like cows, pigs, chickens, goats, and sheep. Sometimes, you can feed the animals or watch how they’re taken care of.
At the petting zoo, kids can learn a lot about animals. They can see how big a cow really is or feel how soft a sheep’s wool is. It’s also a chance to learn where some of our food comes from. For example, kids can see that milk comes from cows and eggs come from chickens.
After the petting zoo, you might visit a real farm. On a farm, you can see how crops grow and maybe even meet the farmers who take care of everything. It’s like seeing a big garden where food is grown for lots of people.
Go on a Nature Walk and Discover Plants and Animals
Taking a nature walk in Savannah is like going on an adventure in your own backyard. There are so many different plants and animals to see! When you go for a walk, bring some water to drink, snacks to eat, and bug spray to keep mosquitoes away.
On your walk, you might see tall trees with Spanish moss hanging from them. This moss looks like gray beards on the trees! You might also spot colorful flowers, interesting insects, or even small animals like squirrels or rabbits. If you’re lucky, you might see a bird building a nest or a butterfly landing on a flower.
Remember to be quiet and walk slowly so you don’t scare the animals. It’s fun to bring a notebook and draw pictures of what you see. This way, you can remember all the cool things you discovered on your nature walk!
Go Fishing and Try to Catch Local Fish
Fishing is a fun activity that kids often enjoy. In Savannah, there are many places where you can go fishing. You might be able to catch fish like bass or catfish. Fishing is exciting because you never know what you might catch.
When you go fishing, you need to be patient. Sometimes the fish take a while to bite your hook. While you’re waiting, you can enjoy being outside and watching the water. You might see other animals near the water too, like ducks or turtles.
If you catch a fish, you can get a good look at it before letting it go back into the water. This is a great chance to learn about different types of fish and how they live. Remember, it’s important to be gentle with the fish and put them back in the water quickly so they stay healthy.
Explore Savannah by Bike or on Foot
One of the best ways to see Savannah is by bike or on foot. It’s a fun activity for kids of all ages because they get to be outside and active while seeing all the cool things around them.
If you want to ride bikes, there are lots of bike trails all over the city and nearby areas. You can go fast or slow, depending on what you like. If you prefer walking, you can take a nice stroll along the river or through one of Savannah’s many parks. While you’re walking, keep your eyes open – you might see some interesting animals or birds.
This is a great way for kids to get some exercise and fresh air while exploring the city. They can see beautiful old buildings, big trees with Spanish moss, and maybe even spot a squirrel or two. It’s like going on a little adventure right in the city.
Visit Nearby Towns and See New Things
Taking a trip to a town near Savannah can be really fun. Many of these towns have interesting stories from long ago, so kids can learn new things while having fun. Plus, who doesn’t like trying new ice cream flavors or buying cool souvenirs?
In Savannah itself, make sure to check out famous places like River Street and Forsyth Park. If you want something a bit spooky, you could go on a ghost tour or look for ghosts in one of the old cemeteries (don’t worry, it’s not really scary!). Kids might also love seeing plants and animals up close at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens or one of the nature parks nearby.
These trips are great because they let kids see new places, try new things, and learn about different parts of Georgia. It’s like a mini-adventure every time you visit somewhere new!
Join in Local Festivals and Events
Savannah has lots of fun festivals and events throughout the year. These special days show off different parts of what makes Savannah special.
Going to a festival or event is a great way to learn about Savannah’s history and culture. Many of these festivals have been happening for a very long time. For example, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been going on every year since 1824 – that’s almost 200 years.
These events are not just fun, they also help the community. Many of them are organized by local groups who use the money from tickets to keep the events running and help people in Savannah.
When you go to one of these events, you’re having fun and helping to keep Savannah’s special traditions alive. You might get to try new foods, see cool performances, or join in fun activities that you can’t do anywhere else.
Have Fun at the Beach
The beach is a great place to take kids for a day of fun in the sun. There’s so much to do! Kids can build big sandcastles, swim in the ocean, or even go on a boat ride.
Building sandcastles is like making art with sand. Kids can use buckets, shovels, and their imagination to create amazing sand structures. They might make a castle with towers and moats, or even try to build a sand city.
Swimming in the ocean is exciting and refreshing. The waves make it more fun than swimming in a pool. Just remember to always swim with a grown-up watching.
If you go boating, you might see the beach from a different view. You could spot dolphins jumping in the water or seabirds flying overhead.
Adults can have fun too. They might like sunbathing (laying in the sun to get tan), fishing, or taking relaxing walks along the shore. The beach is a place where everyone in the family can find something fun to do.
Learn About History at Museums
Savannah has lots of cool museums where kids can learn about the area’s history and culture. It’s like stepping into a time machine.
The Telfair Museums have different shows and programs about art. Kids can see beautiful paintings and sculptures, and maybe even try making some art themselves.
The Coastal Heritage Society teaches about the environment near the coast and its history. Kids might learn about sea turtles, old ships, or how people lived near the ocean long ago.
The Georgia State Railroad Museum is great for kids who love trains. They can see old trains and learn how they worked.
For something really different, there’s the American Prohibition Museum. This museum tells the story of when alcohol was not allowed in the United States. It’s an interesting piece of history that kids might not learn about in school.
Visiting museums is a fun way to learn because kids get to see real objects from the past and sometimes even try hands-on activities. It makes history come alive in a way that’s much more exciting than just reading about it in a book.
Conclusion
I hope this list has given you some ideas on how to keep your young children entertained. From learning about the local wildlife to playing outdoors, there are plenty of ways to spend quality time with your kids in Savannah.