Things to Do Between Savannah and Hilton Head Island

Once your plane has landed at Savannah Hilton Head International Airport, you’ll be anxious to get your vacation started. But, you’ll still have about a 45-minute drive from the airport to Hilton Head Island, so why not make the most of this trip and see some of the sights along the way?

According to the experts at Savannah Hilton Head International Airport, the road between Savannah and Hilton Head is not just a way for you to get to your final destination. It’s a trip through an area that has plenty of things to see and do.

Take a Trolley Ride

While you’re in Savannah, take a trolley ride and view some of the city’s most historic buildings. The Old Town Trolley Tour takes you through the city and a live tour guide gives you rich information about the sights you’ll see. You’ll see incredible architecture, beautiful botanicals, and plenty of entertainment options if you decide to hop off the trolley and explore a bit. The trolley covers the entire city, so you decide how much you want to see and do.

The friendly guides will tell you stories about the city and mix in some trivia as well. It’s a great way to explore “Georgia’s First City” and learn about its various roles throughout history. When you purchase an Old Town Trolley Tour ticket, you’ll have unlimited “hop on and hop off” privileges, which allows you to make a spontaneous decision to visit an attraction, restaurant, or museum you see along the way.

Visit the Shops on River Street

If you have some time before your transportation arrives to take you to Hilton Head Island, consider visiting River Street, a popular shopping destination that is set amongst historic buildings, cobblestone streets, and picturesque waterfront views. The factories and warehouses that were once the center of the city’s economy have been converted into independent boutiques, art galleries, and acclaimed restaurants. With all the unique places to visit, you’re sure to find the perfect souvenirs or gifts for the important people in your life, or even for yourself!

Shops like Saints & Shamrocks, E.Shaver Bookseller, The Posh Loft, and Twinkle, among others, can’t be found anywhere other than on River Street. You can also visit galleries such as Telfair Museum of Art, Luba Lowry, Jepson Center for the Arts, which are excellent ways to discover Savannah’s unique cultural scene. Several museums, including the Georgia State Railroad Museum, the Tybee Island Light Station and Tybee Museum, and the Webb Military Museum are also located on River Street.

Relax in Forsyth Park

Perhaps you’re just looking for a way to relax a bit before driving the 45 minutes to Hilton Head Island. Visiting Forsyth Park is a wonderful way to take some time for yourself or allow your kids to burn off pent up energy before jumping in the car and heading north. Forsyth Park is a 30-acre park that includes a famous Confederate Monument, the city’s oldest fountain (installed in 1858), two children’s playgrounds, a concert space, a garden for the blind, basketball and tennis courts, and plenty of open space to just enjoy the great outdoors.

The park was dedicated in 1840, when the initial 10 acres were donated by William Hodgson. It was expanded when John Forsyth donated another 20 acres in 1851 to increase the park to its present size. The park was eventually named for Forsyth, who was the 33rd governor of Georgia from 1827 to 1829. The famous fountain, modeled after the fountains at the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France, was added in 1858 and the Confederate Monument found a home in the park 1879.

Take a Ghost Tour

If you can wait to travel to Hilton Head the next day, consider going on a ghost tour in Savannah on the evening of the day you arrive at the airport. Savannah is home to numerous purportedly haunted locations and several ghost town tour operators in the city provide excursions to these mysterious locales. Some will take you past haunted cemeteries, while others will introduce you to haunted mansions, haunted battlefields, other haunted homes, and even haunted bars and pubs.

Some ghost tours are pretty scary and are meant for adults only, but others are more family-friendly and take a historic approach, telling tales of local folklore and providing a humorous take on the ghost stories. These spooky ghost tours will give you an experience like no other, but you’ll definitely be glad to be heading to the peaceful shores of Hilton Head Island after you’ve walked the streets of haunted Savannah.

Visit Bluffton, South Carolina

On the way to Hilton Head Island from Savannah, you’ll pass through Bluffton, South Carolina. This is a nice place to visit before you head to your final destination. This is another city that has a rich history replete with stories of war and industry. In fact, the secessionist movement is said to have begun in Bluffton under the “Secessionist Oak,” a tree under which fed up planters met to discuss their grievances. Sixteen years after this first gathering, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the United States.

Several museums in Bluffton provide numerous opportunities to engage with the city’s history. Visit the Heyward House and Museum, an original plantation house complete with a slave cabin and summer kitchen, or the Garvin-Garvey House, the small home of a freed slave that has been restored to its original condition. The Church of the Cross is another fascinating place to visit in Bluffton. This 150-year-old church is one of the few structures that survived the burning of Bluffton in 1863.

Conclusion

We know you can’t wait to start your Hilton Head Island vacation, but there is so much to see between Savannah and Hilton Head that you can add even more pleasure to your trip by making a few stops along the way. Take some tours, visit some galleries, and enjoy some peaceful moments in a park before heading north to Hilton Head. You’ll be glad you packed even more into your trip with all the memories you’ll create.

Originally posted 2022-05-20 16:46:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter