Savannah, Georgia
We loved getting to spend time in Savannah by boat!
Our journey through the ICW, nestled just inside the Atlantic Coast, was a fun challenge. We often had to resort to motor sailing or motoring when the wind was absent, but we were determined to keep moving. As we neared Savannah, we had to strategize around some formidable currents, adding an element of math word problems to our voyage ("When traveling at an average of 6 knots for 16 nautical miles, and with the current changing direction at time X, what should the departure time be?").
SV Fika scoping out the dock situation along Savannah’s riverfront.
Our timing could have been better, and we found ourselves motoring against several knots of current in the Savannah River, slowing our approach to town. Once we arrived, we scoped out the city dock options, first using the dock in the Eastern Wharf for a few hours, then moving right to the Riverside Plaza Dock after another boat left, creating enough space for us to tie to the dock.
The dockage in Savannah was a pleasant surprise, offering incredible value at only $1.50 a foot, including electricity (but no water). The only catch was a 48-hour limit, which we found enough for our visit. However, since the dock had room to spare, the city graciously allowed us to extend our stay for an extra day, making our experience even more enjoyable.
From our boat, we could enjoy lots of people-watching. We saw locals taking early morning runs and many tourists visiting from one of the ferries or cruises. We also loved getting to watch the big tanker ships come through.
Leopold’s was so busy, the line went out the door! The staff is great and they made sure people were comfortable and the line moved quickly.
Our favorite ice cream stop was at Leopold's, an ice cream parlor established in 1919. The family business continues to use the recipes created by the Greek brothers who started the company.
We loved this bookstore, E. Shaver Booksellers! It’s a great stop and is closer than the public library.
E. Shaver Booksellers was our favorite bookstore. The shop resided in a charming old space with lots of little rooms, twists, and turns. Every corner revealed more and more books to look through. We enjoyed browsing and looking at books for a while! A huge bonus was the big fluffy cats that resided in the shop.
Savannah Coffee Roasters was the best coffee shop we stopped at in Savannah, earning it several visits from us!
Chris needed more coffee, and we wanted something local and delicious. Savannah Coffee Roasters fit the bill; many locals go there and prefer the coffee over Starbucks. Not only were the food and drink top-notch, but they also had numerous seating areas that customers could use for an afternoon of work or school.
Treylor Park has very unique (and delicious) menu items! These are the PB&J Wings.
One culinary adventure that stood out was at the restaurant Treylor Park. Our friends on Sailing Vessel Oz raved about the PB&J Wings, and as a wing enthusiast, I (Alison) couldn't resist. The chef coated the wings in a peanut sauce, and a cinnamon peach jam was provided for dipping, creating a unique and delicious combination. We also enjoyed chatting with other travelers to Savannah on their third visit to Treylor Park, eager to try all the menu items. They highly recommended the Cheesesteak Egg Rolls and the Chicken Pot Pie (pot pie filling stuffed in a fried burrito wrap), which we plan to try on our next visit.
We look forward to revisiting Savannah by boat someday! It was worth the trip upriver.
