Mid-Week is the Perfect Time to See Savannah

There is so much to do in Savannah it can be overwhelming. I always leave the city with at least three new things on my list to try next time I visit. But Savannah (and Tybee) are also very popular, and you won’t be the only ones trying to get a table at The Olde Pink House or to try that new dish at The Grey. So, try a mid-week visit to Savannah to make it easier to see the best this city has to offer.

Staying mid-week in Savannah is the best time to stay in Savannah. We love walking through City Market when it’s not so crowded. It’s great grabbing an unexpectedly available table at Collins Quarter. And there’s nothing better than a quick cappuccino at The Coffee Fox without a line. It’s true, some restaurants and bars close a little earlier, but that’s okay, we usually have to work in the morning anyway.

So here are ten things to do in Savannah that are much easier to do mid-week:

A Mid-Week Savannah Shopping Trip to Byrd’s Cookies

I love that Byrd’s Cookies has a store right in City Market again. Byrd’s Cookies are delicious and beautiful and a piece of Savannah history. Still family owned, Byrd’s has gotten a lot bigger and you can get their cookies in multiple locations like their Flagship store south of DeRenne on Waters Street. Still, I’d rather grab them in City Market. Mid-week they’re only open until 7:00 PM, but it’s less crowded and you can grab a box of six varieties quickly. Open one box to snack on through the week and keep five for gifts when you get back home!

Byrd’s Cookies 213 W Saint Julian St, Savannah, Georgia 31401

A Savannah Sunrise on River Street

Sunrise over the cobbled stones of River Street, soft light reflecting against the windows of the street fronts, a light morning dew, and nobody else around. Seriously, get up early and go see this for yourself. On Saturday morning and Sunday morning you’ll be joined by some of the late night folks who are on their way home, but mid-week you’ll have it mostly to yourself.

Breakfast at Little Duck Diner

I always get breakfast at Little Duck when I come to Savannah. Always. The food is great; I’m partial to the Crab Omelet when they have it on the menu. The coffee is great. The service is great. Most of all the décor is amazing. I could linger there for hours just taking in the art deco beauty. And it’s even better mid-week when the competition for seats isn’t as stiff. 

Little Duck Diner 150 W Saint Julian, Savannah, Georgia 31401

Casual Mid-Week Lunch at Savannah Seafood Shack

My favorite dish is their low country boil for one. It comes in a bowl and a bag, and you can have draft beer on the side. It’s a simple, casual dish that will impress you with the quality of the ingredients more than fancy preparation. But because they’re so popular, it sometimes becomes a wait instead of a casual delight. Mid-week Savannah is a great way to enjoy this Historic Downtown staple because it lowers the pressure and lets you really enjoy the casual atmosphere, the streetside dining, and the great service this restaurant is known for.

Savannah Seafood Shack 116 E Broughton St, Savannah, Georgia 31401

 

Dinner at Treylor Park

Open from 11:00 am to 1:00 am during the week, Treylor Park is a Savannah phenomenon. “Quality over quantity” is their motto, and grabbing a cocktail and dinner here is just right for a mid-week stop. Nothing too heavy, just a well prepared meal and a perfectly mixed drink to end the day. Be sure to check out the dedicated bar area in the back. On the weekends it can be crowded, but on a week day evening you’ll find it a little quieter and a little faster. As a bonus, from Treylor Park it’s just a quick street crossing down to River Street where you can stroll waterside after the meal.

Treylor Park 115 E Bay St, Savannah, Georgia 31401


 

A Mid-Week Savannah Pub Crawl on River Street

Sometimes you’re here for a big event, but you arrive early to enjoy the city. Good decision. Conveniently, if you’ve got a few people then you’ve got enough for a pub crawl, and River Street was built for that. Whether it’s dueling pianos at Savannah Smiles or watching the harbor from the Top Deck Bar or maybe some “to go cup” frozen beverages from Wet Willies. Savannah hosts a huge number of bachelorette parties for a reason – this place is fun! Mid-week is a great time to hit the bars and to-go windows and enjoy the famously accommodating open-container laws of the Historic District. The lines will be shorter, the service will be faster, and the drinks just might be a little stronger when things aren’t quite so packed.

Late Night Drinks at The Grove

One of the down-sides of a mid-week visit is that some restaurants and bars close a little bit earlier. But if you’ve had a long day at work, or the beach, and you’re walking through Historic Savannah at 9:00 PM wondering where to eat, let me suggest The Grove. It can seem a little loud at first if you’re stepping in from a quiet stroll, but there’s plenty of seating and multiple bars to choose from (including a roof top deck). The menu has some gems on it, like the cheese and charcuterie board that will surprise you with quality and quantity. A great place to have a few drinks and a late dinner on a mid-week visit when you’re not ready to call it a night.

The Grove Savannah 301 W Congress St, Savanna, Georgia 31401

 

Morning Run around Forsyth Park

A quick search for Savannah on Instagram or Pinterest and you’re going to see Forsyth Park. Originally a 10 acre plot

, In 1851 Savannah renamed and expanded its crown jewel to be the 30 acre Forsyth Park we know today. At that point, the city installed the iconic Forsyth Fountain in 1858 and it’s been drawing visitors and locals alike ever since. The tree canopy along the edges of the park keep things cool even on a Savannah summer day. You’ll often see joggers out at all times of the day taking advantage of the flat, shaded path around the park. On weekends you’ll have plenty of company on your run, but on weekdays it’s mostly locals and business travelers out for their jog.  You’ll have a much better shot at getting that selfie by the fountain all to yourself as well.

Forsyth Park, Savannah Georgia 31401

 

A Mid-Week Trip to Tybee

It’s about a 22 minute drive from Historic Downtown Savannah to Tybee Island if you take US 80 E. But while the public beach on Tybee is easy to get to, on the weekends parking can be a challenge. So you can try a mid-week trip to catch an open spot near 14th street. Download the Park TYB app before you go and you can avoid trying to find the pay box. From the parking lot you can walk right out to the ocean and hit the pier as well. On the pier are snacks and bathrooms and at the end of the pier are refreshments and fishing. You can chill on the beach, stroll the pier, or swim in the ocean with lighter crowds than a Saturday.

Tybee Beach Pier, Tybee, Georgia

 

History Tour of Historic Downtown Savannah

Taking a tour of Savannah is fun, healthy, and always enlightening. The operators bring their own lens to the city’s history, making each tour unique and fascinating. Learn about the many haunted sites and tragic events from the history of Savannah on a ghost tour, for instance. Or, take a walking history tour and learn about why the city is laid out the way it is and who built the beautiful homes we see today. Experience a Black cultural history tour and learn more about the Gullah Geechie culture that shaped this city through both tragedy and rebirth. Zip around Savannah on a Segway. One of my favorites, you can cruise through Savannah from the back of Sebastian the vintage Citroen. And

, you can hop on and hop off through Savannah from a double-decker bus. The options are endless, but mid-week is when you’ll get the times and tours.