We honeymooned in Savannah, Georgia, so we’re biased, but we think it’s one of the most romantic cities in the world. With Spanish moss dripping from the live oaks and the amber glow of old fashioned street lights, it’s difficult not to be swooned by Savannah.
Book lovers will also be enamored with what many believe to be the prettiest city in America. With twenty-two public squares in the downtown area, each with different themes and cozy benches,this city practically begs you to sit in the shade and relax with a book. Or, maybe you prefer a livelier setting on River Street where you can listen to jazz as you watch the ships pass by. No matter, cafes, bookstores, libraries, breweries, cemeteries, and beautiful parks- whichever scene is yours, Savannah has it!
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Here are the top bookish things to do in Savannah, GA:
Visit numerous book turned movie locations
Savannah is a picturesque city, so it makes sense that it’s also a popular filming location! You can visit lots of book turned movie locations such as the famous Forest Gump bench and setting of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Making your way through the beautiful squares as you head towards downtown, you may want to sit a spell in Chippewa Square and bring a nice box of chocolates from one of the cafes. This is the famed square where the movie Forrest Gump was filmed as he tells his life’s story to anyone who will listen. The movie was an adaptation of Winston Groom’s bestseller and it became a cultural favorite movie by piling up six academy awards! You may also want to catch a show closeby at the Savannah Theatre, which is one of the oldest, continually run theaters in the US!
If you are like me and obsessed with murder mysteries, Savannah will be your huckleberry. Savannah is the setting for the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and is also where the movie was filmed. You can visit the Mercer-Williams House Museum where the actual event from the book took place and where many scenes from the movie were shot. You’ll learn all about the book and how this murder mystery captivated the nation in the late eighties and still does to this day, I do declare!
Tour author Flannery O’Connor’s Childhood Home
Flannery O’Connor is one of the most celebrated Southern Gothic authors of all time, and she called Savannah home. The home was closed for repairs upon our last visit in May, but it will soon reopen its doors for visitors to see where O’Connor’s vivid imagination flourished. One of the cool things that you can do is to take the Flannery O’Connor Book Trail and spot all of the little free libraries built around the city in her honor. A Good Man is Hard to Find, but finding a good book in Savannah shouldn’t be a problem!
Sip tea at the Gryphon
The Gryphon is one of Ashley’s favorite cafes in the US. The interior is stunning and makes you feel like you’ve walked into a fancy tea room in London. It’s also near one of her favorite bookstores which brings us to…
Browse cozy bookstores
Savannah has many options when it comes to finding that perfect place to escape into the pages of a good book. There are also several bookstores to help you find that perfect read you’ve been looking for. All of the bookstores here are fantastic and our goto has always been E. Shaver. They have an extensive collection of new and used books, a sitting room with a cool vintage typewriter, and two or three cats that allow you to peruse around in their home.
Another bookstore to visit is The Book Lady. From the building to the books, this little bookstore is a must. They have a very friendly staff and a huge selection of vintage books.
Take a ghost storytelling tour
Savannah is known as the “Hostess City of the South,” but you may be inclined to adlib the “Ghostess City” after you take one of the many ghost tours offered around town. You can use any booking website you prefer, but make sure the tour includes the things that pique your interests! As for us, we like to stick to the cemeteries and back alleyways, but you may prefer to relax on a motorized tour. Either way, you’ll want to find a cozy pub after your tour to purge any spirits and have a relaxing night cap!
Travel more with points
If this post has sparked literary wanderlust in you and you want to travel more with points, I’m going to share my favorite travel credit cards. I use my travel credit card like a debit card and pay the entire balance each month. As always, please protect your finances and make the best decision for your spending tendencies. For me, this has proven to be a fantastic way to travel more for free because I’m usually able to cover the flight costs using only points.
I started out with this travel credit card years ago (referral link), but have since upgraded to this advanced version (referral link).
These are my favorite cards because of their SIMPLICITY. To use your points, all you have to do is purchase a hotel, flight, or anything travel related on any site you wish then log into your CC account and click “erase my purchase.” Magic!
Lastly, do you want the ultimate souvenir? Use my referral link to save $25 off your Flytographer session at locations around the world!
