Greater Savannah

The past plays an important role in Savannah. In the Historic District, visitors feel as if they've stumbled through a portal to the past. But don't be fooled: Savannah is a living city, and when you explore beyond its historic heart, you'll be reminded that it's a place where past and present mingle. Several colleges and universities bring a certain youthful energy to the area, which balances the old history that's preserved in the Bonaventure Cemetery and Fort Pulaski. To explore farther outside the downtown Historic District, you'll need a car. Start by heading south toward Victory Drive, then head east. Visit the Bonaventure Cemetery, which sits along the banks of the Bull River and is the final resting place of local notables like Johnny Mercer and Conrad Aiken. Afterward, continue east on Victory, which becomes Highway 80, and head to Fort Pulaski, a national park site with a fort, a small museum, and trails that wind out into the forest and marsh.