I am planning a trip to Charleston, and may also include Savannah. I am undecided about how much time to spend in Savannah, or whether to visit Savannah at all.

From what I have read about Savannah, the city does not seem to have much in the way of things for visitors to do, except take a trolley ride and walk around. It seems as if a half-day visit may be adequate. Is this true? Or do any of you have any other suggestions for Savannah activities?

This website's destinations section has lots of information about Savannah. here's their two day itinerary:

Any trip to Savannah should include a walking tour of the Historic District. Though it's possible to take in most of the district in a day (see the Good Walk above), you might be more comfortable, particularly in the summer heat, devoting two days to your wanderings.

A good way to divide your days might be to spend one in the area closest to the river, taking in such sights as the Savannah History Museum, the First African Baptist Church, Factor's Walk, and the Telfair Museum.

On the second day, tour the southern part of the district, including Forsyth Park, the Andrew Low House, the Green-Meldrim House, Monterey Square, and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

Whether or not you should visit Savannah too depends on the number of days you have available...if only 2 or 3 days for Charleston, then I wouldn't try to do Savannah as well. If more, then yes, do Savannah at least for a full day but two would be better. It's a beautiful city.

Charleston is more citified. It has less greenery. Savannah's squares are gorgeous as is the architecture. If that doesn't interest you, then you might skip it. I lived in the historic district and was out running daily, yet never in the 4 years we lived there, did I get sick of just looking at the squares and beautiful homes. What were you planning on doing in Charleston other than riding a trolley or buggy and walking around? The cities both offer similar opportunities with Charleston having the edge on shopping and great dining...but that is not to say Savannah doesn't have some, and if you only plan to spend a day or two, believe me, you won't exhaust your options!

Strange, but I found Savannah more "citified", to the point that 1/2 day there was plenty. I did like the pretty squares and park, but thought that Charleston had it all over Savannah in southern charm and beauty.

This is one of those fascinating threads that show how different our tastes can be.
I have spent about 5 nights in Savannah on 2 or 3 trips and feel that I have only scratched the surface of the city.
I never quite know what people mean when they ask "what is there to do" in a place. I walk around, look at people, sit on a park bench, look at people, eat a meal and look at people, then move to a different part of town and do it again. I am a museum and history junkie in a modest way but have less than zero interest in shoppping, hanging out in tourist areas, going to souvenirs shops, gambling, taking in a show, etc. I like real art galleries (of which Savannah has many many many) but can't stand "tourist" art galleries (of which Charleston has many many many). But I love both cities.
I don't think I am better than people who like to do different things, we just have different tastes.

Ack,
i agree, when you are in an interesting place you don't have to do you just have to be. One of the worst things is to have a travel mate who has to do all the time and is never able to be.

I would give Charleston a slight edge, better food and more pleasant walks along the water.

I love the little parks in Savannah, I just wish they never allowed ugly buildings and parking lots to be built next to some of them.

We visited a few years back and our original plan was to stay a day and then move on. After our first day we changed our plans and stayed the whole trip there.

Among the usual Savannah sites we also took a day to do some sea kayaking, which was wonderful. We are not experienced kayakers and it was an easy trip for us. Dolphins swam along side our kayak - it was one definitely a highlight.

I, personally, had a lot of fun walking through all the town squares, looking at the famous house from 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil', trying to figure out what square they filmed Forest Gump in, etc.

Malesherbes-we were there in the middle of my marathon training and I had the most fabulous, invigorating (thank you flat Savannah!) run through all the squares and parks and waterfront - in July, no less!

Ackislander put it well - we all have different tastes. We actually wished for another day or so to explore Savannah,as so many people loving it can't all be wrong!

fuzzbo, that sea kayaking sounds wonderful! Savannah Wildlife Refuge, just outside the city, is another great stop, especially if you've never been to the keys. Lots of gators, birds and other wildlife.

Everyone: Thank you for all the suggestions. I've written them down, and will investigate further. But it still seems that Savannah has very little to offer compared to the Charleston area, as you can see from my itinerary thus far:

Day 1: arrive at my Charleston hotel by noon. Spend the rest of the day walking around.

Day 2, take the boat ride tour to Fort Sumter; take a walking tour; and visit at least one house museum (there are many to choose from). If time is available, maybe also see the Aquarium. Also do more walking around.

Day 3, get a rental car and visit some Mount Pleasant places (for example: Boone Hall plantation; USS Yorktown). Also visit the Isle of Palms area.

Day 4, Drive to Moncks Corner to visit Cypress Gardens. Then drive to the nearby town of Summerville, where I will spend the night.

Day 5, plantations day: Visit the Middleton Place, Magnolia, and Drayton Hall plantations and gardens.

The remaining 2 days are undecided. I would like to visit Beaufort. But if I am driving all the way to Beaufort, it seems I may as well also visit Savannah and return home from the Savannah airport.

I go to Savannah several times a year and never tire of it and have been to Charleston twice in the last 3 years. Each city has its charms and fans - but to hear that a half-day is enough to "do" Savannah just blows my mind. There are still things I want to do there and haven't. Good luck with your planning.

'Way too many plantations!! Not enough time to just walk in Charleston. Why Moncks Corner and Summerville? Visiting Dayfuskie or McClennanville might be more interesting.

Moncks Corner is because of Cypress Gardens. I love seeing different types of landscaping, and from what I read about it, Cypress Gardens sounds as if it has an interesting assortment of trees and southern-style scenery. Have any of you been there? If so, I would like to know your opinion of the place.

I'll be staying overnight in Summerville mainly because it is enroute to the Ashley River Road plantations I'll be visiting the next day. I've heard Summerville described as "charming". Even if that isn't true, the location is convenient, and I won't be there for long anyway.

Gretchen, maybe there are too many plantations on my list. But I'm not planning house tours of them all. My main reason for going is to see the gardens and landscaping. I love viewing different styles of gardens and landscaping. It's one of my favorite things to do while traveling.

Fuzzbo, it's the best running, isn't it? All the interesting buildings, homes and people to look at keep you from thinking about what you are doing, and with all the oak trees, you can even develop routes that keep you entirely in the shade. My route took me from Bay Street (City Hall area) down Bull through all the beautiful Bull St squares, into Forsyth park where I made enough figure 8's (3 or 4 as I recall) to get in 6 miles before I got home. Never got sick of it.

JoyceL, although there aren't plantations near Savannah, there are other sites that are worthwhile...some beautiful drives in Isle of Hope, Ft Pulaski, Tybee and the lighthouse. Each person has their favorite of the two cities. Charleston was mine, despite living in Savannah, but my brother and his family thought Savannah was much more enjoyable touring than Charleston. Although Beaufort is nice, it is SO small I'd skip that and go the hour more to Savannah where there is far, far, more to see and do.

JOYCEL ... No disrespect, but I cannot imagine how anybody who's done any research on this subject could conclude that Savannah, Ga., has nothing more to do than "take a trolley ride and walk around" (especially since from what you describe, "walking around" is primarily what you intend to do in Charleston!). Among the key differences between the two cities (founded about 100 years apart, mind you) is that Savannah is GREEN and Charleston is, quite frankly, NOT. In fact, you'll be wont to find many "garden" patches in the City of Charleston proper, and for what the Georgia coast lacks in living history "plantations" (ack!) the City of Savannah makes up for in stunningly inviting greenspaces. After all, the name of the book wasn't "Midnight in the GARDEN of Good and Evil" for nothing.

Go ahead and go to Charleston ... when you do finally make it to Savannah, you'll be kicking yourself for waiting so long (I recommend early Spring and the NOGS tour ... )

Love Savannah. There's a hotel with wrought iron railings on the river... you can stand there and wave at the ships passing. Best thing to do is use it as a culture stop on your way to a Sea Island -- have a nice dinner, etc, and feel what the south is really like.

If you are driving, take an hour to drive outside Historic District (yes, some of the areas are not so great, but this is a daytime trip) and look at some of the beautiful architecture of houses that regular people live in now - graceful columns, porches.

Don't waste time on RIver St. Tourists go there.

Nope, you can't "do" Savannah in a few hours. Especially since you are interested in gardens.

We don't have the big gardens like Magnolia and Middleton (both of which are magnificent) but the squares more than make up for it. There is nothing quite like Spring in Savannah. During the heat of the Summer, casual strolling and looking isn't much fun. I wouldn't do it on a bet. Charleston will be just as hot and humid as Savannah. Winter begins the blooming season for Camilleas in the gardens. This blends into the Dogwoods, flowering trees and azaleas. From the middle of March to the end of April is the best time to come. Around April 1 is usually the best. Just don't come the few days before March 17th, (St Patricks Day Parade and citywide party) unless you want a wild time!!

A walking tour on your own will allow you to see the Hidden Gardens along the way. These are private gardens mostly hidden behind brick walls and wrought iron fences. Once a year, there is a Hidden Garden Tour that opens these wonders for the public. There is also the Annual Tour of Homes, which includes many of these gardens. Also, the NOG (North of Gaston Street) which also allows a looksee at the showplace homes and gardens in the Historic Area.

If you can't stay at least two full days, I wouldn't bother to come. For just a few hours trip, you will be disappointed and feel that you wasted your time.