FALL IS A WONDERFUL TIME TO VISIT SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. Temperatures range from the mid-70s to the mid-80s, so it’s the perfect time to lace up your walking shoes and see the city from a pedestrian perspective. Plus, the leaves on the maple and sweetgum trees are starting to turn color, with the most vibrant hues cropping up closer to November. It’s just a great time to be outside.

Your Savannah story begins at The Brice.

With The Kimpton Brice hotel as our gracious host, we embarked on a delightful journey through Savannah’s Historic District. The first stop on our itinerary was Savannah Riverboat Cruises on the Savannah Riverwalk. On the day we boarded the grand Georgia Queen, it was in the low 80s, and we were perfectly comfortable in our shorts, T-shirts and sunglasses—don’t worry, if you prefer to dress for comfort rather than fashion, the Riverwalk is very casual. Save the dressing up for a night on the town.

The cruise line accommodated us on the afternoon narrated sightseeing cruise. Passengers can choose to sit indoors or outdoors, and we grabbed a shaded bench on the very top level. However, we took the opportunity to visit the indoor bar first, which offered tempting frozen margaritas. We splurged on the souvenir refillable tumblers in pretty shades of purple and blue.

The tour down the river was filled with picture-perfect moments, including an historical reenactment and plentiful wildlife sightings. Our narrator was a proud local who imbued the experience with fun bits of trivia and a quick-and-dirty history of the area. On the way back, we got a chance to scope out the sights on the Riverwalk we wanted to visit next.

River Street Sweets at the Savannah Riverwalk is a must-shop for pralines. It’s next door to Savannah Riverboat Cruises. ©Visit Savannah

One must was River Street Sweets, located next door to the shop where we picked up the riverboat tickets. The sweets purveyor is known for its pralines and draws customers through the doors with its free samples. We dare you to eat only the free sample! In addition to the drool-inducing pralines, the candy store sells bear claws, peanut butter cups and larger-than-life caramel apples, all with a variety of toppings. Pace yourself if you want to have room for dinner!

Once again on our way, we took a leisurely stroll down River Street, stopping at a few of the bars and shops between River Street Sweets and the Plant Riverside District, which was full of great art. In addition to galleries that showcase works from local artists such as Jorge Lastra, who designs sculptural ships based on historical vessels, even the boutiques showcase beautiful artworks.

Orange Sunset Skyline of The Historic District. ©Visit Savannah

After some more exploring (and a little snacking) we headed back to our room to freshen up for dinner with our friends at Visit Savannah. We met up at Common Restaurant on Broughton Street, known for its modern Lowcountry cuisine, and shared our days over the chef’s tasting menu and handcrafted cocktails. The tasting menu offers a great opportunity to sample some of Common’s must-try dishes; we each ordered something different and performed many a taste test.

After an evening full of pleasantries, we headed back to the Kimpton Brice, stuffed. Just before the hotel, we stumbled upon our next morning’s breakfast, Java Burrito. Yes, a coffee shop with burritos. That’s a necessity! We arrived the following morning about 10 minutes before it opened, and I’m glad we had, because once the doors opened the line was about as long as a traffic jam on I-4. The early bird gets the carne asada!

If you don’t feel like going out, the Kimpton Brice offers the amazing Pacci Italian Kitchen + Bar. We tried it for breakfast, when we were served an Instagram-worthy steak and eggs; at dinner, delectable pastas and specialty cocktails delighted.

On a recommendation, we drove to the trendy new boutique from Emily McCarthy. It was one of the only times we got in the car on the entire trip, and I’m glad we did. A former small-town girl, McCarthy worked hard at developing her brand before launching her clothing line in 2019 and recently moving into her flagship location. The 14,000-square-foot space is full of statement dresses and luxe home furnishings. We took home a few pieces of colorful décor. It was a great way to wrap up our trip to Savannah.

The Kehoe House is an historic B&B and one of Savannah’s haunted dwellings. ©Visit Savannah

Haunted Savannah

We couldn’t let October go by without introducing you to Savannah’s best haunted locations; after all, it’s considered one of the most haunted cities in America! Here’s a short list of the city’s spookiest experiences, according to Visit Savannah:

The Sorrel-Weed House. This museum revisits the days of the Antebellum South and was the first home in the state of Georgia to be designated as a state landmark. Visitors have reported cold spots, shadowy figures and chilling voices—especially in the basement and former slave quarters.

• The Mercer-Willams House Museum. Made famous by “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” this former home is rumored to be haunted by multiple spirits, including Danny Hansford’s, whose death (chronicled in the book) inside the Mercer-Williams House remains Savannah lore. People have since experienced unsettling vibes, mysterious sounds and inexplicable occurrences here.

• The Pirate’s House. Once a saloon and restaurant for seafarers, The Pirate’s House is one of Savannah’s best-known restaurants. Many sailors were brutishly forced into service here. Learn about the property’s dark past over dinner.

• The Marshall House. This elegant inn was once used as a hospital in the Civil War—guests have reported seeing soldiers with missing limbs on the first floor.

• The Kehoe House. An historic B&B, The Kehoe House is one of Savannah’s top hotels on TripAdvisor. It was once home to Goette Funeral Home; rumor has it that two of the Kehoe children died there. Guests have reported ghostly sounds of children playing in the halls.