Savannah, Georgia - St Patrick's Day Getaway

Your singles weekend begins when you land in Savannah Airport (SAV) and make your way to our hotel the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Savannah Historic District, or you arrive by shuttle from our Charleston Weekend trip. Just steps from the Doubletree is the vibrant City Market and the shops and restaurants of River Street.
At 5:00pm meet your fellow travelers and your singles group leader for a stroll down River Street. Housed in one-time cotton warehouses, there are more than 75 boutiques, galleries, artists' studios, restaurants and pubs located on River Street. It’s also the place to watch ships from around the globe sail into one of the busiest ports in America. We will stop at one of the restaurants along the way to get a bite to eat.

After breakfast we will step into Savannah’s fascinating history on a trolley tour of the city’s cobblestone streets and elegant neighborhoods. Hear stories from the old South as we ride with our engaging guide, who points out landmarks and mansions we pass along the way. In addition to exploring historic Savannah sites meet lively historical re-enactors, from an always-running Forrest Gump to a scandalous Savannah socialite or even the city’s founder himself, James Oglethorpe, who Bring Savannah’s History to Life!
Located in Tricentennial Park, Savannah History Museum allows us to walk through the city's history from 1733, spanning the American Revolution and Civil War, all the way to today! Since it is housed in the historic Central of Georgia Railway Train Shed we can also see exhibits highlighting Savannah's musical, cultural and artistic contributions from the famous bench from Forrest Gump to the life of Girl Scout founder, Juliette Gordon Low.
This afternoon we travel to Bonaventure Cemetery, a former plantation made famous by the novel and film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. This Southern Gothic cemetery sits on a bluff overlooking the Wilmington River and comprises 160 acres of sculptures, mausoleums, marble headstones, and oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. Our guide will walk us through this charming site that has been a world famous tourist destination for more than 150 years due to the old tree-lined roadways, the many notable persons interred, the unique cemetery sculpture and architecture, and the folklore associated with the people buried there.
Seven blocks west from where General Oglethorpe landed is Savannah’s World Famous Pirates House, where our dinner will be. It was first opened in 1753 as an inn for seafarers, and fast became a meeting point for pirates and sailors from the Seven Seas. Since then The Pirates House has been entertaining visitors with a bounty of delicious food, drink, and rousing good times!

It is wear your green day and what better way to celebrate than with the second largest St Patrick's Day Parade in the U.S. Floats and marching units hit the streets for three hours starting 10:15 am for Savannah’s 196th St. Patrick’s Day Parade, featuring more than 350 marching units and up to 15,000 people. The first parade in 1824 was more of a military spectacle, with soldiers from different regimens marching in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. For more than 196 years, the parade has racted thousands of guests to join in the city-wide celebration, by cheering for all the floats, bands, dancers, Irish groups and societies marching in the parade. Those marching include nationally and internationally renowned bands, divisions of the U.S. military, and the Budweiser Clydesdales. After the parade we will walk over to River Street and City Market, the two main hubs for all the St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans. Spend the afternoon and early evening in these two places that will be jamming. Not only will there be live entertainment and activities to partake in, but there will also be interactive artists, photo booths and food and beverage areas.

Do you ever get spooked? You can be sure you’ll have a night of frights when we hop on the Ghost & Gravestones trolley. Our journey will take us throughout Savannah’s historic district, focusing on some of its most haunted sites, eerie legends and frightening residents. They bring the DEAD to life as this is one of America’s most haunted cities. And these aren’t the doe-eyed friendly ghost types, we’re talking folks who were tortured and murdered and have hundreds of years of pent-up anger just waiting to come out.

After breakfast we will stroll the historic district and visit a few of the historical homes starting with the birthplace of the Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low's house. During our visit, a friendly and knowledgeable guide will lead us through the home, where we will learn the story of “Daisy”—Juliette Gordon Low’s nickname—and Girl Scouts. Original and period furnishings adorn seven spacious rooms with high ceilings. See unique architectural features, including elaborately carved millwork, decorative plaster ceilings, and the impressive staircase with its curved mahogany rail. Numerous works of art, including many pieces created by Daisy herself, are on display throughout the house. You may browse the garden and courtyard independently after our tour. Be sure to look for the monogrammed gates that are believed to be forged in part by Daisy herself. Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, built as a beautiful Regency style mansion in 1819 along with its adjacent gardens, carriage house, and slave quarters, allows us to explore the complicated relationships between the most and least powerful people in the city of Savannah in the early 19th century. On our guided tour explore period rooms full of exquisite decorative arts, interactive exhibits, and historic spaces filled with stories, all while learning about the people, both free and enslaved, who lived and worked on the site 200 years ago.
Let's stop for a picnic lunch at Reynolds Square, a quaint, tree-lined city square dating to the 1730s, with plaques, statues & historic architecture. No trip to Savannah is complete without a visit to Leopold's Ice Cream, named one of the Top 10 Ice Cream Parlors in the World. Since it is across from Reynolds Square, now is a perfect time for desert.
Then we travel back in time to the early 1900s at the American Prohibition Museum, as anti-alcohol rallies swept the nation and the “booze problem” was pushed to the fore-front of American politics. The true story of America’s struggle with the liquor question, the passing of the 18th Amendment, its impact on the nation, and the far-reaching consequences of the thirteen years of Prohibition all come to life within this Museum. Through immersive displays and state-of-the-art dioramas, learn how Prohibition and Temperance shaped thinking and culture for more than 200 years. A dinner cruise is a wonderful way to celebrate our last evening together as we slowly cruise down the Savannah River. We will climb aboard one of the red, white and blue ships for dinner, live entertainment and a memorable tour of the harbor and city. Our delicious dinner features a beef carving station, fresh catch of the day, lemon & artichoke chicken with spinach, Savannah shrimp & grits, and much, much more! After dinner, one of the riverboat entertainers will play the hits from the 50s to today. Dance the night away or experience the refreshing river breeze while out on the spacious open-air deck while enjoying the sights and sounds of this historic city.

Have breakfast and then enjoy a morning at leisure for last minute shopping and exploring Savannah. Check out is at 12:00pm. Make your way to the airport according to your flight schedule and say farewell to all your new travel friends as a another great singles weekend comes to an end.