A Seasonal Guide to Experiencing Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia, with its blend of historical splendor, rich cultural offerings, and picturesque landscapes, stands out as one of the South’s most captivating cities, as per this travel guide from Travel + Leisure. While every season casts its own charm over the cobblestone streets, travelers will find that some months offer a more comfortable and enriching experience than others.

Fall is widely regarded as the optimal time to visit. With daytime highs in the 70s and lighter tourist crowds, autumn in Savannah delivers both comfort and beauty. November, in particular, is praised as a prime travel window; this stretch of time before Thanksgiving brings the added bonus of seasonal festivals without the congestion of peak tourism. The city’s famous oak-lined streets take on a golden glow, and outdoor exploration is at its most enjoyable.

Travelers hoping to explore Savannah without contending with summer’s intense heat or spring’s tourist rush may find the shoulder season—from August through December—especially appealing. October is rich with events such as the SCAD Savannah Film Festival and the Savannah Greek Festival, while September hosts the popular Savannah Jazz Festival, with live music echoing across public squares and venues throughout the city. Art lovers also gravitate toward the SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival, held in spring, when students transform Forsyth Park’s sidewalks into vivid chalk masterpieces.

Spring in Savannah is breathtaking. Azaleas bloom in vibrant pinks and purples, and temperatures range from the high 50s to the mid-80s. However, as this is also the high season, expect larger crowds, especially around St. Patrick’s Day in March. The holiday is marked by a multi-day celebration featuring a parade, a themed 5K, and even the ceremonial “greening” of the fountain at Forsyth Park. Though the festivities energize the city, the evenings can become rowdy, with some businesses opting to close early to sidestep the revelry.

Nature in Savannah is not confined to its parks and gardens. Just a short drive from downtown, Georgia’s coast offers serene beach escapes that pair beautifully with the city’s historical charm. While summer brings challenges in the form of 90-degree temperatures and soaring humidity, it can still be a worthwhile time to visit if beach days and indoor activities are high on your itinerary. The city’s acclaimed restaurants and cultural venues, many of them air-conditioned, provide welcome retreats from the heat.

Visitors seeking lower prices and quieter surroundings will benefit from traveling in the off-season, which spans January and February. Though temperatures are cooler and some flowers lie dormant, the city’s architecture and charm remain on full display. This period often sees reduced hotel rates and discounted airfare. Budget carriers flying into Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, such as Allegiant, make the city accessible from various U.S. hubs, and lighter tourist traffic means easier navigation through Savannah’s walkable neighborhoods.

Spring and fall also bring brief afternoon rain showers, typically around 3 p.m. Marks notes that these showers last about 30 to 40 minutes, and far from detracting from the experience, they add to the ambiance. Spanish mossglistening with raindrops in the sunlight offers a uniquely Savannah moment—one that enchants visitors and locals alike.

Even in early summer, around June, it’s possible to experience the tail end of pleasant weather before the arrival of peak heat. Whether you’re drawn to Savannah for its seasonal festivals, vibrant arts scene, or the sheer romance of its historic streets and coastal proximity, there’s never truly a wrong time to visit—just different ways to experience its beauty, each offering a uniquely memorable Southern getaway.

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Top US Cities to Book a Food Tour in this Fall

When you live in the same town or city year after year, it’s not uncommon to develop a routine when it comes to going out to restaurants. It starts with that list of places to eat getting progressively smaller and it ends in only a small handful of menu items being considered each time you visit. When this happens, it’s the perfect opportunity to take a vacation to engage in one of the more culinary-inspiring activities possible, the food tour, and thanks to Travel + Leisure’s collection of the country’s Top Food Tours for the 2021 Fall Season, your palette is soon to be deliciously expanded.

The typical food tour brings together the best elements of travel and cuisine because when you’re far away from home, you often are more likely to release your inhibitions and try new dishes that you never would in your hometown or own kitchen. Additionally, food and culture are oftentimes closely related, so when you book a food tour, you allowyour palette to explore new tastes and textures that you might not otherwise experience, and because you’re often being led by a food tour guide, you can safely trust that you’re in the right hands.

So whether you’re looking to book a food tour to discover a new “genre” of restaurant, favorite dish, or an intriguing new recipe to add to your cooking repertoire, be sure to consider the following food tours offered in the American cities below.

Los Angeles, California

The iconic city has attracted its fair share of press, celebrities, and notoriety over the past century, but in that time it’s also drawn in culinary artists from around the world. Experience a sampling of the best international dishes that the LA Farmers’ Market has to offer by booking a “Melting Pot Food Tour,” where you can choose from a wide selection of culinary experiences. Melting Pot offers its customers the chance to choose their own culinary destiny, as they offer experiences that examine Thai Town, East LA’s Latin cuisine, and even the historic Old Pasadena. Though, one of the stand-out experiences of their available tours is booking the opportunity to dine with the Dona Juana family as part of the La Española Meats VIP Tour. On this tour, attendees are heralded by a family that is the first and last name of all Spanish cheeses, charcuterie, small plates, drinks, and imported specialties. The best part of this tour is that it ends with a lunch on a patio where you enjoy paella, tapas, and homemade churros, thus acting as the cherry on top of a perfect culinary experience.

Savannah, Georgia

Two particular food tours do an outstanding job at inundating someone with the lush history and charming spectacle often associated with Savannah. First is “The First Squares” tour offered by Savannah Taste Experience in which participants stop along six different restaurants and food boutiques to enjoy gourmet dishes and learn the history of the city’s relationship to food as you visit an authentic pub, a British Pie Shop, and an award-winning honey store. Additionally, Southern Flavors Savannah offers a three-hour excursion into the world of sweets with “The Dessert Tour.” Be sure not to book this one too close to the previous, as you’ll be swept away with the ambiance and sweetness of downtown Savannah as you collect and savor various southern delicacies ranging from creamy-textured pralines to delightfully simple and rich coffee cake amid an unforgettable setting.

Other notable entries on Travel + Leisure’s list are the “Taste of New Orleans Food Tour, Tours By Locals” in New Orleans, Louisiana; “Best of New York Food Tour by Sarah Funky” in New York City, and “Little Havana Food Tours” in Miami, Florida.

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