I’m so excited to finally share my mini travel guide for the ultimate girls’ weekend in Savannah, Georgia! I was fortunate enough to travel an hour north along the Georgia coast, for a long weekend getaway in partnership with Visit Savannah and The Southern C. I previously gushed all of the details of the first part of our trip to Tybee Island, and now am getting the chance to share our adventures in Savannah–which is known as The Hostess City!

After a few nights stay in Savannah’s quirky beach town, we drove 20 minutes into the city with the whole gang–Holly with The English Room, Cheri and Whitney from The Southern C, and Kat Neunaber from Waiting on Martha. Our bags were packed with fun goodies, including a One Love Organics skincare travel kit, a Dear Keaton beach blanket, super soft PJs from Lake Pajamas, CatStudio’s Savannah souvenir glass, a lightweight pullover and tote from Southern Proper, and even a silk pillow from Pillow Grace.

Day One.

We were thrilled when we arrived at our ‘home’ in Savannah for the next few days–the historic Whitman Mansion. The home was built-in 1895 and boasts some of the most extensive restorations of any home in the city. The Whitman Mansion is a unique destination since you can reserve the entire house–complete with five bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen, an outdoor fireplace and a guest cottage. While enjoying the perks of this wonderful home, you get to stay in the heart of Savannah. It sits in one of the most fabulous spots in Savannah, in addition to being across from Forsyth Park.

We were anxious to explore the city, and visited local shops like Chocolat by Adam Turoni, for artisan chocolates, and Satchel, for handmade leather goods–both are located near the corner of East Liberty and Bull Streets. I’d also recommend perusing Number Four Eleven and One Fish Two Fish on Whitaker Street.

After enjoying an afternoon strolling through the Savannah shops, we made our way to the Parlor Blow Dry Bar, to help us prep for a fun evening! We were greeted with LaCroix cocktails (my favorite!) and pampered with incredible scalp massages! I consider having my hair washed, dried, and styled a special treat, so Parlor was definitely on our list of must-dos for the trip. After our blow-outs, we headed to Emily McCarthy’s Shoppe, on Abercorn Street. Emily’s shoppe was named one of Garden and Gun’s Timeless Southern Shops, so we naturally stopped by for cocktails and shopping! I love all of Emily’s designs–the monogrammed cocktail napkins, customizable pillows, stationary and anything you could possibly need to entertain friends! After a few glasses of Whispering Angel Rosé, we called an Uber and headed to The Collins Quarter for dinner. Every time I visit Savannah, I make a point to dine at this exquisite restaurant. I love the vibe and their farm-to-table menu is simply amazing. I love sipping on their lavender martini while sampling their seasonal salads. For my entrée, I enjoyed the Fish Tacos–with blackened grouper, guacamole, onions and cilantro, cotija cheese–all wrapped in a house-made corn tortilla. Their meals are incredibly delicious and I can’t wait to go back next time!

We finished dinner and headed to Lulu’s Chocolate Bar so we could meet up with the co-founders of Sapelo Skincare–Cindy Edwards and Stephanie Duttenhaver. I had the privilege of meeting these brilliant women over a year ago when I featured them previously on Lavin Label. To this day, I swear by their three-step skincare system, especially their rejuvenating cream. It was such a fun night–we enjoyed talking about their new products that are being released soon (including the much-anticipated milk and honey lotion!), all while tasting Lulu’s incredible Key Lime Pie and Carrot Cake.

Day Two.

We started our day with coffee and conversation at the Mirabelle Café. We were fortunate enough to meet Jessica O’Neill, a talented local artist whose paintings are inspired by the lowcountry landscape. You can learn more about Jessica’s inspiring story over on The English Room.

After our coffee date, we decided to continue exploring the city. We enjoyed a trolley ride while learning about the history of the city and visiting Savannah’s Telfair Museum. For brunch we headed to SCAD’s Gryphon Tea Room to meet up with Ellie McNevin, who serves as SCAD’s Associate Director of Public Relations. I ordered the fresh herb-baked eggs with grated parmesan and it was seriously some of the best eggs of my life! Not only is their food delicious but the café is elegantly decorated, making it the perfect spot for afternoon tea. We then walked across the street and checked out ShopSCAD — a unique gallery-retail space that highlights work from the SCAD community.

Broughton Street, the main shopping district in Savannah, was calling my name — so we popped into my favorite shops — Kendra Scott, The Paris Market, and Kate Spade. At Kendra Scott, we took advantage of their Color Bar and each of us designed our own jewelry! Of course, no one can leave Broughton Street without getting ice cream from Leopolds!

For cocktail hour we headed to The Grey, for artisan cocktails and camaraderie! It was a bit bittersweet since this was our last night in Savannah. We chatted about our unforgettable adventures (and also planned our next trip) while sipping on their must-have vintage cocktails (order the Savannah Planter’s Punch). This was my first visit to The Grey and I fell in love with their 1938 art-deco, bus terminal vibe.

For dinner we wanted a more traditional experience, so we enjoyed a classic Southern dinner at Elizabeth’s on 37th, which has been open since 1981. The building actually used to be a 1900’s Southern Mansion, which creates the perfect setting for their delicious coastal menu. There, we had the pleasure of meeting Lettees founder, Winslett Watson. Lettees is a fabulous brand that started as a childrens’ personalized tee-shirt company and has grown to include personalized home goods & recycled accessories.

Overall we had a GREAT girls’ getaway. It definitely was a memorable trip and I loved seeing both old and new friends! I hope this story inspires you to take some time for yourself — plan a trip, catch up with old friends, explore new places and be inspired!

Kelli Boyd Photography