The Best Green Spaces to Visit in Savannah, Georgia

The Botanical Gardens were designed and created in the late 1980s, all by volunteers, and have both formal and more natural spaces to explore. The garden centers around Reinhard House, a historic 19th-century home that was moved to the park in 1990. There is a serene two-acre pond and many winding trails with benches on which to sit and admire the plant life. The formal gardens include a rose garden, a perennial garden, a camellia collection and a fern garden. For the kids there is a children’s garden to investigate. Near the Historic District, the garden is open every day during daylight hours. Access to the gardens is free, but donations are welcome.

At 51 acres the CGBC is home to 16 different gardens and plant collections, including the historical Bamboo Farm, planted over 100 years ago. The garden boasts ornamental gardens, trails and a rocky cascading waterfall, and in December the garden runs a holiday light display with hot chocolate and visits with Santa. CGBC is part of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Tickets range from $3 to $5 and the garden is open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sundays noon to 5pm. CGBC is 25 minutes from Savannah by car.

This large and popular Savannah park caters for everyone. The focal point is the impressive two-level white cast-iron fountain made famous by the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Children will be able to burn off energy running through the 30-acre park or in one of the two playgrounds. On Saturdays, locals and visitors alike relish the fresh flowers and produce. Breakfast and lunch can be enjoyed in the park cafe. Within Forsyth Park is the Garden of Fragrance, a small secluded spot originally built for people of limited sight. Make sure to stop by and sit in the gazebo before the garden gates are locked at 2pm.

One of Savannah’s oldest squares, it was one of the original six laid out in 1734. The tree-lined square is a fantastic spot in which to sit and people watch after grabbing food from one of many express eateries nearby. Along with people watching it has views of the Lucas Theater, built in 1921; and the Olde Pink House – so named because it is in fact, pink. One of the few surviving 18th-century buildings, today it is a popular restaurant that is also supposedly haunted. North of the Historic District at the intersection of Abercorn and East St Julian Streets, it is not far from River Street.

Morrell Park runs along the Savannah River and is next to the Olde Harbor Inn. Within the park are two monuments. The first is the touching Waving Girl statue honoring Florence Martus, who greeted every ship that sailed into port (the reason why she did remains a mystery). The other statue is the Olympic Yachting Cauldron, which represents the 1996 Olympic yachting events that were held in Savannah. It’s a perfect little oasis to get away from the crowds of River Street and watch the ships coming in and out of the harbor.

Nestled on the banks of the Ogeechee River with giant oaks and Spanish moss is this 1,725-acre park. The main draw is the preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy, where history buffs can explore the grounds with bomb-proof barracks, cannons, a furnace, palisades and a museum. A large picnic area with fantastic river views and a playground for the kids makes it ideal for families. There are a variety of educational programs on topics such as soldier life that run throughout the week. The park is open from 7am to 10pm (the historic site is open from 8am to 5pm), and is 45 minutes from Savannah by car.