Writers Travel Guide to Savannah, Georgia: Literary Travel

Savannah, Georgia is a wonderful place for some literary travel or a solo writing retreat. From its independent bookstores to past famous writer residents to gorgeous writing spots, Savannah is a city that holds an allure for writers, readers and literary lovers.

I’ve heard of Savannah’s beauty, but nothing prepared me for the view that appeared as I pulled off the interstate and drove over to Forsyth Park, getting my first view of Savannah’s oak trees. As I walked through the historic district and let myself be enveloped by the shade of those trees and the many squares lined with historic buildings, I grew more and more enchanted by this little gem of a city.

I’m convinced most writers will fall in love with Savannah as much as I did, which is why I’m very pleased to write this edition of the Writer’s Travel Guide.

As with all my other Writer’s Travel Guides, you’ll find the best places to write (or read), literary travel points of interest and places to stay while in Savannah, Georgia.

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Best Places to Write in Savannah

Gryphon

Hands down the best place to write in Savannah.

Okay, maybe not, although it was my favorite. It’s a restaurant, so perhaps it’s not the quietest or most convenient. But it’s the most gorgeous. And when I was there on a weekday, I was the only one there other than another woman who was reading a book.

As the woman was leaving, she said something that summed up my exact feelings: “It’s like being in a fantasy world.”

Located in a former pharmacy, this now restaurant still has a few reminders paying homage to the building’s former use. You’ll also find old books lining the walls, elegant architecture and a stained glass dome on the ceiling.

Congress Street Up

This speakeasy serves authentic 1920s cocktails and is located at the end of the Prohibition Museum. After visiting this museum (which I recommend), spend some time here making notes or writing a scene set in the 1920s. The ambiance will make it easy for you to pretend you’re in a different time!

Forsyth Park

Savannah has lots of greenery, and Forsyth Park is among the largest. The avenues of live oak trees leading the beautiful white fountain make this park one of my favorites ever. And there are plenty of benches to sit on, perfect for people watching or admiring the majestic trees in between writing in a journal.

Psst: Looking for the perfect travel journal? If you’re a writer, you might be interested in one of the Voyage Scribe journals, designed for writers who travel!

One of Savannah’s many squares

Savannah has 22 squares crammed into the small historic area, with a square found at nearly every turn. These little green oases are great spots to find a bench and pull out a notebook.

Some of the most beautiful (and most touristy) are Monterey Square and Chippewa Square. But if you’re looking for a less busy square, I found Pulaski Square to be quiet and still filled with those gorgeous oak trees.

Literary Travel in Savannah

Mercer-Williams House

The Mercer-Williams House might be the most famous house in Savannah thanks to the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. This non-fiction book tells the story of the famous murder that occurred in this house, but it also paints an in-depth picture of Savannah and its residents.

Definitely read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil before visiting Savannah. Read it even if you’re not planning to visit (although it will doubtless make you plan a trip in the future).

You can take a tour of the beautifully restored house, and although the tour doesn’t really touch much upon the book that made this house so famous, it’s still interesting. (And the only way to get inside the house.)

Georgia Historical Society

Inside this building across the street from Forsyth Park lies a room akin to those I visited in Europe. With a high ceiling and the walls below covered with dark bookshelves filled with old books, this room could be confused with some of the antique libraries of the Old World.

There is a small free exhibit, and if you want an excuse to spend a longer time surrounded by the beautiful books, you can make an appointment to conduct some research. Perhaps you need some content for your work in progress? Or maybe you can find a new idea for a book or story browsing through the archives?

The Book Lady Bookstore

Visiting bookstores is my favorite way to incorporate literary travel into my trips, and Savannah has lots to choose from. This used bookstore has lots of great finds hidden within the bookshelves. There are lots of genres to choose from and the interior is very inviting, with plenty of chairs scattered about.

E. Shaver, Bookseller

I could have spent hours here. Not only does this bookstore have lots of great titles I never heard of, but they also have some comfy chairs to read on and a typewriter that you can write something on. When you’re done, tape it onto the wall alongside the words of those who visited before you.

Conrad Aiken’s House(s)

Pulitzer Prize-winning Conrad Aiken grew up in Savannah. He left his childhood home when his parents died, and in his old age he retired to Savannah—in the house right next door to the one he grew up in.

Flannery O’Conner Childhood Home

Award-winning Flannery O’Conner is another famous writer who grew up in Savannah. Unlike the Conrad Aiken house, you can actually pay to go inside the house. It’s only open Friday to Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm, however, so plan accordingly.

The Pirate House

Looking for more real-life places you read about in books? The Pirate House is featured in Treasure Island, and it’s a great place to go for a meal nowadays. You can even get a tour of the house from a pirate!

Where to Stay in Savannah

Interested in staying in a house that was mentioned in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil? If you read the book, you might remember the Hamilton-Turner House (one of the houses Joe Odom lived in). Nowadays, you can stay the night in this luxurious and historical bed and breakfast.

For a much cheaper option, Carole Motel is located just a 10-minute drive away from the historic district. It’s probably the best motel I’ve ever been to because it was decorated so well. The tiles were a really nice touch.

Worried about parking fees? Don’t worry about that, because parking is free by Forsyth Park south of Gaston St. Park there and enjoy your walk through the historic district.