Best Coffee Shops in Savannah, GA

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1. Foxy Loxy Print Gallery & Cafés

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If you’re looking for a great time with friends or even with the community, Foxy is your place. Each week, Foxy offers a great environment and fun activities. Some of the best nights are Fire & Wine, every Saturday night, and “Movies in the Courtyard” every third Friday of the month. Other entertainment held weekly at Foxy includes acoustic night, poetry slams, and knitting/stitching/crocheting. Try to visit Monday-Friday from 5pm-8pm to take advantage of their $2 lattes and Lone Stars. The best thing about Foxy is that it stays open later than most coffee shops around town. My favorite combo is a latte with a cookie dough brownie!

2. Mirabelle Café & Suites

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If you’re looking for beautiful Savannah scenery, Mirabelle is magical. Grab a seat outdoors, in front of the café, and watch the horse carriages and Olde Savannah Trolleys stroll by the magnificent Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Mirabelle’s prides itself in authentic Liege Belgian waffles, while offering a sweet twist to the tradition called the “Georgia Peach.” They also offer sandwiches, Panini, salads, and pastries, but I’ve only tried their coffee and waffles, which I give two thumbs up!

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3. Savannah Coffee Roasters

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Savannah Coffee Roasters is ideal for so many reasons. It’s spacious for big groups, it offers gluten-free dessert options, and its seating arrangements are great for studying. As far as entertainment, Savannah Coffee Roasters has tons of board games that you can check out and play with friends from 4pm to close. They also offer chess tournaments, improv theatre, and high tea.

4. Shuga Girl Sweet House

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Fairly new to the area, Shuga Girl’s is all over Instagram, and for good reason! This coffee and sweets shop is beautiful inside with blush pinks, golds, and a nice 20’s vibe. Their coffee is one of the best that I’ve tried in the area. It’s not as dark of a roast and requires less cream and sugar. They also have crepes and pastries that are sure to couple nicely with your hot or iced coffee.

5. Bitty & Beau’s Coffee

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If you want an atmosphere that brings joy to your heart, Bitty & Beau’s is the place for you. This coffee shop is completely staffed by employees who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their tagline is “Not broken,” which proves 100% true once you meet these amazing baristas. Although it looks small from the front, the shop actually goes pretty far back, offering plenty of seating. It is located right behind city market, making it a great location for a little break between sightseeing. One helpful suggestion that I have is to ensure you bring your credit card. So the baristas can focus on customer service and coffee brewing, this shop only accepts card payments.

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6. Way Station Coffee Co.

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Way Station is about 20 minutes from downtown Savannah in a suburb called Richmond Hill. This little shop made it to the coffee list because it actually has, in my opinion, the best tasting coffee along with Shuga Girl’s. The atmosphere is spacious, light and airy, which is perfect for studying or visiting with friends. They often have fun events geared toward children or supporting local businesses. So before you go, check their Facebook page to see if they are offering anything that day.

I’ve made a printout of my favorite coffee shops that I hope is helpful for your Savannah travels. Click here for the printable PDF or just screenshot the list below.

Savannah, coffee

Sincerely,

Katie O.

Tybee Island Itinerary and Accommodations

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Hey everyone! Here are all my favorite things on Tybee Island that I think you might like too! I’ve attached an itinerary and a great vacation home to stay in while you are there. Zac and I stayed in this rental with friends over spring break and loved it!

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If you want to take it with you and check it off, here’s a Printable Tybee Itinerary.

We loved this Tybee Vacation Rental that was perfect for large groups! Here is a quick video that shows the inside. It is 2 stories and has 7 beds. We easily fit 4 cars in the gravel driveway! Here is $40 off if this is your first time using Airbnb.

Unique Things to do in Savannah, Georgia (Not your typical Google Search list)

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Savannah is known for its nostalgic cobblestone streets, old buildings, and carriage rides. Once you’ve walked River Street, strolled Forsyth Park, and toured the giant Cathedral, what’s next?

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Here’s a few things to do in Savannah that are beyond the normal tourist sights:

AR Artwork

Here’s a fun one. AR Workshop is actually a franchise, but Heather Nelson just opened one up on Liberty Street in Downtown Savannah. This studio offers workshops for all types of handiwork, including chunky knit blankets, plank art, wood clock centerpieces, and several other crafts that will make you feel like a Pinterest queen. You can go right to the AR Workshop Savannah website and look at their calendar to sign up. If you’re hosting a bachelorette or birthday party in Savannah, AR offers private events as well.

https://www.arworkshop.com/savannah/#schedule

Savannah Bee Co. Hive Tour

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Although it’s at their Wilmington Island location, the Sav Bee Co. Hive Tour is definitely worth the drive. The Savannah Bee Company raises their own bees in hives right outside their shop and are happy to let interested visitors take a look. The tour is $10 and comes with an educational preface about the science of bees and honey making, which I found very interesting. You will put on your trendy beekeeper hat and see where the magic is made. If bee tours aren’t your thing or you want to hang around a little longer, Sav Bee Co. also offers mead tastings (fermented honey-yum!) for $10.

You can book a tour online through their website: https://savannahbee.com/bee-garden/

Butterfly Ballroom Dance Lessons

Ever wanted to learn to ballroom dance? This one’s for you! Butterfly Ballroom offers dance lessons from 8pm-9pm and a free dance afterwards for only $10 per person. Bring your significant other and learn a few moves so you can look like you know what you’re doing at the next wedding you attend. This event is nothing fancy, it’s a jeans kind of atmosphere and super laid back. They also offer different levels so you can improve no matter what stage of dancing you are in.

Check out their website for more info: https://butterflyballroom.wixsite.com/butterfly-ballroom

Improv Theatre and Board Games at Savannah Coffee Roasters

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Savannah Coffee Roasters not only has an appealing design and large facility, they also offer some pretty unique activities. Also located on Liberty Street, Sav Coffee Roasters has Libertea High Tea every Wednesday and Saturday at 11am,12pm,1pm, and 2pm. This elegant setup is the perfect way to capture the old southern style Savannah. It’s $20 per person and includes items like cream puffs, macarons, chocolate éclair, fruit tartlets, etc., but the menu varies.

Another interesting event hosted by Sav Coffee Roasters is a Murder Mystery Dinner every Friday evening at 6:30pm. Their improv theatre actors known as The Odd Lot Team will provide an entirely improvised murder while you enjoy a three-course dinner. This event Is $40 and can be reserved online.

If you’re looking for a more casual experience, check out Sav Coffee Roaster’s Game Menu that’s completely free, just buy a coffee or dessert because they’re delicious. From easy games like Uno to strategic games like Pandemic or Catan, they have it all! You can check out a game with your driver’s license, grab some friends and a table, and play all night. There’s no windows in the back, so you can really get lost in the competition. My friends and I unknowingly played Catan from 4pm to about 8:30pm. We were shocked to see that it was dark when we walked outside.

https://www.savannahcoffee.com/event

Hearse Ghost Tour

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Ok, this one is definitely unique, but let me preface it with a few disclaimers. It’s cheap– like $20 bucks, while most Savannah tours are $30 and up. You literally sit in the back of an old hearse (breathing in the fumes and all) with raised seats so you can see out of the top. It’s spooky, it’s hokey, it’s an experience. Like all tours, your guide makes or breaks the tour. Our poor guy broke it, but we heard the one right before ours was amazing! He was wearing bone necklaces and drumming skeleton bones together around the hearse to “ward off bad voodoo” and all that good stuff. He has a long, gray beard if you want to try to specifically request him, but I don’t know if that’s possible. This experience is on the unique list because you ride in a hearse. That’s pretty cool, right? Just realize you are paying $20, and the tour guide will determine the intensity of it all.

I hope this helps in planning your next trip to Savannah! Feel free to email me at katiewentthere@gmail.com if you need any help figuring things out!

Here’s my Airbnb discount if you want to find a cute apartment to stay in downtown:

Katie’s $40 off discount

-Katie O.

Hotel Giveaway!!

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Dress from: Lauren Addison Boutique

Hey everyone! I am doing some market research and am launching a giveaway to say THANK YOU for participating! The random winner will receive a $50 gift card from Hotels.com to use on the destination of your choice!

The winner can ALSO request a free itinerary from yours truly to the destination they choose to visit with the gift card.

The best itineraries will probably be from places I’ve already explored, which are:

U.S.A:

•Pasadena, L.A., and San Fransisco, California •Spokane, Washington •Washington D.C. • Wisconsin • Minneapolis, Minnesota •Savannah, Tybee, Atlanta, Helen, Elijay, Blue Ridge, Georgia •Orlando, St. Petersburg, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Sarasota, Destin, Panama City, Daytona, and Cocoa Beach, Florida •Charleston and Hilton Head South Carolina •Williamsburg,Virginia •Cape May, New Jersey

Abroad:

•Cozumel, Melaque, Guadalajara, Mexico •St. Thomas and St. Maartin, B.V.I •Rome, Venice, and Tuscany, Italy •Paris, France •Brussels and Brugge, Belgium • Bacharach, Boppard, Beilstein, Edam, Burg Eltz Castle, Hohenzollern Castle, and Black Forrest, Germany • Delft, Keukenhof Gardens,  and Haarlem, Netherlands

*If you choose another place, I will still do research and make you an itinerary, but it will be based on other online information*

Here’s how to enter:

*Find my giveaway post that is a picture of me looking way too excited on a beach*

  1. Be sure you are following me either in Instagram or my Facebook page, or both.
  2. Tag 3 friends who like to travel. (On Instagram or Facebook, or both)
  3. Take this survey: Travel Survey.
  4. Share my giveaway post on your Instagram story or on your Facebook timeline.

There are no additional entries. So once you have completed these 4 checkpoints, you’re done!

The contest will close Saturday, March 23rd 12pm EST, and the winner will be announced by 12pm EST on Sunday, March 24, 2019.

This giveaway is not sponsored by hotels.com.

 

Best of luck!

-Katie O.

Savannah, Georgia Tour Guide: A welcoming gift from locals to visitors

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Savannah, Georgia has tons to offer when it comes to delicious cuisine and nightlife. Restaurants vary from super fancy to casual and fun. They even have plenty of coffee shops perfect for getting work done or taking a load off from sight-seeing. So many options can get overwhelming. I will be in this city for 1 year and know that there’s no way I’ll be able to experience everything. So, to narrow the list, I asked a few locals their favorite places to eat, drink, and explore in hopes to give you some guidance while you visit this lovely city.

If you are a military family, you may also want to check out this post -> The Ultimate Savannah, Georgia Guide for Military Families

Here is a tour guide I created for you with the help of my local friends. Screen shot it or print it out and mark it off as you go!

Savannah Guide

Here is the PDF if you would like to print it out: Savannah Tour Guide

Savannah has beautiful historic apartments and lofts available through Airbnb.com.

Here is $40 off your first purchase of $75 or more!

 

The Ultimate Savannah, Georgia Guide for Military Families

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Being stationed in Savannah, Georgia has been so much fun this year! The city is lively, beautiful, and full of community. As an Army and Coast Guard town, Savannah businesses are so generous to show their gratitude in forms of discounts and even free tickets! Here are a few of our favorite things to do in Savannah as a military family:

Ft. Pulaski

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As a national state park, Fort Pulaski is free to all military and their dependents. Tours are offered every few hours and cannon demonstrations are given on the weekends. The cannons are actually really fun to watch! Volunteers dress in Civil War attire and put on a full show.

This is one of the most in-tact forts in the southeast. It was defeated fairly quickly by the Union Army with their superior rifle cannon. When it later became a prisoner-of-war camp, the troops rebuilt the bombed portion so it’s almost perfect now.

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Fort Pulaski could take 1 to 3 hours to explore. If you decide to participate in a tour, it will be longer, but more insightful than just looking around on your own. If you decide to visit in the summer, take the trail to the left of the parking lot and check out the Cockspur Island “beach.” It’s basically a channel, but many people fish and watch cargo ships sail by. We like to play Frisbee or soccer on this beach because there’s no sunbathers to accidentally hit!

Tybee Island Lighthouse Museum

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At the north shore of Tybee, the famous lighthouse stands tall, proud, and ready for you to climb. Until the late 1900s, this museum was an active Coast Guard station, which is why Coast Guard families get one free ticket. For example, when I went, my husband was not with me so they gave me the free ticket. This museum closes at 5pm, so plan accordingly. Give yourself about 1 hour to 1.5 hours to climb the lighthouse, view the old lighthouse keeper living quarters, and explore the Tybee museum across the street. You’ll enjoy learning about the history of Tybee’s “hay-day,” but I’m pretty sure kids will just care about climbing the lighthouse.

Savannah Theatre at 222 Bull Street

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The Savannah Theatre keeps a donation running that allows all active duty military and their dependents to enjoy their performances for free! If you are in town for Christmas, come see their famous annual “Christmas Tradition” show. It’s so festive and will really get you into the Christmas spirit! They will be performing Mama Mia at the beginning of next year, which is sure to be a hit as well.

Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity, even if you are visiting for a short time. These are regular $37 tickets, and their performers are incredible.

Hunter Army Airfield MWR and Ticket and Leisure Office

The closest base to Savannah is Hunter Army Airfield. Ft. Stewart is a bigger base, but it’s a good 50 minutes from Savannah. The MWR at Hunter Army has paddle boards, canoes, boats, and even RV spots to rent. Stop by the Ticket and Leisure Office, which is located at the Exchange, to get a list of several discounted tickets to local attractions. Savannah boat and trolley tours were the ones that stood out the most to me, but they have many more that may appeal to you!

Telephone: (912) 315-9554/9354
Season: All year
Directions: HAAF Outdoor Equipment Rental/Checkout Centers Bldg 8454, Stratofortress Road, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA 31409-5000

I hope you enjoy your visit in Savannah! If you have any questions, feel free to DM me on Instagram: @katiewentthere

If your wanting to book a stay in downtown, here is my $40 off discount code with Airbnb.com: http://www.airbnb.com/c/katiec7787

 

 

Happy Travels,

Katie O.

Disney Military Discounts & other Orlando Military Travel Ideas

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A few weeks ago, my husband and I decided to take advantage of the 2018 Military Salute Disney tickets. We called it our belated honeymoon since we married the week after he graduated Coast Guard basic training. I hope this post will fill you in on a few military opportunities concerning Disney World and other Orlando theme parks. Feel free to view the table of contents below and scroll straight to the information you are searching for.

Today’s Topics:

1. Disney Military Salute Tickets
2. When to Go
3. Eating at Disney
4. Disney Resort/ lodging
5. SeaWorld (free tickets)
6. Universal Studios/ Islands of Adventure
7. Cheaper Disney Swag for Great Pictures

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Disney Military Salute Tickets

Although it changes every year, Disney has 5- day park hopper tickets available to active duty military for $246. They also offer 4-Day tickets for $226, but what’s $20 more at this point? That’s the price of a 2-day base ticket at the gate. 2018 is also the first year that Disney offers this deal to DOD civilians as well.

One military member or DOD civilian can activate 6 tickets. People accompanying the service member do not have to be dependents. You can purchase these tickets at the travel and leisure office at many of the military installations, although our base in Savannah only had 2 passes left when we bought ours. You purchase the vouchers on base and exchange them for a Disney pass at the ticket booth of the first park you visit.

The tickets will expire on December 19th of the year they were purchased. For example, we only bought our tickets a month ago, but they will expire this December 19, 2018. So, if you want to go next year, 2019, you have to wait until January to purchase them. There are no longer black-out dates for military salute tickets, so you can split up the days and use them however you want within the year.

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When to Go

If you can, try to go during October, January, or February when most kids are in school. Weekdays are an amazing time to go because, 1. Resort stays are cheaper, and 2. The park is much less crowded. We went to Epcot on Friday, and it did not get crowded until 1pm. You may be able to ride everything in the park and explore every country by 2pm like we did.

Try to get to the park at least 30 minutes before it opens to go ahead and knock out your favorite rides while the lines are low. Even on Sunday, we were able to ride most attractions at Magic Kingdom before noon. I’m not sure why. I’m guessing because it’s tough to get out the door early with little ones, but I don’t have any yet so that’s just a guess.

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Eating at Disney

Food prices are not terrible at Disney food kiosks. It’s the drinks that get you. Bring bottled water and refill it at fountains all over the park. In Magic Kingdom, go to Sleepy Hollow Refreshments in Liberty Square before 12:00 and enjoy a ham, egg, and cheese waffle sandwich for $8.99.

Here is an eating schedule option for you while at the Disney Parks:

Breakfast before the park (eggs, cereal, muffins, fruit, etc.)

Light Lunch in the park and a shared coffee for some extra energy

Snacks in our backpack (tuna pouches and crackers, trail mix, fruit, granola)

Late Dinner after we shut down the park at any restaurant still open on the way back to the hotel

It might be fun to splurge one night and reserve dinner in the park ($20-$40ish per plate). Bring something nice to change into that doesn’t wrinkle, enjoy a dinner-date at the happiest place on earth, and end the evening watching fireworks together.

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Lodging for Disney Parks

Disney has several resorts to choose from. They vary from luxury resorts all the way to Fort Wilderness campgrounds. Shades of green is a resort especially for U.S. military and their families as well as DOD civilians. From the looks of their website, Shades of Green is pretty booked for the rest of the year so be sure to plan ahead if you want to go in 2019.

During the holidays, prices jump up to about double, except if you book nights during the week. Weekday prices are very affordable and worth it for the dining options, transportation, character fun, and no parking fees ($25/day)! Prices are different per night depending on your military rank. E-1 though E-6 is the cheapest and officers and DOD civilians have the highest rates.

They have a food package offered as a “special deal,” which can include breakfast and/or dinner at their Garden Buffet into your nightly rate. This seems to only be a deal if your nightly rate is higher than an enlisted rate. If you are E-1 to E-6, it is just about the same price as if you just bought the meals yourself. If Shades of Green is booked, the Disney Animation Resort, Movie Resort, and Sports Resort are often around the same price. But once again, plan ahead for next year.

Orlando does have hotels that are cheaper than staying on Disney’s property, but the convenience factor is a major benefit of lodging with Disney. Parking adds up for one thing. We spent $75 alone in parking while staying off the Disney property. Also, Disney resort visitors get the privilege of EMC (Extra Magic Hours) at certain parks. Check the days you are going and see which parks you can go early or state late in.

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One military and DOD perk that many don’t know about is Armed Forces Vacation Club. They offer condos and hotels from well-known companies like Wyndham Resorts for a super low price. There are several hotels in Kissimmee, Florida for $349 for 7 nights. The only catch is that each stay is usually Friday-Friday or Sunday-Sunday, so you have to be willing to take a full week of leave or just forfeit a few nights. But for just $50 a night, you may just want to book the week and stay for 4 nights or so. This option is great if you are going to Orlando with a larger group as most of these resorts offer 2 bedrooms, a pullout couch, and a full kitchen.

You might even want to book a stay through Airbnb.com. I found a few apartments that are $70 per night, including the cleaning and service fees. I have a discount code that can get you $40 off your first stay with Airbnb, but I would honestly use it as a last resort option: 40% off Airbnb stay

Staying at Disney or at a hotel with breakfast and a Disney shuttle would be my first two recommendations, followed by Armed Forces Vacation Club.

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While you’re in town… SeaWorld!

I know some people have issues with SeaWorld these days, but if you don’t, keep reading! Each year, SeaWorld gives one free ticket to active duty military and their dependents. You can choose to use your free tickets at SeaWorld (San Diego, CA or Orlando, FL) or Busch Gardens (Williamsburg, VA or Tampa, FL). My husband and I decided to spend Saturday at SeaWorld for half a day since Disney would be busy. If you decide to go while in town, you will only pay for parking, which is $22, and a locker if you bring a bag, which is $6 for all day. If I were you, I would just leave bags in the car. The lockers are a hassle if you don’t really need anything from your bag. SeaWorld has more rollercoasters than I expected, and their shows are incredible. We also discovered a helpful tip. Go ride rollercoasters during the Shamu shows. Half the park goes to the show and the rides are practically empty! Of course, watch one Shamu show because they are so fun! Getting the military tickets couldn’t be easier. All you do is go to SeaWorld.com and either enter your military ID number or log in using your USAA account. They will email you your ticket and you’re done!

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Universal and Islands of Adventure

Universal Studios also offers a significant military discount on their tickets. Once again, you can purchase them at your Travel and Leisure office on base, but the cool thing about these tickets is that the sponsor does not have to be with you at the park entrance. The tickets are about $180 for a 4-day, 2- park voucher. That is the price you would pay for a 1-day, 2-park ticket at regular price.

I hope this helps with your Disney vacation planning! I also hope you have an amazing time with friends and family at the most magical place on earth! Who knows? Maybe I’ll see you in December!

Click here to see some of my favorite items to use while traveling and it will help keep this blog going as I am affiliated with Amazon!

For cute Disney Pictures:

I bought some Disney swag at Kohl’s the other day because they have a junior’s line of Disney apparel for Mickey’s 90th birthday. They also have 20% off your purchase right now both in-store and online. I’m not affiliated with Kohl’s, they just had cute items for pictures at Disney!

Happy Travels,

Katie