Hotel at a Glance: Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Pooler/Savannah

Guest rooms at this Savannah-area hotel are equipped with free WiFi, mini fridges, microwaves, and oversize bathtubs. In the morning, chase muffins, bagels, yogurt, and fruit with mugs of coffee or tea at the hotel’s complimentary breakfast, then set out to explore Pooler or historic downtown Savannah, just a 15-minute drive away.

• Go swimming in the hotel’s outdoor pool.
• Savannah attractions: Tour the beautiful Savannah historic district, visit the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and walk through Bonaventure Cemetery, which was built on the site of the Bonaventure Plantation.
• Learn about military history at the nearby National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, which has a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber jet, exhibits honoring the Fly Girls of WWII, and memorial gardens with a reflecting pool and monuments.
• See a monster-truck rally or motorcycle race at Oglethorpe Speedway Park, about 2 miles away.

Savannah, Georgia: Historical Mansions and a Lively River Walk

Founded in 1733 as Georgia’s first town, Savannah is not only one of the most graceful cities in the South but also one the most historic. The old but well-preserved architecture landed it on Forbes’s 2011 list of America’s Best Downtowns, and Travel + Leisure dubbed it one of the top cities in the United States and Canada in 2013. The city’s 22 famous public squares play host to some famous landmarks, such as antebellum-era houses framed by moss-covered oak trees. Head to Oglethorpe Square to see the Owens-Thomas House, an English Regency–style mansion completed in 1819 that now serves as a museum; tours here depart from the original carriage house and go past its charming English-style parterre garden.

Another relic of Savannah’s past, River Street curves for about a mile along Savannah River’s south bank. The cobblestone walkways are lined with 100-year-old cotton warehouses that have been converted into antique shops, brewpubs, and galleries. Explore the riverfront in style aboard one of the Old Town sightseeing trolleys or during a horse-drawn carriage tour. Though the street is tamer than it was a few decades ago—when it was overrun with muscle cars and rowdy sailors—there’s still plenty of energy here, with a lively pub scene and views of large ships lumbering toward the dock.

A five-minute walk west will take you to the City Market, a four-block public meeting space on the edge of downtown. This section of Savannah’s sprawling historic district has established itself as one of the city’s top destinations for entertainment and dining thanks to the many artists’ studios, open-air restaurants, and taverns found here.

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