Savannah's Secret Parks

Everyone knows by now that Savannah, GA has incredibly preserved ornate eighteenth and nineteen century architecture, nestled in hauntingly beautiful ancient oaks dripping with grey Spanish moss.Countless destination weddings each week throughout the year and the nearly constant presence of Hollywood's biggest movie makers attests to the romance that is Savannah. Like so many destinations around the world, Savannah has no shortage of tourist attractions. But if you have kids and feel, as I do, that travel should be more than a long string of gift shops and standard prearranged excursions, Savannah has another feature that doesn't get the press it deserves. Savannah is an incredibly magical place for children, full of beautifully designed and well maintained parks. As a parent, I want to share with you a creative and inexpensive way that I get off the beaten path with my kids on our frequent trips to Savannah,GA.

If you are like me, fun with the kids is always about going that extra mile to find the one thing your kids will always remember. On a recent trip to Savannah I discovered the three essential elements of the adventure I am now recounting for you: secret parks, pedicabs, and Leopold's ice cream. This is the holy trinity of an unforgettable and inexpensive adventure you and your kids will not soon forget.

In a constant effort to keep my kids entertained and broaden their horizons, I have become something of a park connoisseur. I make a point of seeking out neat and little known parks that we haven't visited before. My kids mark the locations on a map that we keep handy. We refer to these parks as "Secret Parks." On a recent trip to Savannah I happened upon two very intimate little out of the way parks. I took note of their locations which I have mapped out for you below. I also discovered the large tricycles powered by hungry art college students known as pedicabs. For trips of thirty minutes or less, the pedicabs will take you anywhere you want to go in the downtown area for a donation in the amount of your choosing. The pedicabs often gather at the corner of bull and broughton and can also be summoned by phone to pick you up from your hotel, bed and breakfast or nearly any other location in the downtown area. Just east of bull on broughton sits film producer and all around nice guy Straton Leopold's ice cream shop. Leopold's ice cream is made from family recipes passed down since its founding in 1919. Having stumbled upon two little known parks, Leopold's, and pedicabs, a plan was born--a tour of parks by pedicab ending with ice cream at Leopold's. If this adventures sounds like something your kids will enjoy on your trip to Savannah, GA, please see my how to guide below. And even if you don't have kids, it's still great fun.