Savannah is a small-city family destination, with moss-draped, tree-shaded squares; Savannah Riverwalk; Forsyth Park, the District’s largest green space; numerous museums (Telfair, Savannah’s Children’s, History and Railroad Museums); galleries and all the artsy appeal of a college town. There are walking, Segway and bike tours, ghost walks, plus house and garden tours. And, the city is mecca to Girl Scouts who visit the birthplace of founder Juliette Gordon Low.
When the recently built, art-filled, 167-room Perry Lane Hotel opened in June 2018, visitors found a serenely beautiful hotel housed in two, five-story buildings on either side of an entry drive. I noticed the first family-friendly amenity outside the main lobby door, where bikes await. That lobby greets with high ceilings and a black-and-white-checkered floor in the lobby, reminiscent of an airy Southern foyer in an historic Savannah home. The décor is striking: ‘old world’ millwork, arched doorways, gas lanterns by the entrances and cobblestone streets.

Perry Lane Hotel Lobby. Photo: Perry Lane Hotel
Art-filled lobby lounges await to the right; to the left, there’s indoor access to the grab-and-go market (kids just have to give their room number to charge breakfast), café, wine bar/bottle shop and the spacious bistro-like restaurant, Emporium Kitchen + Wine Market. It’s a place to find snacks or sit at a table for fresh, simply prepared pasta or a decadent grilled cheese. (Yes, there’s more sophisticated fare for grown-ups!)
The lobby elevator leads to an exciting rooftop playground for kids of all ages: an appealing pool, a yard for bocce ball and cornhole and the adjacent pergola-topped Peregrin, with its views of ships in the river and church steeples. On the ground floor in the second building, there’s a fun-filled arcade and game room adjacent to the sleek Wayward Bar, with its whimsical motorcycle suspended from the ceiling.
In both buildings, wide corridors provide wall space for some of the 1,200 pieces of artwork; the gracious light-filled rooms and suites are painted with a variety of blues, decorated with custom curvilinear furnishings, marble tops, built-in cabinetry and objets d’art. Parents appreciate connecting rooms, 24-hour room service, cribs and rollaway beds along with all the high-tech amenities.
The hotel displays 3,600 eclectic objets d’art, supposedly collected by a fictional grande dame, Adelaide Harcourt. Among the artists who produced the artwork, 75 live in Savannah and 81 have ties to Savannah College of Art & Design (figure drawings by SCAD students decorate 60 guestrooms).
Photo: Perry Lane Hotel
Outside the hotel doors, the city is a foodie destination, too. Along with author Pat Conroy, I’m also a longtime fan of the fresh, locally sourced menu at Elizabeth on 37th, and remember well my first family-style Southern meal at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room. On this past visit, my cousins — who live in Savannah — introduced me to famed Southern fare at the lovely The Olde Pink House. (Happily, it has reopened since its devastating fire!)
On my next trip, I’ll try for a reservation at The Grey, the notable eatery within a former bus station.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Jan 13, 2026Family Ski Bargains in New Hampshire
New Hampshire is known for its snow-covered mountains and long history as a family travel ski destination. You don’t need to travel to the White Mountains to find ski resorts: Two full-service ski areas are less than 1.5 hours from Boston, and the smaller McIntyre is less than an hour away.
Sponsored Content
TAP Air Portugal: A Milestone Year
From small airline to global success, TAP Air Portugal turns 80 and better than ever.
Hotels
Jan 13, 2026Kids Can Learn to Surf in the Maldives at This Resort
These days, more and more family travelers look for trips to destinations or hotels offering hands-on, family-friendly experiences. Whether diving into local culture, immersing in local nature, connecting with locals or learning a new skill, these fulfilling experiences make for an elevated vacation.
Destinations / Europe
Jan 12, 2026Step Back in Time in Rothenburg, Germany
There are few places in the modern world where you can get a feel for what life was like hundreds of years ago, but in Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany’s Franconia region, you can do just that.
Sponsored Content
Discover the Azores & Madeira: Portugal’s Island Paradises Await
Embrace the Portugal’s Magical Islands of the Azores and Madeira
Destinations / Europe
Jan 12, 2026Up Norway Brings Arctic Winter Experiences to Families with New Spring Break Journey
In Norway, family travelers can expect an ideal alternative to crowded beaches and standard resort destinations. Now, a travel agency specializing in Norwegian travel launched a family-friendly itinerary to experience the country in winter.


ShareThis