Savannah, Georgia, is the birthplace of Girl Scouts in the United States. GSUSA Founder, Juliette Gordon Low, was born and raised in Savannah, and in 1912, she started the first ever Girl Scout troop. The city is swathed in green, and is a magical place for Girl Scouts of any age! This southern city is waiting for you to explore it!

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) surveyed leaders who recently led their troops to Savannah for their advice, trip tips and more. We are here to share them with you all with the hopes you will use them to plan your own Savannah adventure. We hope this resource helps you plan your trip to Savannah! Stay tuned for more information as we continue this blog series!

What You Need To Know

1. Accommodations
2. Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
3. Girl Scout perks and fun Girl Scout activities
4. Non-Girl Scout sightseeing
5. Travel to/from Savannah
6. Travel around Savannah

Accommodations

Leaders have suggested the following possible accommodations for your troop:

• Fairfield Inn & Suites through PBnJ Tours, located in the heart of the Historic district
• Hampton Inn & Suites, also located in the Historic district
• Camp Low, right outside of Savannah
• House rental with services like Airbnb or VRBO (be sure to follow the Safety Activity Checkpoints if you go this route).

Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace

The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace is the home where JGL was born and raised. She held many Girl Scout meetings here, too! This home offers guided tours, pinning ceremonies, and has a Girl Scout shop. Here are some tips to make your visit a great one:

1. Make sure to book your visit early, as it is a popular attraction.
2. Plan your pinning ceremony prior to attending.
3. Read up on JGL before visiting.
4. Don’t forget to wear your Girl Scout gear!
5. Bring spending money for the gift shop.
6. Remember, even if you use a tour group, you have to book this visit yourself.
7. They also offer classes and workshops, so book those early!
8. There is a Girl Scout discount; email in advance to receive this.

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions section on the Birthplace website for more information.

Girl Scout Perks and Activities

Being a Girl Scout is awesome. Being a Girl Scout while visiting Savannah is even more awesome! There are many interesting things to do:

• Visit the gravestone of Juliette Gordon Low.
• Some tour companies give discounts to Girl Scouts–– make sure to double check if they do!
• If you book through PBnJ, they will set up a Girl Scouts tour for you.
• Visit the First Headquarters, which is also a council shop for the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia.
• Check out the Girl Scout militia program, a student Civil War training at Old Fort Jackson.

Non-Girl Scout Sightseeing

Apart from the Girl Scout-related landmarks, there is plenty of going on in the beautiful city of Savannah:

• A ghost tour of Savannah is sure to be exciting!
• Visit Tybee Island, a beach with many things to do, like swimming, climbing the historic lighthouse, visiting the Marine Science Center, and going on a Dolphin Boat Tour.
• There are also trolley tours to see the city!
• Take a visit to Fort Pulaski, a National Monument to the Civil War.
• Check out the Savannah Bee Company to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Traveling to and from Savannah

There are multiple options for traveling to Savannah.

• Some leaders suggested driving a van or an SUV–- by having your own vehicle, you have easy access around Savannah. One leader rented a 12-passenger van!
• There are very few direct flights to Savannah from Chicago, but while flying saves you time, it is more expensive. Be prepared to have a layover if you choose to fly.

Traveling around Savannah

If you choose not to have your own car, you can

• Take the public buses around the city
• Take the hop-on hop-off trolley tour
• Walk!

Note that parking can be tricky around Savannah, and is rarely free.

Southern Hospitality from GCNWI

Please note that as a council, we aren’t endorsing these places, but passing along advice from others. All places should be further researched to see if they fit your needs and wants!

We would like to thank these leaders for their wonderful advice! Stay tuned for another blog post featuring the rest of their advice on where to eat, Savannah favorites, money earning, and more!

Check out our travel page for more opportunities!