A majority of travelers heading to Savannah have heard of Forsyth Park. But, chances are, the only thing they know about the park is its beautiful fountain.
Oh, don’t get us wrong, the fountain is impressive. And, nearly everybody there is juggling to get a picture of it or in front of it.
The Forsyth Fountain
Okay, admittedly, the fountain is stunning. We lined up to get our photos in front of it too.
The fountain was installed in the north end of Forsyth Park in 1858. It was modeled after the fountains at the Palace de la Concorde in Paris. But, it was purchased from a catalog – it must have been pretty popular because there are similar fountains in NY and Peru.
But there is so much more to Forsyth Park than the fountain.
The Monuments of Forsyth Park
The largest and oldest monument in the park is the Confederate Monument. This monument can be found in the middle of the park’s large field. The Savannah’s Ladies Memorial Association is responsible for the memorial, constructed in 1875, that honors the Confederate dead.
There are two additional monuments in the park, added in the 20th century. These are located near the northern and southern entrances of the park. The Marine Monument at the north end is dedicated to Chatham County Marines killed in action. The Hiker, at the south end, honors the soldiers of the Spanish-American War.
We mean no disrespect to the brave Chatham County Marines killed in action. Due to some construction behind the monument and vehicles in the street, we were unable to get a clear photo
But Wait, There’s More!
The park also has two children’s playgrounds, and a concert and event space on the east side of the park – which we heard becomes a splash pad during the summer. There is a fragrant garden for the blind on the west side, and along the edges, there are tennis and basketball courts.
Collins Quarter at Forsyth Park
We had set aside a whole morning to explore the park and started with breakfast at Collins Quarter at Forsyth Park. They are located on the east side of the park and back up to the concert and event space.
They had plentiful outdoor seating, so we never made it inside. We knew that we’d be grazing our way through the city, so we had a reasonably light breakfast. And while our breakfast selections weren’t very Southern, they were pretty amazing!
I had my fill of coffee at our Airbnb. So, I went for a fresh and refreshing Apple, Pineapple, and Blood Orange Cold Pressed Juice – it was as amazing as it looks!
Chuck is a tea guy and ordered Black Tea. It came in a French press and had an adorable timer for Light, Medium, and Strong Tea – we want one!
I opted for the CQ Avocado Toast. Toasted Sourdough with an Avocado Lime Smash, Heirloom Tomatoes, Radishes, and Feta Cheese. I also added on the side of Hash Browns. The Toast was perfectly seasoned, had a nice crunch from the Radishes and Tomatoes and just a hint of Salt from the Feta. A great choice.
I’m a Pizza junkie, but it’s Falafel for Chuck, and he was super excited to see it on a breakfast menu. The Falafel was perfectly fried, nice and moist in the center, and well-seasoned. It was the perfect breakfast choice for him.
From there, we wandered through the park, enjoying their Saturday Farmer’s Market.
Saturday Farmers’ Market
The Forsyth Farmers’ Market wasn’t something on our radar. We didn’t plan on cooking in our Airbnb and had already picked up a few things at Kroger.
But it was fun to stroll, and we ended up picking up a few things. There were great-looking baked goods, local produce, fresh meat, pasta, and even locally made Kimchi.
The Falafel might have inspired us. We stopped to check out the Isreally Hummus stand – their tag line is Isreally Good! We tried several varieties and liked the flavor and texture a lot. But, we ended up buying their Hot Date – unique! It’s less of a Hummus and more Date Spread. It’s sweet from the Dates and hot from Cayenne Pepper but has a hint of Honey, Cinnamon, and Vanilla.
The market was filled with artisans selling artwork and jewelry, a trumpeter, and this guy playing guitar and harmonica.
If you are in Savannah on a Saturday morning, be sure to check this place out.
Have A Picnic in Forsyth Park
Forsyth Park is huge. It’s nearly 30 acres. There are lots of benches and green spaces. One of the things we loved was these adorable picnic spaces set up as displays by Savannah Picnic.
They were themed for a birthday party, and another seemed to be for a proposal. The props were super cute, and from what we saw on their website, the packages range from intimate to slightly larger, with about eight or ten guests.
It also looks like you can customize them, adding in activities and food, depending on what you are looking for.
If we had a few more days in Savannah, this would have been something we’d have done. It would be nice to chill in the park and watch the world go by.
Regardless of how much time you have in Savannah, be sure to take some time to enjoy Forsyth Park.
Forsyth Park has so much history and it’s really such a staple of Savannah Georgia. You included some great facts about this beautiful area
It’s really a beautiful park with plenty of places to relax and enjoy being outside.
I am sure I would head to Forsyth Park in Savannah for the fountains. I love the tranquil feeling of the flowing water and the fun sculptures. But it was great to read that there is more to discover on a wander in the park. Fun if we are there for a Saturday and can enjoy the Farmer’s Market. A great way to pick up a picnic!
The fountain is truly unique. But it’s a beautiful place to relax, and people watch too.
Forsyth Park seems to be a perfect place for a break, walk, and picnic for sure. So many attractions! As I love photography, I would like to take pictures of that beautiful fountain. I like the idea of Saturday Farmers’ Market as I love fresh local products and handmade.
We had a great day and wish we had taken time for a picnic!
This park looks gorgeous and I’d love to take photos at that fountain.. but somehow the food and snack stalls are selling me on this place! The avo toast and falafel look soo good! Great for a day outside
It was a beautiful morning to walk through the park and enjoy the local vendors.
Without even reading which city this post was about, I actually recognized the fountain! Savannah must have impressed me a lot…on my visit decades ago. It’s really pretty. But what I remember the most are my meals at Mrs Wilke’s. We had Southern cuisine family style – too good to describe.
The South is certainly charming – however, it was difficult to overlook the difficult heritage…
We felt the same way – we passed through a decade ago and remembered Mrs. Wilkes and the fountain. Unfortunately Mrs. Wilkes is doing packaged containers and solo dining rather than the big tables because of COVID so we skipped it. Be sure to check back on future blogs as we address supporting BIPOC businesses and the issue of slavery in particular.