Savannah, Georgia had been on my travel bucket list for a while, and since moving to Atlanta at the end of July, it was easier than ever to get there. I picked Labor Day Weekend as it was the first long weekend I had available. I was fully aware that going on a holiday weekend at the tail end of summer might present some challenges, but I came away from my first Savannah trip with a lot of helpful knowledge. 

How to Get to Savannah from Atlanta
Savannah’s only about a 4-hour drive from Atlanta, so it’s easy to get there by car. However, another way to get there is via bus. You can purchase a Flixbus or Greyhound roundtrip ticket. You’ll start at the Atlanta Bus Station, which is right near a MARTA station, and you’ll arrive at Savannah Bus Station.

There are different bus schedules (at different price points), so you can base your trip around what’s most convenient for your schedule and budget. Some routes are quicker than others, which is something to keep in mind. If you want to get there as quickly as possible, avoid booking a bus that has multiple stops along the way. For example, going to Savannah, my trip was only 4 hours nonstop, but coming back, we stopped like 3 times and it took over 5 hours.

How Far is Savannah from Atlanta?
Savannah is about a 4-hour drive from Atlanta. If you take a direct bus route, it should also be around 4 hours. However, bus routes with multiple stops can take upwards of 5 hours to get there.

Savannah Bus Station: What You Need to Know

• Walking distance to Historic District: From my hotel on Bay Street, it was only about a 15-minute walk to and from the Savannah Bus Station.
• Can feel unsafe: While waiting for my bus back to Atlanta, there was a woman harassing people in the bathroom. I do not recommend being at the station late at night. 

Savannah Hotels 
My recommendation for where to stay on a budget is the Quality Inn in Savannah’s Historic District. This hotel is right in the heart of Savannah’s top sightseeing area. While it’s not as cheap as hotels further out, you won’t have to worry about driving into the historic district since you’re right there.

Learn all about the Quality Inn Savannah Historic District in my full-length hotel review

Savannah Hotels in the Historic District
Pros: 

• Walking Distance to River Street, Forsythe Park, ghost tours, Historic District homes, and shopping on Broughton Street

Cons:

• More noisy (especially if you’re on Bay Street)
• More expensive
• Will likely have to pay extra for parking

Savannah Hotels in Midtown
Pros: 

• Cheaper
• Usually include free parking

Cons:

• Will have to drive into the Historic District (and deal with parking and traffic)

 
Savannah Weather
Savannah's weather will depend on when you go.  During my Labor Day Weekend trip, there was rain and cloudy skies the first day, and then it was hot and sunny the next few days. Summer can be extremely hot, humid, and unpredictable with rain. You'll find cooler, more mild weather in winter and early spring.

What To Do in Savannah

• Ghost tours
• Shopping on Broughton Street
• Day trip to Tybee Island
• Explore the Historic District 
• Visit Forsythe Park

FAQs About Savannah, GA

1. What is the best month to go to Savannah?
The best month to go to Savannah will depend on what you’re looking for. If you want warmer weather, consider going from March to June or July. For cooler temps and smaller crowds, January and February are considered slower months. Personally, I think a really great month to go is October since Savannah is known for its spooky history, complete with lots of available ghost tours!

2. Does Savannah, Georgia have a beach?
Yes, you can access the beach at Tybee Island from Savannah. Tybee Island is roughly a 20-minute drive from the city.

3. What is Savannah GA best known for?
There’s a lot Savannah, GA is known for! Spooky history, historic homes and buildings, and coastal southern charm are a few examples. From what I saw during my time there, Savannah is a prime spot for friend trips, with lots of girl groups there for bachelorette parties.

4. What county is Savannah, GA?
Savannah is located in Chatham County, Georgia.
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5. Is Savannah a city in the USA?
Yes, Savannah is actually one of the oldest cities in the United States, as it was founded in 1733.

​Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.
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Yosemite is one of the United States’ most famous national parks. Heck, they even named an iconic cartoon character after it (Yosemite Sam). This stunning national park is on the travel bucket list for Americans and international travelers alike. I recently visited Yosemite National Park, and in this guide, I’ll walk you through what you need to know for a successful first-time visit there.

Where Is Yosemite National Park?
Yosemite National Park is located in Central California, toward the eastern side of the state. If you’re heading there from Los Angeles, it’s about a 4-hour drive (without traffic). You may encounter some traffic delays departing from LA, but it shouldn’t be as bad the further north you get. It will also depend on the day and time you leave. We left for Yosemite on a weekday around 9:30-10 am, so we missed the morning rush hour traffic, and we returned to LA on Saturday in the late morning/early afternoon.

Where To Stay in Yosemite
One thing to keep in mind is that Yosemite is HUGE, and where you’re traveling from will determine the Yosemite entrance you’re closest to, as well as where you should stay.

For those coming to Yosemite from Southern California, your nearest Yosemite entrance is the south one. The closest town to that entrance is Fish Camp, but I recommend staying in Oakhurst, which is just a bit farther but still just a 30-minute drive to the park entrance. Oakhurst offers more hotels, restaurants, and local shops. It’s also right off the highway, so it’s convenient for heading back home.

As far as hotels near Yosemite National Park, we stayed at the Oakhurst Inn at Yosemite. This motel-style lodging offers free breakfast, and since the hotel property is off Road 41, it’s a straight shot on Road 41 to the park, making things super easy to navigate. The Oakhurst Inn is also pet-friendly, has free guest parking, and has a pool. 

Learn more about the Oakhurst Inn in my full-length Oakhurst Inn Review.

For those on the more adventurous side, you also have the option to camp inside Yosemite Park. You can learn more about Yosemite campground reservations here.

Yosemite Weather
Yosemite may be in California, but it’s also up in the mountains, which means you can encounter snow in winter. I do not recommend going in winter since more areas are closed during this time. 

Instead, I recommend going from late spring to early fall when the temperatures warm up and the park is fully open. We visited in late May, and the weather was perfect. It was sunny and around 70 degrees, so not too hot or too cold. 

Yosemite National Park Tickets
If you plan to drive through with your own car, tickets are $35 per vehicle. On the park’s website, it says the $35 ticket is good for three consecutive days, but the park ranger said we could use ours for a week. This may have been because we were there before Memorial Day Weekend and the start of the summer season, but I’m not sure. 

Annual park passes are $70. You can visit their official website for a full breakdown of Yosemite’s ticket prices. 

Yosemite Reservations
For those who plan to visit Yosemite Memorial Day Weekend or during summer, you will need a reservation. Please do not forget to do this since this is Yosemite’s busiest season. They can book up quickly, so the sooner you reserve, the better. Yosemite reservations are $2.

What To See at Yosemite National Park
Like I said earlier, Yosemite is huge, so there’s only so much you can see in a limited amount of time. If you’re staying for 1-2 days, here are my recommendations based on what we saw:

• Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias - Parking is right by the south entrance. A free shuttle will take you to the trailhead where the sequoias are, and the shuttles run about every 10 minutes until about 7:30-8 pm. If you’re interested in wildlife, I did see some squirrels and deer here.
• Glacier Point - A scenic view where you can park your car to get photos and look out.
• Tunnel View - Like Glacier Point, it’s a scenic stop that’s very pretty. 
• Lower Yosemite Falls Trail - This pet-friendly trail is located in the Yosemite Valley. You can find the trailhead from the Yosemite Valley Lodge.
• Cooks Meadow - Also in the Yosemite Valley and near the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail.

Additional Yosemite National Park Travel Tips

• Go in Late May/Early September - For those with flexible schedules, I highly recommend going just before Memorial Day or just after Labor Day. This way, you won’t need a reservation, will still get good weather, the park is still fully open for the season, and you’ll beat the very busy summer crowds. 
• Plan to Drive (ALOT) - Coming from our hotel in Oakhurst, it was a 30-minute drive to the park entrance. While the shuttle to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is right by the south entrance, I was taken aback at just how much driving we did on our second day to see Glacier Point and Yosemite Valley. It’s at least another hour's drive into the park, but the upside is that the views along the way are great!
• Be wary of speed-demon drivers - Yosemite has speed limit signs and the mountain roads are windy, but that still doesn’t stop some folks from driving like maniacs there. During our stay, we saw one car get pulled over by a park ranger, and then we got stuck in a traffic jam because they had to tow a car that had driven off the cliff a few days earlier. Seriously, be safe and don’t let other drivers intimidate you into driving recklessly. 
• The roads are windy - Like I said, the roads are windy. Even Road 41 to the park entrance is windy. If you’re not a good night driver, make sure you’re heading back to your hotel by dusk at the latest, and don’t speed!
• More bathrooms than expected - While I can’t speak to the off-the-beaten-path trails, there were plenty of bathrooms available where we visited. Some were working bathrooms while others were glorified outhouses, but I will say the outhouse I used was well-maintained, and the scented devices they put in there were very appreciated!
• Bring lots of water - I immediately noticed how much drier the air is there, so pack and drink lots of water to avoid getting dehydrated. I’d also suggest a strong moisturizer, since it can dry out your skin too.
• Plan accordingly if you’re bringing your dog - While Yosemite is a great place to bring your pet, you are limited to what you can see or do there. Pets are generally only allowed on paved road areas, such as scenic views and paved trails. My husband stayed with our dog when I went to see the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, but everything else on my recommended list above was pet-friendly.

Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.

People who’ve never visited Los Angeles, California probably have assumptions about the city and what to expect. One of the most accurate LA stereotypes, though, is that we love to hike. And LA – or California for that matter – has no shortage of stunning hikes with ocean views to explore. 

Malibu, which has both the Santa Monica Mountains and a beautiful coastline (seriously, the water is bluer there!), has multiple hiking trails available. However, not all of them have ocean views or enough available parking. If you’re looking for one of the best beach hikes in Los Angeles my recommendation is to check out the Zuma Ridge Trail. Even on a weekend we were able to find parking. Plus, there was only a handful of other hikers on the trail, which is great for those looking to avoid the crowds. 
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In total, the trail is about 5.6 miles, so it’s definitely a longer hike, but the views are totally worth it. Zumba Ridge Trail is also a dog-friendly hike so definitely feel free to bring your fur baby along with you. Those of us who love to say hello to dogs will also be grateful your pup joined you too.