Forsyth Park

Forsyth Park is the green centrepiece of Savannah's historic district, a 30-acre expanse of live oaks, walking paths and open lawns laid out in the 1840s. Draped in Spanish moss and crossed by broad promenades, it embodies the leafy, romantic character for which the city is celebrated and anchors the southern end of Savannah's famous grid of shaded squares.

Its ornate fountain is the icon. Installed in 1858 and modelled on fountains in Paris, the tiered white cast-iron centrepiece with its tritons and spraying jets is among the most photographed sights in the American South. Around it stretch a fragrant garden for the visually impaired, a Confederate memorial, a former dummy fort, tennis and basketball courts, and cafés set in restored park buildings, blending grand monument with everyday recreation.

The park is woven into daily city life. A busy weekly farmers market, festivals, weddings, concerts and joggers fill it through the seasons, while the surrounding streets are lined with grand antebellum and Victorian mansions turned inns and museums. Its position makes it the natural terminus of a walk south through Savannah's shaded squares, each with its own monument and cathedral-like canopy of ancient oaks.

Practical notes: the park is free and open at all hours, best enjoyed on foot as part of a wider stroll through the historic district. Early morning light filtering through the moss-hung oaks is especially memorable for photographs before the crowds arrive. Spring brings blooming azaleas and comfortable temperatures, while summer is hot and humid. The broad paths are mostly level, making the park easy to explore, and it links directly into the very walkable heart of the old town. A converted 19th-century dummy fort at its centre now houses a café and public restrooms.