Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm

The Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm is one of Savannah's most distinctive and most underutilized family destinations — a free, professionally managed botanical garden built around a historic bamboo collection that dates back over a century.

The bamboo grove is the star of the show. Towering groves of bamboo — some species reaching 40+ feet — create cathedral-like spaces with filtered light and the satisfying sound of stalks clicking in coastal breezes. Walking through this bamboo forest feels genuinely otherworldly, unlike anything you'll encounter in a typical public garden.

Kids who can be indifferent to flower gardens find the bamboo immediately interesting and worth exploring.

Beyond the bamboo, the gardens feature demonstration plots managed by the University of Georgia Extension — vegetable gardens, native plant exhibits, a butterfly habitat, and seasonal flower collections that vary beautifully by time of year. Spring (March through May) is the most photogenic, but the gardens have interest year-round given the mild coastal Georgia climate.

Free admission is the headline practical point: this is one of Savannah's best no-cost outdoor experiences. A family of 4 can spend 1.5-2.5 hours here for zero dollars, which is increasingly rare for a quality managed attraction.

The location is about 20 minutes west of downtown Savannah — plan accordingly and bring water and snacks since there's no on-site food service. Closed Mondays. The rest of the week (Tuesday-Sunday), this is a genuinely lovely choice for a morning outing that combines fresh air, natural beauty, and something genuinely unusual in the bamboo grove.