Lake Mayer Park

Lake Mayer Park is the full experience — Chatham County's most complete community park, built around a 75-acre freshwater lake that anchors one of the better free family destinations in the Savannah metro. Whether you want a morning walk, a fishing session, a playground visit, or a skate session, Lake Mayer has it.

The lake and its perimeter trail are the centerpiece. About 1. 5 miles of paved, flat trail circumnavigate the lake — stroller-friendly throughout, perfect for a family morning walk with the pace determined by whoever's slowest (usually the best kind of walk).

The lake itself is alive: turtles sun on logs, herons and egrets wade in the shallows, and the occasional osprey hunts over the water. Wildlife viewing is reliable without requiring any special knowledge or preparation.

Fishing in the lake is genuinely productive — bass, bream, and catfish are present, and kids who get their first fishing experience here often catch something, which is the difference between loving fishing and thinking it's boring. Adults 16 and older need a Georgia fishing license (available online through georgiawildlife.com before you go).

The skate park adjacent to the lake is one of the better Savannah-area skate facilities — worth knowing if you have a teen or tween who skates. The playground serves the younger set. Tennis and basketball courts round out the athletic options. Paddle boats (seasonal) put the whole family on the water in a low-stakes, everyone-can-do-it format.

Practical reality: park access is free. Bring food and water — concessions are limited. Summer heat is real in Savannah; morning visits (8-11am) and evening visits (after 6pm) are dramatically more comfortable than midday. Bug spray is warranted given the lake and marsh environment.