Most people who drive out to Wormsloe walk the oak allée, take a photo at the stone arch, and leave. That 1.5-mile corridor of 400 live oaks draped in Spanish moss is one of the most photographed spots in Georgia — and it ends at a small museum and some tabby ruins, which is where most visitors turn around. What they miss is another 1.7 miles of trail that continues past 20-foot-high Confederate earthworks built in 1861, arcs through coastal forest, and deposits you at the edge of Jones' Narrows marsh before looping back to the parking area. The full Battery Trail loop covers 3.2 miles, gains almost no elevation, and is almost always empty.
That gap — between what Isle of Hope offers and what most people claim — holds for the whole neighborhood. The residents who get the most out of this place aren't the ones who've walked Bluff Drive once. They're the ones who know which part of Wormsloe to skip, which Sandfly restaurant to hit for Sunday brunch, and how to get on the water without owning a boat.
The Trail That Starts Where Everyone Else Stops
Wormsloe State Historic Site sits at 7601 Skidaway Rd, just off the main road into Isle of Hope. The entrance fee is per person, and the tram that runs every 30 minutes from the visitor center to the plantation is convenient — but walk it instead. The live oak avenue is the point.
Once you reach the tabby ruins of Noble Jones' fortified house, built in 1745 and considered the oldest standing structure in the Savannah area, most visitors check their phones and head back. The Battery Trail begins past the ruins and leads northwest to Fort Wymberly at the 1.8-mile mark: earthen mounds, still 20 feet high in places, constructed as a Confederate defense against a Union advance on Savannah in 1861. The trail completes a loop back through maritime forest at 3.2 miles total, with the whole thing rating as easy on AllTrails as of 2025. Dogs on leashes are welcome throughout.
The site also runs a calendar of living history events: the Colonial Faire and Muster in February, the War of Jenkins' Ear on Memorial Day, Georgia's First Fourth in August, and Colonial Christmas in December. Leashed dogs are allowed on trails but not in buildings.
On the Water Without Owning a Boat
Isle of Hope's southwest shore is bounded by Moon River — the actual tidal creek that inspired Johnny Mercer's song — and its eastern shore runs along the Skidaway River, which is part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Isle of Hope Marina, operated by TPG Marinas at 50 W Bluff Dr, sits on that eastern edge and has 4,000 feet of concrete docks with 600 feet of deep-water face docks capable of handling mega-yachts.
For residents who don't own a vessel, the Carefree Boat Club at the marina provides access to a fleet of maintained boats by membership, no ownership required. The marina also rents bicycles and cars for those who want to extend a visit without a second vehicle.
The marina's Marker 46A pavilion — a 2,200-square-foot event space built over the water — hosts private events year-round and is one of the more sought-after venue rentals in this part of Savannah. If you've been curious about it and haven't walked the dock to see it up close, that's worth doing on a calm afternoon.
The Festival That Takes Over Bluff Drive Every Fall
The Isle of Hope Art & Music Festival started small and has grown to 90 artists and makers spread from the marina pavilion down Rose Avenue, along Bluff Drive, and into Paxton Park. Art vendors run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; live music from local performers continues until 8 p.m. Admission is free, and the event runs rain or shine. Proceeds go to the Isle of Hope Historical Association, which funds preservation work focused specifically on the historic character of the Bluff. The festival is the one day each fall when the quietest stretch of the neighborhood becomes a street fair — and the contrast is worth showing out-of-town guests.
The Sandfly Mile
The Sandfly neighborhood sits about one mile north of the marina and functions as Isle of Hope's de facto dining and errand district. The concentration of good options in a small radius is the relevant fact here.
Driftaway Cafe at 7400 Skidaway Rd has been operating since 2001 under owners Robyn and Michele Quattlebaum. The menu runs from spicy tuna tacos and Gullah oyster sandwiches to pistachio-crusted salmon and slow-roasted prime rib. Sunday brunch gets strong local reviews, live music runs on weekends, and the restaurant offers a free ride back to the marina for boaters — a detail that doesn't appear on any menu but is worth knowing.
Sandfly BBQ is the other anchor: pulled pork, ribs, and Brunswick stew in an eat-in or take-home format. The Five Spot Restaurant at 1.4 miles from the marina serves seafood, grilled chops, and steaks with water views. Cohen's Retreat, about 1.5 miles out, combines a coffee shop, bar, and restaurant in a restored building with a focus on low country American cuisine. Auspicious Baking Company, also in Sandfly, does fresh bread, pastries, and an espresso program.
For something farther out but worth the drive, Wyld Dock Bar at 2740 Livingston Ave is a waterside spot with New American fare, a seafood focus, bocce, and a fire pit.
Bluff Drive on a Weekday Morning
The drive along Bluff Drive itself rewards the repetition that a single visit can't provide. The homes range from Greek Revival and Victorian to Craftsman bungalows, many dating to the mid-1800s when Savannah's wealthy residents used the island as a summer retreat from the city's heat. The neighborhood was a filming location for both Forrest Gump and Cape Fear, and the marshy marina backdrop used in those productions hasn't changed much.
The neighborhood is bike and golf cart-friendly by design. Many residents run errands and social calls by golf cart rather than car. There's no public transit, but Skidaway Road connects directly to Harry S. Truman Parkway, putting Historic Savannah about 20 minutes away. On a weekday morning before the weekend visitors arrive, Bluff Drive between the marina and Wormsloe's entrance is one of the quieter stretches of road in coastal Georgia.
What the Second Look Finds
The gap between Isle of Hope's reputation and its actual depth isn't a flaw — it's what keeps it from feeling overrun. The Battery Trail is empty because most people turn around at the ruins. The festival draws locals because tourists haven't found it. Driftaway's Sunday brunch is reliable because its regulars have been coming back for two decades.
If you've been on the island long enough to feel like you've seen it, the 3.2-mile loop at Wormsloe is the most efficient argument that you haven't.
Thinking about selling your Isle of Hope home, or curious what the waterfront market looks like right now? Nicholas Oliver specializes in coastal and historic properties across Savannah's island neighborhoods. Get a home valuation and see what the market is doing on the Bluff.
