Travel the Portfolio: Second Summer
July 24, 2026
Where summer lingers a little longer
By late August, summer starts slipping away in other places. Calendars fill again. Evenings grow shorter. The first hints of fall begin appearing before anyone is quite ready for them.
Across Savannah, Beaufort, and Columbia, the season follows a slower clock.
The water is still warm. Outdoor tables remain full after sunset. Music drifts through parks and public squares. September arrives with jazz, neighborhood festivals, Lowcountry storytelling, and one very spirited celebration of okra.
These three Newport-managed hotels create an easy route through Georgia and South Carolina, connecting two historic coastal cities with the lakes, culture, and unmistakable energy of the Midlands.
HILTON GARDEN INN SAVANNAH AIRPORT
AN EASY ARRIVAL WITH SAVANNAH WAITING NEARBY
Savannah is especially appealing when summer begins to soften. The live oaks still hold their deep green canopy, but the pace feels gentler. Morning walks through the squares become more inviting. Evenings stretch from dinner into live music without requiring much of a plan.
Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Airport makes the arrival remarkably simple. The hotel is within five miles of Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Tanger Outlets, and the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, with complimentary shuttle service to all three. Downtown Savannah and its riverfront, historic squares, galleries, and restaurants are about 12 miles away.
There is an outdoor pool for afternoons when the only agenda is cooling off, plus breakfast and dinner at the Garden Grille & Bar. The hotel is also pet-friendly, so the entire traveling party can come along.
Music gives late summer in Savannah its rhythm.
Savannah VOICE Festival | August 7–16, 2026
Opera, musical theater, classic vocals, and rising artists fill historic Savannah venues during ten days of performances.
Savannah Jazz Festival | September
The free annual celebration culminates with open-air performances beneath the trees in Forsyth Park.
BEST FOR: Fly-in weekends, Savannah sightseeing, music lovers, pet-friendly travel, pre- or post-flight stays
SPRINGHILL SUITES BEAUFORT
LOWCOUNTRY DAYS MADE FOR LINGERING
Beaufort does not ask travelers to hurry.
The waterfront curves past porch-lined streets and moss-draped trees. Boats move slowly along the river. Downtown is compact enough to explore on foot, but each corner seems to offer another reason to pause, whether it is a gallery, an independent shop, or a bench facing the water.
SpringHill Suites Beaufort sits moments from Historic Downtown Beaufort and gives travelers extra room to make themselves comfortable. The all-suite hotel includes complimentary breakfast, an outdoor lap pool, and a firepit that comes into its own after the day cools. It is well positioned for the Spanish Moss Trail, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, kayaking, and a drive to Hunting Island State Park.
Late summer also reveals Beaufort’s creative side.
First Friday | August 7 and September 4, 2026
Downtown fills with open shops, galleries, restaurants, demonstrations, and live entertainment.
10th Annual Lowcountry Book Club Convention | September 25–26, 2026
Author conversations and readers gather in the hometown of the Pat Conroy Literary Center.
BEST FOR: Lowcountry weekends, literary travelers, historic exploration, outdoor recreation, Parris Island graduation travel
HILTON GARDEN INN COLUMBIA/HARBISON
WHERE LAKE SEASON MEETS FESTIVAL SEASON
In Columbia, September is not quite fall. It is a change in energy.
Days still belong to Lake Murray, where boating, fishing, and waterfront sunsets keep summer going. Weekends begin shifting toward festivals, food, and the first stirrings of a new season. The result is a month that feels full without feeling finished.
Hilton Garden Inn Columbia/Harbison sits near the center of that transition. Lake Murray is about 15 minutes away, Columbiana Centre is nearby, and Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, downtown Columbia, and the University of South Carolina are within easy reach. Back at the hotel, guests have an indoor pool, an outdoor patio, and the Garden Grille & Bar for cooked-to-order breakfast and dinner. Pet-friendly rooms make it an easy choice for road trips with four-legged companions.
Two September celebrations show very different sides of the region.
Jubilee: Festival of Black History and Culture | September 19, 2026
Music, art, dance, storytelling, food, and free tours fill the historic Mann-Simons Site.
Irmo Okra Strut | September 25–26, 2026
The longtime community festival includes live entertainment, food, a parade, family activities, and a new 5K.
BEST FOR: Lake Murray weekends, cultural festivals, family road trips, pet-friendly stays, Columbia and Irmo events
ONE MORE SEASON
Summer does not disappear on Labor Day. It simply changes character.
The brightest heat gives way to better walking weather. Waterfront afternoons turn into music-filled evenings. Places that were busy in June begin feeling more local, more relaxed, and easier to discover.
We invite you to stay with us and find the part of summer that is still waiting.
Browse the full Newport Hospitality Group portfolio at nhghotels.com
