This past weekend, Easter Weekend, the children headed off with their grandparents to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Each year they take my daughter to the beach for a spring trip and this year, being that Little Man is potty trained, they also took him!
The kids had a wonderful time in MB - even if the weather was crap - they enjoyed playing in the pool and on the beach!
A few months back my husband booked a trip to Savannah for he and I. Since the kids were gone we took off too. Savannah is about 425 miles southeast of where we live in NC so we hopped in the car on Good Friday and drove very slowly through everyone-gets-a-ticket-North-Carolina.
Can I share with you that it is just plain fabulous to drive through Charlotte on Good Friday? Ahhhh, no crazy traffic jams!
Moving right a long....
While in the other Carolina we enjoyed 95 being at a freakin' standstill and having to take an alternate navigation (thanks, Siri.) That was a real highlight. It was even better that the local radio station out of Walterboro was one old man who did the DJ-ing, commercials, and invited us all to go to the Cooter Race. If you are from the South then you know that word has double meanings and since we had no children and were perpetually fourteen years old we giggled like fourteen year olds.
If you're lost then um...google it?
He also informed us we could get a box of rabbit parts or bunny meat for $38.
That was my cue to lay down a little bit harder on the gas and get to a state line ASAP! (Save the bunnies 2016!)
We arrived in Georgia around 2:00 that afternoon and checked into our inn.
First Bit of Advice -
From a Southerner to you - if you are going to a historical, southern city then you should try to stay in an inn or bed and breakfast to get the real feel of the place. Sure you can book a Hyatt or Hilton but the uncool part about that is this - they are everywhere and they are cookie cutter for the most part.
We stayed in room 101 of 1700 & 90 Inn.
Here's why you should book your Savannah stay there:
1. Charm - This inn is filled with Old South & English charm. You will love the brick fireplace complete with mantle and hearths in the guestrooms. The restaurant within the inn is probably the most fabulous culinary delight you have experienced in your life. The staff is beyond generous. Scott, one of the bar tenders, is a fabulous pharmacist of adult beverage concoctions. He does have a slightly heavy hand so watch out! The cook staff really know what they are doing and each dish is a piece of art you get to devour. You will not believe how amazing the food that comes out of that kitchen is. Our favorite waiter was Fuzzy. And Chris keeps the front managed so well and is extremely helpful to get you on your way to see the city or help you with any other thing you may need while on your stay.
2. Architecture - The Inn is old and the architecture inside is fabulous. The halls are rolling (so watch your step), the restaurant is original brick inside and out. Then there are the time period furnishings - you will just really enjoy being in a place that isn't smothered and covered in typical hotel furnishings.
3. Local flair - Not only does the inn cater to tourists but many locals are on the patio with an Old Fashioned in hand ready to tell you all about Savannah, Atlanta, or whatever topic is on the table. You aren't one in a million tourists here but a true guest. We quickly made friends with staff and locals and got the inside scoop on Georgia's Port City.
4. Haunted - Here's the deal - Savannah's MO is that it is the most haunted city in the United States. Did I see or hear a ghost? I did see a ghost and she lives on the second floor of rooms in the Inn. That is the only ghost I have ever seen. I can tell you any city that is pro-public drunkeness will allow you to see whatever you wish sweetheart.
The Inn offers the following -
WIFI
Free parking (and in a street covered with meters that means something!)
TV in room with cable (not common for a Bed & Breakfast feel)
Free breakfast
A full restaurant and bar
Also, since Savannah is a series of "squares" you will find that once you park that car you won't need it until time to leave!
Advice piece number two -
If you have an aversion to walking then buy a ticket for a trolley tour. Those things never stop! I cannot tell you how many times a trolley was buzzing by loaded to the gills with tourists. We did not opt for a trolley tour this go around but we did agree that it would be have been nice to have participated in one.
We really enjoyed walking about the city and taking it in our own. Siri can help you figure out the historical names and places but it would be well worth your money to have an actual human giving you the stories and making sure you see sixty important pieces of the city in a certain time frame.
If you are not interested in a trolley ride you can do a river excursion of the city, horse drawn carriage tour of the city, or a bike tour.
My advice? Take a tour. There is so much that you will be oblivious to if you do not.
Tip number 3 -
Eat.
Southern cuisine at the extreme is how I would label the food in Savannah. It is probably way more novelty to some of you rather than myself (ahem, kinda born and bred below the Mason Dixon line - and had my fair share of fat back, lard, deep fried, fried, and scorched.) With the food revolution that has been happening here in the South for a decade or so I was not too totally shocked by the flaire of the foods offered. I am a bit bummed I didn't get to try a peanut butter and jelly chicken wing at Treylor Park.
Not only are there a gazillion restaurants there is gazillions of booze to be consumed - as you tour the town.
Yes, Savannah wants you to drink like a fish. The law says if you're old enough then drink it anywhere. There is something so delightful when your bartender asks you if you want your Long Island Iced Tea to go.
So you will need to eat lots of good Savannah food while you are walking about with your styrofoam or plastic up. (Do not try to take your bottle or can on the street - a large fine will result from that!)
We enjoyed eating at our Inn (1700 & 90) and Barracuda Bob's. We visited Paula Deen's place but just to be honest I only want fried chicken once a year and just seeing it steaming on the buffet made me want to blow chunks.
Eww, bad choice of words.
I really hate that I didn't get to The Pink House. I guess that will just have to happen next time!
Don't forget to do this....
Save your money for your trip.
If you drink the alcohol is about $2-$6 higher than where you call home - unless you call NYC home. The dinner plates are also priced a little higher than the average city.
But when you can drink anywhere then why not jack the food and drink prices up?
Also, if you want to shop then you'll need some lettuce in the pocket.
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| Shoulda got it, right? |
There are the typical junk hole shops (a la River Street) that sell the tchotchkies that end up at Goodwill in a couple months. However, there are also some really nice places that sale great stuff and grander than grand prices.
If you are an antique fiend then Savannah is your best friend. Jere's over on River gets in containers from England monthly of European antiques. Oh and yes they have 33K square feet to store them in. My husband and I had a field day of sorts walking through the warehouse. I also learned I'm not a big fan of European antique style but my husband likes it - big and gaudy.
Art is big thanks to SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) and boy can you find some amazing pieces by students and professional artists. Take advantage of visiting the multiple SCAD owned properties around Savannah - they have talented students and their work is on display and for sale.
If you're like me...
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| Savannah River |
My element is water. The Savannah River is nice and the Wilmington River is gorgeous too. However, if I am near the ocean I prefer to be right beside it physically and not by twenty minutes!
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| Wilmington River |
We took the road to Tybee on Saturday afternoon for lunch and to get some beach time. Tybee is highly residential/rental home and it just did not really jump out at me as a place I would fall in love with.
I also think that Mary Kay Andrews may have put this romantic idea of Tybee in my brain. But that's her job, right?
While there we ate at Fannie's On The Beach. Due to everyone is East Georgia also wanting to eat there that day we sat cafeteria style with a mom and her twenty something son. They moved from Atlanta to Savannah. I feel like that lady's shear purpose at lunch was to scare us. We had a twenty minute chat about Savannah and how we really needed to watch ourselves because it was a terribly dangerous city.
I feel like you need to know the truth about Savannah if you're thinking about going -
Anywhere you can get three sheets while you walk around *legally*; you are naturally upping the chances of being jumped or mugged because tanked = target.
Be smart and you will be safe.
Other things about Tybee -
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| There's Mitch's stand! Everything was cordoned off and I also got a shot of the beach patrol vehicles but I cannot locate it in my downloads. I know, you don't care, really neither do I but it is cool! |
Baywatch is being turned into a movie. Don't let them fool you into thinking The Rock is running the beaches of Florida (Florida tags on the vehicles they are using but the site for the movie says it is still in California) he is actually running the beaches of Tybee Island, GA with Zac Efron.
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| The hubs going to for an adventure across the beach. This was one of the prettiest beach views I have ever seen. |
The tide was out while we were there making for a beautiful beach to walk across. There were a lot of suicidal jelly fish washed up on the beaches and a really fun crab.
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| I <3 crabs. |
Yes, I said really fun crab.
We left the island with a $20 parking ticket.
Maybe that sums up my feelings on Tybee.
Last notes...
If you're headed to Savannah give yourself a minimum of three days to just tour the city and eat the food. We only had roughly 36 hours.
Make sure your accomodations include parking. Otherwise you will need to take out a small loan to park your car.
Stay away from the people who are offering you a handcrafted palm rose. As soon as someone starts walking toward you with a rose made out of a palm leaf turn on your don't screw with me face and walk past them. If you do not take my advice then you'll be stopped not short of fifteen times.
Savannah is hot but not at night in the spring.
If you're looking for royal south go to Charleston. Savannah lacks the royalty you feel when you are in buttoned up and Sperry ridden Charleston.
Do not talk about Atlanta around the Savannahians. We learned quickly that many of them do not like ATL at all.
What you see in Forsyth Park can be just about anything and everything all at one time. We witnessed the start of a black tie wedding then a mere ten minutes later watched a fight over $5 worth of pot. Fun times.
Visit McDonough's.
If you venture to Bonaparte Cemetary then you should realize that the statue on the cover of Savannah based Midnight In the Garden of Good & Evil was moved to the Telfair Museum.
However, the remains of Jews lost to evil in WWII will leave you feeling a since of loss no matter what your religious background. I walked away wiping my eyes and feeling loss. Gracie is also buried there and no matter how old that grave is or whether you know her story or not seeing that little girl and the toys that visitors have left at her grave will grab your heart and squeeze it causing some tears to well up in those eyes of your's.
I was told Congress Street was the Bourbon Street of Savannah and I felt lied to. Just saying.
In closing...
Our time in Savannah was really pleasurable. We laughed a lot, walked a lot, and learned more than we expected (without a tour guide.) Would I go back? Yes. And next time I will get on a trolley tour and take in all the things I missed or had no freaking clue about.
Do I think you should go?
But of course, darlin.
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| Happy Travels! |
*Amanda*
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