About four and a half hours southeast of Atlanta is the beautiful city of Savannah. Savannah is the perfect romantic getaway. This quaint town is a perfect example of the Old South. Savannah is a city that is so beautiful that even General Sherman couldn’t destroy it during his slash-and-burn attack on the South during the US Civil War.
The city is the textbook Old South city. The waterfront has many old buildings and it is quite possible to close your eyes and imagine its prime time at a cotton trading center as well as a major port for the south during the war. You can hear the sounds of horse drawn carriages and the sound of horse hooves on the pavement will really take you back in time to 1800.
In recent times, many movies have been set in Savannah. These include Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and Forrest Gump. There is a replica of the park bench in one of the parks. It makes you want to sit down and eat a piece of chocolate. Walking through several of the city’s parks, one can see familiar scenes from other movies. Taking a horse-drawn carriage tour will take you past many of the houses that were used in various movies. Some of the city’s colorful residents also appeared in the movies.
The architecture is Old South. Driving through its streets one can imagine times of previous centuries. The cotton trade is reminiscent of the time when Cotton was king. Many of the old houses were those of the big cotton buyers, factors, and shippers. The city’s location on the river made it a shipping center for cotton destined for northern textile mills.
Savannah’s restaurants are world class. With the proximity to the coast, unsurprisingly, seafood is a mainstay on many menus. A low boiling point should not be missed. It consists of a variety of seafood, sausage, corn, and potatoes, all boiled in a spicy broth and then placed in the center of the table. It is somewhat similar to the crawfish boil from areas of southern Louisiana, however it is not recommended as a pre-theater meal as it is impossible to enjoy without the juices dripping down on you. If you’re craving something a little richer, head to Paula Deans Restaurant and pay homage to the Butter Queen. The promenade is lined with many sidewalk cafes and restaurants.
Much of the nightlife is concentrated along the riverbanks. There are several restaurants and nightclubs right on the water. The party continued late into the night. One morning, while going to breakfast, we ran into the revelers from the night before. They were definitely making the most of their time in Savannah.
No trip to Savannah would be complete without a visit to the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. The architecture of the Cathedral reflects the long history of the Catholic Church. We were there on a cloudy day when the sun was trying to break through the clouds. You made an amazing site.
One suggestion would be to take a hop-on, hop-off carriage tour of the city. You can get off at several stops and see the sites in that area before continuing on the next car.
If time permits, a short excursion to Tybee Island is the perfect choice. There is a lighthouse and a beach area. On the way to Tybee, be sure to pick up some of the boiled peanuts that are sold at various places along the way. On the way home, be sure to stop at the Gator farm and have one of the aforementioned Low Country boils. You will love it.