My first trip to Savannah was a dream come true--I have wanted to visit there as long as I can remember. Daughter, Danielle, and I recently spent a weekend in this photographer's paradise. We 'splurged' a bit on our hotel--staying downtown in the Hyatt Regency because our time was limited--only one full day--and we wanted to be close to the historic district. The first night, we walked along the riverfront, including lovely, tree-lined Emmet Park and Factors Walk--just down the street from the hotel. This used to be the hub for all things related to cotton commerce. Next time, I will definitely check out the neat antique shops there.
We made the most of our full day in Savannah by taking a trolley tour to all the main areas of town, stopping along the way to walk around and take pictures. (This is my favorite way to see a new city; you get a great overview and can always go back to visit the sights you missed.)
We had two memorable meals in Savannah. First was dinner at Paula Deen's restaurant, The Lady and Sons (southern food at its finest with a great atmosphere--if you love her show, you will love this restaurant). And dinner at Chart House on the riverfront(okay, another splurge for sure, but well worth it--great seafood and a lovely old building).
If you haven't read, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", I suggest you read it before visiting Savannah. It is a mystery, based on a real murder, in which the author, John Berendt, describes some very interesting 'real' Savannah characters and unique locations around the city. (The tour is even more fun when you remember the areas mentioned in the book.) We found a great little bookstore, "The Book" Gift Shop, where we bought a signed copy of the book! I'll give you a link to this neat store since the address was wrong in our tour map, and we wasted precious time searching for it. If you are a fan of the book, you don't want to miss it: http://www.midnightinsavannah.com
And one last tip--if you are a photographer--do not miss seeing Wormsloe Plantation. You will not see a plantation, just ruins of a colonial house although that was kind of cool. The lane of live oaks is the main attraction--simply stunning. You will see them in my Savannah gallery to the right. I imagine the best time to visit is in the winter since there aren't many visitors and the lane isn't clogged with traffic. We went during the week, in January. No cars at all, except for the park ranger who kept popping up in my line of vision. Oh well, nothing's perfect.
Before leaving the city on our last day there, we drove around Tybee Island and walked along the pier. As a 'west coast girl', I enjoyed seeing the Atlantic Ocean and this beautiful beach and taking pictures of seagulls (one of my favorite pastimes).
To see my photos from Savannah, check out my gallery: Georgia
To find other great artwork with a Savannah theme, check out Pixels.
