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We visited Savannah last year for two night and we knew we wanted to come back. We rented a one bedroom Airbnb in the historic district near shops, restaurants and bars. No car rental needed, we took an Uber from the airport to our Airbnb and walked most of the time. Our plan was to do nothing but walk, eat, drink and spend time reading on a bench in one of the parks. Our plan did not work out, we had no idea there was so much to see and learn about.
The best deal in town is a ticket to the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, Telfair Academy and Jepson Center for one price $23.00. We visited all three in one day but you have a week to visit all three.
We visited the following mansions, There is a modest fee for the guided tours through the homes.
Mercer-Williams House If you only have time to visit one house make it this one. It is fully furnished with the furniture of its last owner. If you have not seen the movie The Garden of Good and Evil, you must see it before coming to Savanna. The
movie is based on a true store and the characters are talked about on more than one tour. If you have not seen the movie or read the book you will miss something. The movie is filmed in this home.
Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters We learned about the difficult lives the city enslaved women and children had. We also learned about the architecture of this stately home.
Davenport Museum House We learned about the women who started the renovation movement to save the historic homes in Savannah. Savannah went down hill and people moved out due to crime and drugs. Stately home sat empty for ten years or more. There was a movement to tear down the old homes. A group of women started buying and renovating old homes. The Davenport home is not as fancy as other homes but it is a part of the history to save old Savanna.
Green-Meidrim House We did not plan to visit this home but we decided to stop for a visit since we were walking by. Sherman made his headquarters in this house during the Civil War.
We visited the following
museum:
Jepson Center Art museum, we saw the whole museum in an hour.
Savannah History Museum Not a large museum so good for a short visit. Lots of history of Savannah during the Civil War, history of jazz in Savanna, Girl Scouts and industry and agricultural changes. Girl Scout founder was born in Savanna.
Ralph Marks Gilbert Civil Rights Museum We learned about how sitting at lunch counters and going to the beach protests resulted in arrest of the mostly teenage protesters. Savannah is proud that the civil rights protests did not involve street violence. The boycott of businesses that did treat blacks fairly lasted 18 months but resulted in permanent change in Savannah.
JW Marriott It has an exhibit of architectural artifacts and it is free.
Boniventure Cemetary This was the only place we visited that we did not walk to. We took an Uber to the cemetery and met our guide. We booked our tour through Viator. You can find tours that will pick you up at your hotel or tours using golf carts, we chose a walking tour. I highly recommend a tour, the
guide told many stories about the residents of the cemetery and her explained symbolism used on the tombs. The cemetery is huge and you could always walk around and see more after your tour.
Visiting mansions and museums is not all there is to do in Savannah. It is a beautiful city to walk around. It was truly a planned community with 22 park squares with business or government buildings on one side of the square and residential homes on the other side when the city was built. Slavery was originally prohibited in Savannah. The water front is a good place to walk along the river with bars, hotels and restaurants. Food and drink are amazing here. OK the food is better than the drink. We came looking for peach cobbler and found the best at the Crystal Beer Parlor. The southern food at the Olde Pink House is great and the house it is located in is haunted. The spirits keep us from taking good pictures, my face was fuzzy in them all. We also enjoyed great food at a Jazz Brunch.
I recommend a visit to Savannah to enjoy the great southern food, atmosphere and learn
about history while you are there. We are off to Washington DC next.
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