Savannah trip

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We read a lot about Savannah and Charleston in novels and history pieces and always wanted to explore them. Thus, getting the chance in Thanksgiving break, we headed towards Savannah and Charleston for a glimpse into their old world charm. We were not expecting to find a long queue at the rental car pick-up; it being the Thanksgiving day. However, after a nightmarish long wait we finally headed towards Savannah some three hours behind our schedule. The drive from Atlanta to Savannah (I-75/I-16) was smooth taking close to four hours.

Reaching Savannah, we checked in at the Hilton Garden Inn in the Historic downtown which is pretty standard. However, a point is to be noted about Savannah. No hotel in the downtown area (the preferred staying place being close to everything) offers free parking. You must park valet, and it ranges from $10.00 to $25.00 per day depending on the hotel. As we were already running behind our schedule, we left the hotel soon to explore Savannah.

We took a walk by the Savannah river. The River Street is a lovely place laced with restaurants, quaint shops on one side and the Savannah river flowing on the other. There are also numerous benches by the river, where you can sit back and relax. They are well-lit area and very safe. The view of the Talmadge Memorial Bridge and the Westin hotel and Savannah Convention Center on the Hutchison Island were superb. After spending a few hours walking down the cobblestone streets (we really liked tham a lot) we headed to an Irish pub for dinner. The beer was good, the food OK and a bit on the pricier side.

The next day, we decided to take a tour of Savannah. There are a lot of options for tours, from walking to carriage, from architectural to ghost tours to suit your interest. Being restricted by time, we opted for an overviw tour with Oglethorpe Tours. Finding the starting point of the tour was kind of tricky, it is not where it says in the local maps. Nevertheless, we found a trolley of the tour agency and the operator was happy to take us there (an example of Southern hospitality 😊).

Savannah is a city of parks (or, squares, as it is known there). There is a square every couple of blocks which breathes life and fresh air into the city. Considering the city was founded some three centuries back (1733, to be precise) the city planning is awesome. I wish many of the modern cities followed its suit; then we would have had a much greener urban areas. The squares are all very well maintained and almost all of them had different statues and fountains with their characteristic oak trees with spanish moss all over.

Savannah is charaterized with the historic buildings and their intricate architectural details. Thanks to an active preservation society the stood the test of time. There were some marvellous buildings and churches and synagogues. The tour guide was knowledgeable and told us many stories associated with those buildings and squares. However, time permitting we would have loved to take an architectural tour of the city and definitely enter a few of the historic buildings. Our tour ended at the city market, home to many novelty and gift shops and restaurants. It also had some very beautiful art stores. Lest I forget, antique shops are in abundance at Savannah and is a must see for those interested.

We planned to have our dinner at the 'Lady & Sons', the restaurant of celebrity chef Paula Deen. However, we learnt that people form queues from 8:00 am in the morning to reserve a table for dinner. So, we had to let it go this time, but would definitely visit the next time there. As we were leaving Savannah that evening for Charleston, we decided to take another walk down the River Street (We can spend hours sitting there idly, its beautiful!!). Later in the evening, we headed towards Charleston (the sister city of Savannah, as the locals say). We hope to make trip back soon, as we had too little time with too much to see at Savannah.

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Photos

Westin on Hutchison Island
Westin on Hutchison Island_View from River Street, Savannah

Cobblestone Streets
Cobblestons Streets run throughout the city, reminiscent of the days when horse-drawn carriages were the only mode of transport.

One of the earlier showrooms of Ford
This was one of the early showrooms of Ford opened by Henry Ford. The intricate details on the facade are amazing.

Savannah Church
One of Savannah's many beautiful churches. The steeple of the church rises to an impressive 140 ft.

The bell
A replica of the Liberty bell in one of the squares.

Dome of Savannah
The golden dome on the Capitol house, a typical characteristic of Georgia stae capitals. Savannah was the first capital of Georgia.

Cotton exchange building
The old cotton excahnge building. A view from River Street.

Riverside
A park by the Savannah River.

Forsyth Square
The largest park with the most impressive fountain. The fountain is fascinating (more so at night).