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| Spanish Moss and the Savannah River |
What's Ahead:
- Trip Planning
- Accommodations
- Restaurants
- Night Life
- Date Activities
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| Savannah Night Life |
Trip Planning:
- When to Go - South Georgia gets pretty hot and muggy during the Summer months, so I would suggest early Spring or late Fall for your romantic weekend getaway. I would also recommend avoiding school breaks or holidays (especially St. Patrick's Day) because those city sidewalks can get pretty crowded.
- How to Prepare - Get familiar with the city map, brush up on your parallel parking skills, and make your dinner reservations in advance. Keep in mind that people in the South take their time, so don't pack your schedule and don't be in a hurry to get anywhere. Savannah is the definition of taking the time to "stop and smell the roses," so make sure to soak in the beauty of this timeless city.
- What to Bring - The "Old South" dictates a mildly formal dinner attire at the very least, so for her, I would bring maxi dresses and/or cute blouses, and for him, I would bring at least a dinner jacket, a dress shirt, and nice pair of slacks. Also, don't forget to bring your walking shoes and an umbrella for those sneaking rain showers!
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| River Street Inn |
Accommodations:
From the Riverfront to the Historic District, our list could go on and on with the different amazing hotels and bed & breakfasts in Savannah. Because of this, I'm just going to touch on my personal experiences, but feel free to have a look at TripAdvisor or Booking.com for all the unique and historic accommodations Savannah has to offer!
River Street Inn - If I could pick the perfect location to stay in Savannah, it would be this 200-year-old restored cotton warehouse! With one side of the Inn on East Bay Street and one side on River Street, it is the central location for all the Savannah To-Dos! There are also all sorts of perks and discounts that come with their concierge, so don't miss out on that if you decide to stay there!
17Hundred90 Inn - I heard the story of this Inn as a kid, and it has always stuck with me. Anna and her much-older husband owned the Inn, and it was left to her after he died in a riding accident. Anna fell in love with a sailor who visited the Inn, and when she ended up pregnant with his child, she was heartbroken. It is said that while watching the sails of his ship leave her sight, she jumped to her death from Room 204. There is another version of the story that says her husband or fiancé (of her arranged marriage) did not die, but instead, he was the one who pushed her to her death out of anger due to her unfaithfulness and ungratefulness of his hospitality. I guess we'll never truly know what happened to poor Anna.
For the longest time, the current owners would require guests to sign a waiver agreeing not to ask for their money back before staying in Room 204, but the amount of paranormal investigators the Inn draws in has caused this to no longer be an issue.
Foley House Inn - Built in 1896, the Foley House was the first bed & breakfast in Savannah. We stayed in the Carriage House side of this adorable Inn, but they also have more luxurious rooms inside the Main House. This Inn is reportedly haunted, but these rumors are more recent than most would guess given its age. In 1984, almost a century after the Inn was built, contractors completing renovations on the Inn found skeletal remains inside one of the walls. Some have reported feeling strange gushes of air, and some say they still see "Wally" walking about the garden in a top hat during the late hours of the night.
Holiday Inn Express Savannah-Historic District - This would be my budget hotel recommendation for the Historic District, but this is definitely no "budget" stay. The hotel is still within walking distance of everything, and it also offers free breakfast, valet parking, and a rooftop pool! They typically have deals on Booking.com, so don't miss out on that.
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| Our historic four poster at the Foley House Inn |
Restaurants:
Just a heads up that shrimp, crab, and fried green tomatoes are staples of the Savannah diet, so you will see these throughout most menus...
The Pirates' House - This is one of my favorite restaurants in Savannah because of all its wicked history. Constructed in 1753, the now restaurant was built as an inn for visiting sailors. Over time, it also became a rendezvous for pirates. The stories say that the pirates would use tunnels under the inn to take drunk sailors to their ships docked on the Savannah River and enslave them to work aboard their vessels. The inn has been preserved in its original condition with the blue shudders and doors to keep away unwanted spirits. When dining at the Pirates' House, you can visit the oldest standing structure in Georgia (the Herb House), and you can still see down into the tunnels that the pirates used to transport their victims to the river. You can also find the Pirates' House mentioned in the beloved book, Treasure Island by Robert Luis Stevenson.
For Dinner:
- Appetizer - Savannah Crab Dip (or the Fried Green Tomatoes)
- Entrée - I'll usually get the Crab Cake & Broiled Shrimp or the Blackened Snapper, but they are also famous for their Honey Pecan Fried Chicken
- Drinks - For cocktails, it's the Skull Crusher or the Dark & Stormy. They also have a Muscadine Peach wine that has "Georgia" written all over it, and their draft beers are always local!
The Olde Pink House Restaurant - This is the home of Southern fine dining in Savannah. The Olde Pink House gained its name from the fact that no matter how much the original owner, James Habersham, Jr painted it, the plaster would bleed back into the bricks, making the house a pinkish color. The turmoil between him and his sons is what is said to keep Habersham's ghost around. His sons sided with the patriot cause during the Revolutionary War and joined the Sons of Liberty behind their father's back. This was said to have went against everything he stood for, and in turn, broke his heart.
17Hundred90 Restaurant - If you don't stay in the Inn, you can still visit Anna via the restaurant. There are also two other ghosts said to roam the restaurant and tavern: a friendly ghost (a boy named Thaddeus) who leaves pennies on the tables and bar and a not-so friendly ghost who throws pots, pans, and spice containers in the kitchen.
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| The Pirates' House |
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| One of the Underground Tunnels |
Night Life:
You cannot visit Savannah without seeing it at night! There have been many occasions that I have been walking River Street or the squares in the dark, and the fog starts to roll over the street under the glow of the old streetlamps. The air is alive, and you can feel it!
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| Monterey Square at Night |
- East Bay Street (at the level of the main road)
- Factor's Walk (the ramps in between)
- River Street (the street right on the river)
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| Factor's Walk |
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| The "Stairs of Death" |
River Street - This area can easily be referred to as the mini Bourbon Street of Georgia. With the pubs, the restaurants, and the candy stores (don't miss out on the pecan pralines), this is the place to be when the sun goes down. There is nothing like walking down by the water at night and feeling the breeze float up off the Savannah River.
P.S. - Even if you don't have the chance to make it to Savannah, you can now experience River Street Sweets in a city near you! We found one of the franchise locations while in San Antonio, and it was truly a taste of home.
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| River Street |
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| All the candy! |
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| All the fudge and caramel apples! |
The Mata Hari (Factor's Walk) - Now, I'm going to tell you guys a little secret. There is an ACTUAL speakeasy in Savannah. It has no address, you have to have a password to get in, and the password changes every day. They have strong drinks, live music, burlesque shows, and it feels like you've been transported back into the 1920s when you walk in there.
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| At the Mata Hari |
Moon River Brewing Company (East Bay Street) - This brewery is located in one of the most haunted buildings in Savannah, but it's also strangely homey! I have dined in the beer garden and inside the restaurant, and it has always been amazingly pleasant, no matter whether you visit for lunch, dinner, or just a few drinks.
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| Drinking "Swamp Fox" at Moon River Brewing Company |
Date Activities:
Bonaventure Cemetery - I know, I know, it's bizarre that I started off a list of dates with a cemetery, but hear me out... This is likely one of the most gorgeous cemeteries in the world. From the curving oak tree branches covered in Spanish Moss to the way the azaleas come to life in the Spring, it's so beautifully tragic to recognize this as a place of mourning. Likely the most famous ghost of the Bonaventure is 6-year-old Gracie Watson, whose grave hosts a statue in her likeness. The statue has been said to cry real tears, and some have even heard a little girl sobbing near her grave. The cemetery is open from 8AM-5PM. I know this because my mother and I were actually locked inside at night when I was a young girl, but one company still does after hour tours.
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| The Bonaventure |
Haunted Carriage Ride - There is something so romantic about hearing the soft sound of clip-clopping hooves throughout the dark streets while curled up under a blanket with your honey as the guide tells you stories about Savannah's haunted past.
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| His name is Pepper! |
Exploring By Foot - Walking is easily the best way to see Savannah. You can truly feel the aura of the oldest planned city in America by walking the painstakingly-manicured squares and admiring the Victorian mansions of the Historic District.
- Forsyth Park - One of the symbols of Savannah, the fountain at Forsyth Park is a sight to behold! Forsyth is the largest park in the city at 30 acres, and it is a beautiful and peaceful way to experience the sounds and sites of the city.
- City Market - This is a hub for shopping, food, and live music in the Historic District. Even if you're just strolling through, it's worth the look.
- Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist - I'm partial because this is one of my favorite cathedrals, but I believe this is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in America. You can even tour this glorious work of architecture when services are not being held.
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| Forsyth Park and Fountain |
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| The gorgeous Cathedral Basilica |
Savannah Riverboat Cruises - Can you get more "Old South" than a calm and relaxing riverboat cruise? You can sail aboard the Savannah River Queen or the Georgia Queen for a sightseeing cruise, a dinner cruise, or a sunset cruise.
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| The Georgia Queen |
Wormsloe Historic Site - The oak-lined road that leads to the ruins of the oldest standing structure in Savannah is probably one of the most photographed spots in the city. The original owner of the property, Noble Jones, was a humble carpenter that joined James Oglethorpe and the rest of first set of settlers that came to Georgia. In addition to the scenery at Wormsloe, there is a museum, a theater, and a gift shop.
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| The drive up to Wormsloe Historic Site |
Have you ever been to the "Hostess City of the South?" Are there any must-dos you would add to the itinerary? Please feel free to leave any Savannah suggestions or tips in the comments below!
