Spending "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" in Savannah!

Books have this incredible ability to transport you to another day and time, as well as teach you so
much about the foundations and character of a place. True to this fact, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil oozes with Savannah's history and culture. 

For those who don't feel like committing to a book, Clint Eastwood has also made it into an incredible movie starring John Cusack and Kevin Spacey. 

If you want to follow along with the story that so perfectly captures the quirky essence of Savannah next time you're in town, here's how:

What's Ahead:

• Accommodations
• Restaurants
• Night Life
• Activities

Accommodations:

Stay In A Carriage House Like John Berendt/Kelso - Even though the Mercer-Williams Carriage House has been turned into the gift shop, this one is super close by. 

Look After A Mansion While Your Friend Is Out of Town Like Joe Odom - Now, you can't stay at 115 E. Jones St like where Mandy invites John to his first Savannah party, but this one looks super similar and is also on Jones Street. You can opt for the one-bedroom Wright Suite or the three-bedroom Monterey Suite at this location. 

Savannah Bed & Breakfast Inn - One of the most famous bed and breakfasts in the Historic District, this gorgeous building is just steps away from Monterey Square, Bull Street, and the Mercer-Williams House. 

Forsyth Park Inn - Right next to Forsyth Park, you might just see porter, William Glover, taking Patrick for his morning walk through the window of your suite.

Restaurants:

Breakfast: Clary's - 404 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA - Okay, so this may not sound like the most appealing spot to eat because of Luther Driggers with his leashed flies and threats to poison the water supply, but this little diner is a local favorite! You can even see photos of the cast during the time they were filming the movie by the front door. 

Brunch: The Fitzroy - 9 West Drayton Street, Savannah, GA - This quaint, little Gastropub sits where the original Churchill's once stood. Styled after many popular pubs in Melbourne, Australia, this handsome, casual space serves American pub fare and craft cocktails with bar seats and so much character.

Lunch: Collins Quarter at Forsyth - So many scenes in the story take place in gorgeous Forsyth Park, which is why this is a gem of a place to stop for lunch.

Dinner: Churchill's - 13 West Bay Street, Savannah, GA - After the original pub burned in a kitchen fire, the restaurant moved shop to Bay Street. Now able to seat over 400 instead of the original under 80, they have expanded.

Night Life:

Club One - Lady Chablis was a regular performer at this club between its opening night in 1988 and August 6, 2016, which was right before she was hospitalized and soon after passed from this world. You can still attend this club to attend some awesome and entertaining drag shows. 

Piano Bars - Savannah is all about their piano bars, the most famous of which is the Savannah Smiles Dueling Pianos - 314 Williamson Street, Savannah, GA. However, there is also:

• Vic's on the River - 26 E Bay Street, Savannah, GA
• The Olde Pink House - 23 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA
• McDonough's - 21 E McDonough Street, Savannah, GA
• 17 Hundred 90 Inn and Restaurant - 307 E President Street, Savannah, GA

Monterey Square at Night

Activities:

Mercer-Williams House -  429 Bull Street, Savannah, GA - This was one of Jim Williams's Historic District salvages, and he fell in love with it so much that it made it his personal abode. Now owned and operated by his sister, Dorothy Williams shies away from any connection with the book, movie, or any alleged hauntings, but it is still a museum that you can visit where you can see Jim's house left in all its glory with all of his artwork and treasures still on display just the way he left them. Even if Dorothy doesn't believe the mansion is haunted, some say that if you walk by the house around Christmastime, you might just catch a glimpse of one of Jim Williams's historic Christmas Eve parties being held far into the afterlife. 

Bonaventure Cemetery - Many important parts of the story take place in this cemetery, and it's also where the story got its name. Minerva says that the thirty minutes before midnight are for good voodoo, and the thirty minutes after midnight are for bad voodoo. Also, the "Bird Girl" statue from the front cover of the book and the opening scene of the movie also used to be on display in the cemetery. However, because fans kept trampling graves to get close to her, they ended up moving her to the Telfair Academy, where you can see her on display along with other historic Savannah artifacts. The cemetery is open from 8AM-5PM, and one company does after-hour tours.

The Bonaventure

Take A Carriage Ride - Carriage rides are just part of Savannah, and Joe Odom even rides up on one when John is having car trouble during one of the parts of the story. If there's anything the Old South can teach you, it's to enjoy life and not to be in a hurry to get anywhere.  

His name is Pepper!

Other Filming Locations - Walking is easily the best way to see Savannah, and it's the way most locals get around:

• Armstrong House - 447 Bull Street, Savannah, GA - This was Jim Williams's attorney's office, and it is still used as a law firm to this day. Jim Williams helped save this building, just as he did so many in the Historic District. 
• Tomochichi Federal Building - 125 Bull Street, Savannah, GA - This was where Jim Williams's trials were held, and it is still used as a courthouse. 
• Forsyth Park - Many parts of the story take place in this park. It's an activity hub for the city, and the fountain is a symbol of Savannah. 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. 

Forsyth Park and Fountain

For more on the "Hostess City of the South," click here for a "Haunted Weekend of Romance in Savannah." Also, please feel free to leave any Savannah suggestions or tips in the comments below!

A Magical Holiday in Ruidoso!

The only way I can possibly describe Ruidoso is MAGICAL! With the natural landscape and all
the animals constantly walking around, it's like nowhere else I've ever experienced. 

When most people think of New Mexico, the vision of desolate desert and no cell service usually comes to mind (queue the Breaking Bad opening theme), but it's easy to forget that the Rockies come further South than Colorado. 

If you're looking for a unique place to spend Christmas or the winter holidays, Ruidoso is something truly special. 

What's Ahead:

• A pet-friendly Airbnb Recommendation with a hot tub and a mountain view
• Wintery Mountain Activities
• Ruidoso Restaurant Recommendations
• Stay tuned for my sample Ruidoso Travel Itinerary at the end!

Accommodations:

We stayed in a mountain-side cabin called Vista Celestial. In Spanish, this means "heavenly view," which is the only way you can describe this place. Not only is the view heavenly, but so is the kitchen! The cabin also has two gas fireplaces (controlled by the switches on the wall), a huge shower, and even a gas grill. It has two pull-out couches, which are great for the kiddos, and an incredible master suite with two sets of French doors that lead out to the huge wrap-around deck. It has all the comforts of home, but you're completely surrounded by the beauty of nature! The only thing I have to advise on this place is the driveway. It is extremely STEEP! If it ices or snows, I wouldn't use it all. The other is the trash situation. There are community trash containers in Ruidoso, and they are up the road aways, so be prepared to drive with it in the back of the truck, on the hood, or while holding it out the window.

There are many other amazing places to stay in Ruidoso as well. 

Ruidoso Tip #1 - I recommend bringing a 4x4-equipped vehicle (or a front-wheel-drive one at the very least). It has the potential to snow in Ruidoso any time, so make sure to plan ahead by checking the weather, so you can come prepared with snow tires or chains, and most cabin hosts provide you with a snow shovel, so just make sure to keep that handy. 

Activities:

#1: Hike Grindstone Lake - I thought lakes with turquoise water were only found in pictures taken in Canada, but the beauty of this completely naturally-transparent lake is to die for! We didn't check out the fishing, but there were plenty of other fishermen taking advantage of this unique spot-fishing experience. Just know it can get windy out there, so remember to pack a beanie or earmuffs for the drive. 

#2: Ruidoso Winter Park - What's better than snow tubing? This activity has to be a core memory-making experience for adventurous kiddos. Try to go early though because as the snow ices over, the staff will not allow you to ride the double tubes or the faster tubes for fear of you running off the course. Also, you will have to have a waiver completed before they let you into the park, so feel free to complete that online ahead of time and print it out to bring with you. Remember to bring water because that sun shines brightly off that white snow! Snowman making and snowball fights are not explicitly frowned upon in the area between the slopes, so we definitely took advantage of that while we were there. But if you want a little more formal ski resort experience, you can check out Ski Apache for all your skiing and snowboarding pleasures.

 

#3: Riding in a Two-Horse Open Sleigh - We went to Ruidoso during Christmas Time, and jingling your bells through this adorable village is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays! The big ol' draft horses take you right through the heart of all the little shops, and you're surrounded by Christmas lights. It's like being in a Christmas movie! And don't worry if there isn't any snow when you go because the sleighs have hidden wheels that help the horses along if it isn't necessarily a winter wonderland. This is the only place I've ever seen to have sleigh rides, so it's quite the experience. However, if sleigh rides aren't you're thing, the same company has horseback riding over at Grindstone Lake all year long. 

Ruidoso Tip #2 - Whatever activity you choose while you're in Ruidoso, try to book in advance. It's a small village that Texans love to vacation in, so things book up fast!

#4: Mountain Biking - Since the cabin is right outside the Lincoln National Forest, there are mountain biking trails right down the road. There are also multiple trails at Grindstone Lake. Luckily, there are two adult mountain bikes and helmets provided with the cabin, so if you're adventurous, you can bring the kids' bikes with you and hit the trails. The bikes are stored in the bottom floor closet, and the code to the door is in the cabin's guest book. 

Ruidoso Tip #3 - There are animals everywhere in Ruidoso! While driving around the community, you'll likely see deer walking down the road and elk resting in neighbor's yards. The community is so accepting of the wildlife that they roam free wherever they choose. There is even a wild horse herd in town! As soon as I heard of them, I just had to find them! We searched at different points throughout two days to no avail, but on the way to dinner one night, we spotted them grazing in a field behind a neighborhood. I got out to snap a photo, but I made it known to the kids that we needed to keep our distance because they're wild animals. However, the horses had other plans. Two of them galloped right up to us. And when I say I cried... as a girl who grew up with Spirit as one of my favorite movies, this experience was literally a dream come true!

P.S.A. - Be very careful around wild animals at any point, and heed this warning even more if you're not accustomed to being around horses. My kiddos and I have been around them our whole lives, and we still almost ran the other way when these two walked up to us. 

For more Ruidoso activities, the horse racetrack, the casino, and the incredible Spencer theater are nearby. In addition, there is zip-lining, golf courses, disc golf, guided hunting, and shopping just minutes away.

Restaurants:

Breakfast/Brunch: I love a good diner! In Ruidoso, this is the Lincoln County Grill. They serve up the greasy, delicious hometown diner food, and they serve breakfast all day long. 

Dinner: Rio Grande Grill and Tap Room is the perfect introduction to New Mexico, as well as its delicious cuisine. Nothing beats that authentic Pueblo-style fireplace when you walk through the front door. They have an elk burger, their salmon Caesar salad is amazing, and they have the best queso I've had in the Southwest so far.

Drinks: Downshift Brewing Company (Hidden Tap) is one of the most fun spots in the village. If you're walking downtime and see the "Bigfoot Reporting Station" sign, all you have to do is walk down the stairs. They have good brews, good bar food, and they even have board games and an arcade for the kiddos!

Bonus: It may not be local cuisine, but I couldn't leave out this adorable little Italian restaurant. Michael J's Italian-American Restaurant has authentic Italian food and is very welcoming and family-friendly. Minestrone is also the perfect cold-weather meal! 

No matter what you eat in Ruidoso, you can't go wrong! There are many Mexican restaurants to choose from, and so many quirky and cute little restaurants to make you feel right at home. 

SAMPLE ITINERARY:

Friday -

• Begin the trek to Ruidoso
• Once settled, pick up some healthy breakfast and lunch fixings from Albertson's (everything is extremely close in Ruidoso, so it's easy to get back and forth from the cabin)
• Eat dinner at the Rio Grande Grill and Tap Room
• Get in some hub-tubbing!

Saturday - 

• Eat breakfast at the Airbnb
• Hike and/or fish at Grindstone Lake
• Window shop through the village and eat dinner downtown or at Michael J's
• Go for your sleigh ride
• Don't forget the hot tub!

Sunday -

• Eat breakfast at the Airbnb
• Head to the Winter Park for the day
• Warm your bones at Downshift Brewing Company (Hidden Tap) with dinner and a brew while the kids play games
• Don't forget the hot tub!

Sunday -

• Eat breakfast at the Airbnb
• Check out of the Airbnb
• Begin the trek back home

BONUS: If it's on your way, make sure to stop by Roswell. You can eat at the McDonald's shaped like a flying saucer, and the International UFO Museum & Research Center is even pet-friendly!

Please let me know if you complete this trip and/or your thoughts of the sample itinerary!

Have you ever been to Ruidoso? Are there any must-dos you would add to the itinerary? Please feel free to leave any New Mexico mountain suggestions or tips in the comments below!