Life positive is humorous. Not Ha Ha humorous, however peculiar humorous…The primary time I discovered myself in Savannah Georgia was wayyyy again in June of 2011. It was the identical 12 months that I used to be identified with colon most cancers. I had deliberate a reminiscence making journey right down to Hilton Head, South Carolina with my niece Keedah and all 4 of my sister Dana’s grandchildren: Rashidah (9), Ahmad (8), Kenyon (7) and Rasoul (5). The objective was to provide my oldest sister Dana a nicely deserved and far wanted break. I rented a 4 bed room condominium from this couple in Cheshire, CT (that is earlier than Air BnB was invented), a Dodge mini-van with additional automobile insurance coverage and introduced film movies, board video games and many snacks. As you would possibly guess, I used to be receiving a ton of destructive suggestions on taking a protracted street journey after being identified with colon most cancers so earlier than I used to be to go I consulted with my Colorectal Surgeon and I’ll always remember what he informed me. He stated, Go, however once you return, we head straight to surgical procedure’ Fortunate 7.
I knew then that life was actually for dwelling (smile).
All that to say, we spent 1 time out of our 10 day trip in Savannah, Georgia – simply an hour’s drive away from Hilton Head, South Carolina. That 1 day was so memorable that I promised myself that I might return, however this time I might keep in Savannah.
That is that point (smile). 14 years later. Life positive is humorous…
Quick observe to now. It’s June of 2025 and the world has gone batshit loopy. Quick paced and stuffed with not so good surprises. The objective this time was for me and my man to get the heck out of Dodge (Connecticut) to actually chill out and unwind from the whole lot. I remembered the quaint metropolis of Savannah with the cobblestoned streets that I had visited over a decade in the past in order that’s the place we headed. My climate app confirmed sunny days with loads of sunshine for your entire week. I used to be tremendous psyched! The truth was that once we arrived on Sunday June eighth the rain was coming down in buckets enjoying match video games with thunder and the sky regarded darkish and foreboding. This scene performed itself out so many instances all through the week that we determined to simply tough it and attempt to get pleasure from ourselves., Oops I lied: there was sooner or later of the week (Wednesday, June eleventh) the place the climate performed good and truly remained sunny and dry your entire day however the the rest of the weekdays and nights have been unpredictable.
We stayed within the historic district of Downtown Savannah at a cute-as-a-button boutique lodge named The DeSoto Savannah. I selected this lodge as a result of it was handy to the whole lot – retail, eating places, parks, and sightseeing. The DeSoto had an out of doors pool on the second ground, in addition to a small fitness center and a day spa. We by no means did make it to the lodge restaurant, 1540, as a result of we have been too busy exploring different elements of the Metropolis however from what I heard the breakfasts and dinners have been delish.
In my view, the very best and best technique to discover Savannah is to do what we did on our first time out. Purchase tickets to a Hop on Hop off trolley tour. By the way in which, we purposely didn’t hire a automobile on the airport as a result of The DeSoto solely presents valet parking and the historic downtown district the place we stayed is walkable.
We selected Outdated City Trolley Excursions as a result of they have been extremely seen and really handy. It doesn’t matter what neighborhood you have been in, an Outdated City Trolley arrives each 20 minutes. The associated fee was $45 per particular person and that received you limitless trolley rides between 9am and 5pm to fifteen completely different Savannah locations. When you rode the trolley from the first cease to the fifteenth cease with out getting off, it could take you an hour and a half however should you, like us, hopped on and off to the neighborhoods the place you wished to take a deeper dive, then you definitely won’t get to all of them within the 8 hour timeframe. It’s price it although as a result of every trolley experience comes with a narrated tour so you’re being educated about Savannah’s darkish previous.
Our very first trolley cease was to The Savannah Guests Middle and Historical past Museum the place we completely loved visiting the SCAD (Savannah Faculty of Artwork) Museum – a spot the place all of the artwork work is created by college, college students and alumni!
Certainly one of our most memorable hop offs was to Metropolis Market which is chock stuffed with Artists, native retailers, sweet retailers, espresso retailers and eating places with bars. We appreciated this neighborhood as a result of it felt energetic and energetic. The cobblestone streets, the horse and buggys rides, all felt very genuine.
After our time in Metropolis Market, we caught a brand new trolley and headed for The Lucas Theater neighborhood. Right here we loved a sushi lunch at Sushi Hana, an ice cream from the well-known Leopold’s Ice Cream Store and an virtually dinner at The Olde Pink Home…it was a Monday so The Olde Pink Home which was extremely really useful by my girlfriend Kristie, is closed on Mondays…
Inexperienced Tean- Sushi Hana
Coronary heart Formed Sushi – Sushi Hana
Our final trolley experience was to Forsyth Park which is Savannah’s largest and delightful inexperienced park which covers many Metropolis blocks. On the park we found the Forsyth Fountain which I noticed made for an ideal photograph op (smile).
The following day (Tuesday June tenth) we determined to spend on River Road since that was the very avenue that lured me again to Savannah. After I was in Savannah again within the day with my two nieces (my different niece Dimitrica had pushed up from North Carolina to go to with us on the condominium for just a few days) and three nice nephews and 1 nice niece, we landed on River Road and I fell in love. Again within the day there was a free riverboat ferry experience to the 4 squares of the Metropolis of Savannah, This free riverboat ferry would drop you off in a neighborhood (sq.) the place you’d spend a sure period of time earlier than getting again on the ferry to be transported to the subsequent sq. – we had a blast on all 4 squares. By the way that riverboat ferry now not exists, I suppose it was changed by the Hop On Hop Off paid Trolley rides as a result of there are now not simply 4 squares to go to, now there are 22!
River Road at this time is an entire vibe. From the JW Marriott Artwork Gallery which options breathtakingly lovely art work, to the sluggish leisurely walks by the river, to the eating places – from quick meals to informal meals to fancy meals, the connoisseur chocolate and sweet retailers with free samples and plenty of several types of popcorn, connoisseur espresso retailers, colourful bars, boutiques, and tour trolleys careening up and down the cobblestone avenue, River Road nonetheless has my coronary heart (thump, thump).
Uber Day was Wednesday as we had plans to go to an actual soul meals restaurant referred to as Geneva’s positioned about 20 miles east of downtown Savannah. We lucked out as a result of it was sunny, scorching and dry all day. After we requested the locals which eating places they really useful for soul meals, Genevas Well-known Hen and Cornbread Firm saved arising. And it was definitely worth the Uber experience – yum!
After Geneva’s we referred to as a brand new Uber and have been headed again to our lodge when our driver satisfied us to take a detour and go to Tybee Island. My niece Mona, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee and visited Savannah together with her son Harlem, extremely really useful that we go to this island, Mona was not fallacious (smile). And spontaneity dominated the day as a result of right here we have been, our bellys freshly full from lunch, headed to the seashore with no gear (smile). I’m so glad we made the journey – it was a enjoyable time – my type of island – seashore vibes and all!
On Wednesday night, nonetheless within the spirit of spontaneity, we purchased tickets to an Outdated City Trolley Ghosts and Gravestones tour. Ghost excursions appear to be all the craze so I learn up on why Savannah is taken into account certainly one of America’s most haunted cities. It comes down to those 5 causes: 1) Bloody Battles; 2) Lethal Illnesses; 3) Fearsome Fires; 4) Mysterious Murders and 5) Savage Slavery. I received’t go into it on this weblog submit however it’s an fascinating learn.
I most popular this 2 hour nighttime tour as a result of we really visited 2 completely different mansions (The Andrew Low Home and Perkins and Sons Ship Chandlery) the place the ghosts allegedly nonetheless reside (in contrast to a number of the different excursions the place you go to the precise graveyards which is little too creepy for my tastes). The Ghost tour and trolley value was $55 for Adults (youngsters below 13 weren’t allowed).
The very subsequent day Thursday June twelfth we headed to Franklin Sq. to go to Broughton Road and eat and store. We had a while to kill earlier than our subsequent tour: Savannah is for Morons so this close-by-to-us neighborhood was good for killing time.
After consuming we arrived to an air conditioned trolley tour referred to as Savannah is for Morons. It was 2 hours of continuous craziness and laughter. These 2 zany comedians, each named Dani, took us on a wild hilarious experience all through the Metropolis of Savannah and gave us a drunkard’s view of its historical past. We even (in the course of the tour) stopped at an irish bar referred to as McDonough’s for drinks which was ironic as a result of on this very day I used to be quietly celebrating my fifth 12 months anniversary of being sober (smile). Consequently I ordered a cranberry juice with lime (double smile).
On Friday we had a airplane to catch at 4 within the afternoon (by the way in which, Delta Airways is by far top-of-the-line airways I’ve ever flown on – from starting to finish, it looks as if they really take delight in customer support. I’m so glad my girlfriend Jeani has constructed her profession there). Finish of business (smile).
We walked again to the Metropolis Market neighborhood for extra procuring (I discovered a fab boutique referred to as Whispers that I didn’t wish to go away) and we lunched on the Cafe at Metropolis Market. We additionally spent a ton of time in a small artwork gallery which featured varied artisan and their wares. I met this dynamic artist by the identify of Jery Taylor – her work spoke for itself – merely lovely!
In order that’s my Savannah story. Enjoyable Reality – Forrest Gump’s iconic bus bench scenes have been filmed in Savannah Georgia. I’m positive you possibly can think about why the precise bus bench has since been moved to a Georgia museum for safekeeping (smile).
Sincerely,
TVFL
