Savannah, Georgia

Hello, everyone! This week's post is about Savannah, GA. What a beautiful and artistic town. I spent a week there last month, my 5th visit. If you have never been and get the opportunity, don't pass it up! I will try my best to get the facts correct:

Savannah was originally built on the plans of General James Oglethorpe. He didn't want anyone to be able to rush through town so he designed 24 "squares" (small parks). All of the roads intersect with the squares so that you are always going around the squares, making it impossible to drive quickly, and making for a really beautiful city. Each square has a monument and several benches along with sidewalks so as you walk around you can take a break at any time to have a snack..or paint a painting, which many artists do. There are now 21 squares still in existance (1 is being restored and 2 are forever lost).

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) currently owns 63 buildings in the historic district. There are many galleries of the work of both current and past students and many art supply stores. SCAD has one particular gallery/shop (http://www.shopscadonline.com/) that showcases the art of mostly undiscovered artists. Artists are everywhere and most are very friendly and willing to take a minute to chat and show you their work. There are lots of diverse "out of the mainstream" artists along with the traditional artists.

River Street is the tourist mecca (along with Paula Deen's "Lady and Sons" restaurant which is a few block away). Shops and restuarants line one side of the street and street artists and performers occupy the other. It's not a very long street so it's easy to see the majority of River Street and then move on to other interesting shops and galleries all within walking distance. I usually try to stay somewhere in the middle of town so that once you arrive in Savannah, no more driving! The car stays parked and we get lots of exercise and lots of "wandering time" to see galleries, coffee shops (where my daughters and I like to journal or draw while we enjoy our coffee) or just sit in the parks. We also make sure to go to City Market, good restaurants and great galleries.

Savannah is also considered the most haunted city in the United States so you must take a ghost tour. The trolley is best (there are also walking tours and "Pub Crawls"...this would be fun with a lot of friends but my husband and I went alone and by the end, people you don't know are simply drunk and obnoxious!). There is a beuatiful old cemetary in the center of town and lots of stories to go with it! It closes at dark so make sure to take a stroll through during the day.

I could really go on and on, Savannah is simply my favorite city (so far). You will find plenty of brochures and information at the visitor's center in the historic district but just walking around is the best way to see it. I book a house through www.savannahgetaways.net . Aubrey is THE MAN! He will make sure you get exactly what you need in accommodations. The site has a great map. I generally stay in Sections 2,3, 5 or 6.