Savannah is for Lovers

My awesome husband gifted me for my birthday and to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary a trip to Savannah, GA. I have been talking about visiting Savannah since I discovered Paul Deen. I’m a New York City girl but truly southern at heart.

We stayed at The Eliza Thompson House on Jones Street, voted the most beautiful street in North America. As we walked into the house it was like we had been transported back in time to when charm and elegance were at it’s peak. Our room was very romantic and overlooked the beautiful courtyard. My favorite thing about our stay there was that every evening wine and h’orderves were served in the parlor followed by dessert later in the night. Guest at the house gathered in the parlor to eat and converse. We got to meet some wonderful people that we hope to stay in touch with. Breakfast is also provided ever morning in an enclosed space in the courtyard.

On the day we arrived we took the Oglethorpe Trolley Tour to get to know the area and it’s history. I’m a big history buff and Savannah has deep rooted history in every corner. The tour is named after James Edward Oglethorpe the english man who colonized Savannah. An interesting fact is that all the statues that honor southern heroes always face there enemy. If you like Girl Scouts cookies you will be happy to know that Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts, was born in Savannah and you can tour her birth places.

No need to rent a car or drive, walking is the best way to take in the beauty of Savannah’s historical district. Each day we focused on a different part of town to spend our time, which revolved around where we wanted to eat.

River Street: Overlooks the Savannah River full of shops and restaurants. We ate lunch at The Cotton Exchange, I had the best crab chowder, my first time ever having fired green tomatoes, and sweet potatoes fries with their signature cinnamon butter dip.

City Market: A must stop is the Savannah Candy Kitchen to pick-up a few pounds of pralines for yourself and to bring back home to friends. Near by is The Lady & Sons Paul Deen’s restaurant; the buffet is the best way to get to try a great variety of dishes. A few blocks east is The Olde Pink House the perfect place to have an elegant romantic dinner and the best fried chicken I ever had.

Brought Street: The main shopping area where you can find almost every major name brand shop. We could go shopping back home but with no kids along we had to a least stop at Banana Republic to treat ourselves. The Paris Market is this beautifully magical shop, I absolutely wanted everything. After all the shopping a stop at Leopold’s Ice Cream is a must.

Telfair Square: The Telfair family of Savannah was one of the most prominent in Georgia during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. There are several buildings and museums in the area that bear the Telfair name. Mary Telfair, the last descent, left the family mansion to the Georgia Historical Society. If you are familiar with the book and movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” you will find the iconic “Bird Girl” statue in the Jepson Center along with other works of art.

Chippewa Square: Marks the spot were Forrest Gump sats on the bench to narrate his story. Although the bench is no longer there, it can be found at the Savannah History Museum, so find your own bench to rest and take in the surroundings. The Savannah Theater, the oldest in the United States can be found just around the corner.

Jones Street: Our home away from home. A tree lined street with the most beautiful homes. The corned beef hash at Clairy’s Cafe is so delicious. Tea time is alway a must for me where ever I travel too, Gryphon is a classy cafe that has a decadent tea service.

Bonaventure Cemetery: A gothic cemetery not only made famous by some of it’s inhabitants but also by writers, poets, photographers and filmmaker that have captured it’s haunting beauty. I never imagined a cemetery could be so beautiful. Maurice who is a photographer could not put his camera down at the sight of nature, stone, and light working together. We walked and explored the grounds ourselves but there are a few tours that take you there. We followed some of the guided tours to get the back story on some of the most famous spots in the cemetery.

Savannah’s beautiful streets, architecture, and squares make the perfect backdrop for romance. The best part of the trip was holding hands and talking as we explored the town. A kiss in front of the Forsyth Park fountain is inevitable. A most needed trip for this tried couple who needed a break from our boys and daily responsibilities.

Tips

Eliza Thomson House staff will help you set up any tours you want to take. Most tours will send a van to pick you up in front of the hotel.
There are a lot of museums so go with a plan for those you want to explore.
Make sure to check dates of operations. We had a few places we wanted to go but were closed for the month of January.
Uber is the best car service to get around for side trips or to get to and from the airport. We took an Uber car to Bonaventure Cemetery, it’s a 20 minute drive from the historical district.

Happy Travels,

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