Those of us who live in Atlanta already know this, but Savannah is a great option for a long weekend. Frankly, this historic party town is a great getaway from anywhere in the US And yes, if you visit Savannah during the summer, you will feel the heat and humidity.
Savannah became especially popular in the mid-1990s after the release of midnight in the garden of good and evil, a murder mystery that took place in the city’s historic district. Tourists rushed to see Monterey Square and the structures written about in the novel.
Monterey is one of 22 little squares, each a compact park, that define the historic district and help to beautify it. The squares are bordered and populated with native flower species. One-way streets surround the plazas.
Savannah has the world’s largest registered Urban and Historic District, encompassing approximately 1,200 major buildings. The original structures of the city remained intact for many years, initially as a result of the impoverished character of the population. Then, after World War II, preservation and renewal took center stage as Savannah residents, partly with an eye to attracting tourists, turned the old city into something beautiful.
A good way to get a feel for the lay of the land is to start at the Visitor Center and then hop on a trolley for a tour. Old Town Trolley Tours vehicles depart directly from the Visitor Center, and you can hop off at any stop and hop back on later. The price is $25. If you travel a short distance from the Visitor Center to 215 West Boundary Street in the Historic District, you can take an Oglethorpe Trolley Tour that is just as good for $10 less.
Savannah has some wonderful restaurants, but for me, a first night tradition is dining at Elizabeth on 37th, an acclaimed restaurant that blends American cuisine with Southern specialties. Elizabeth offers entrees such as wild Atlantic salmon roasted with garlic mustard, complemented by shrimp and grits with red-eye sauce. The elegant dining room is located in a mansion from the early 20th century. Founder and original chef Elizabeth Terry retired, but based on reviews, the restaurant is as good as ever. Elizabeth on 37th is a short drive or cab ride from downtown.
Some of Savannah’s other upscale dining establishments include The Olde Pink House, as notable for its 18th-century mansion as it is for its food, and Cha Bella, a Mediterranean restaurant that uses local organic produce and seafood from the local fish market. Two famous if less formal restaurants are Mrs. Wilkes’ Diner, where diners sit around large tables and share heaping plates of fried chicken, baskets of cookies and bowls of vegetables, and Lady & Sons, the bastion of Southern fare. from the Food Network star. Paula Dien.
River Street/Riverfront Plaza is a great place to walk after dinner. Speaking of dining, these nine renovated waterfront warehouse blocks contain plenty of restaurants, though not of fine-dining caliber. You’ll also find boutiques, galleries, pubs and even a pottery shop along the cobbled streets.