Southeast USA – Savannah

Part two of our Southeastern USA tour is all about the hostess city of the South: Savannah, Georgia. We arrived late in the afternoon following our two-night stay in St. Augustine, Florida. From our hotel in Savannah, it was an easy walk down cobblestone steps to famous River Street, which is where we headed first.

We had time for a quick dinner before our evening cruise on “The Georgia Queen” paddle-wheel boat.

The cruise was a relaxing way to enjoy the City’s thriving water-front, and to watch the ships come and go as the sun went down over the colorful harbor.

Even the industrial sections of the river were beautiful at sunset,

and the river front was impressively aglow after dark.

Our first evening in Savannah had certainly been fun, but I remember wondering where the quintessential southern charm was I had heard so much about. Where were the moss-draped trees? The park-like squares? The historic homes? I found all that and more the next day!

First up the following morning was a trolley ride through the renowned historic district. The trolley was a perfect way to see all the best places and to hear fascinating facts about them at the same time. When we got off the trolley, my husband and I walked the entire route again to take photos and really enjoy the atmosphere.

Savannah was settled in 1733 and was one of the first planned cities in the country. The early urban design included 24 original neighborhood squares all beautifully laid out decades before there was a United States of America. Of the 24 original squares, 22 still remain and are surrounded by picturesque churches, antebellum homes, historic inns and museums, all shaded by huge live oak trees.

Strolling past period architecture while horse-drawn carriages clop along the cobblestone streets and moss hangs from the trees overhead is truly an enchanting experience… like something from the movies! Actually, the town has been featured in several famous movies including “Forrest Gump”, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”, and the 2019 version of “The Lady and the Tramp”.   

Forsyth Park is home to the iconic Forsyth fountain, one of the most recognized and most photographed symbols of the city. Interesting fact: the fountain was erected in 1858 after it was purchased from a mail-order catalog.

Savannah is the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts of America. Visiting the home was a “must” for us so we could tell our Girl Scout granddaughter all about it.

At the center of the historic district is the landmark Gothic-Revival Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist.

It was founded in 1700 by French colonists but was destroyed by fire. The structure as it stands today dates to 1874.

In 2020, His Holiness Pope Francis decreed the Cathedral the title of Minor Basilica. I found this church to rival many of those I’ve seen in Europe in regard to architectural and artistic excellence.

If Southern charm were a place, it would definitely be Savannah! The city is simply beautiful. It oozes hospitality, has a great food, music and art scene, and enjoys a history unlike any other. We hated to leave!