A Day in Savannah

Happy day, dear reader!

As you know if you’ve been here before, I love to travel! Even a day trip is a good thing. If you are new, Welcome! I hope you find something new or interesting during your visit today! Most of my posts are about style (my business) and capsule wardrobing. Today instead, we’ll visit a most stylish city, Savannah, Georgia.

I love Savannah! Savannah is a gorgeous southern city, and a major shipping port, an unusual combination. Savannah has many claims to fame, ranging from being the first city established in Georgia in 1733, to its beautiful squares. The city’s beauty is purported to be the reason it survived Sherman’s march to the sea that devastated so much of Georgia. Savannah was too lovely to destroy… Especially when the azaleas are in bloom, like they were this past weekend!

As you come into town from the highway, you are likely to end up on one of the boulevards that parallels the river. Find yourself a parking spot (you will have to pay) and get out on foot. You do NOT want to see Savannah by car. This is the middle of Oglethorpe…

The heart of Savannah is a thoroughly charming downtown planned around a series of green squares. Citizens and visitors alike take advantage of these shady spaces all year round. One helpful hint to know is that when you come to a square, turn right. Imagine an enormous (square) traffic circle with a park in the center, and you’ll get the idea…

We chose to make a day out of a trip to the cathedral for the Rite of Election for the candidates and catechumens entering the church this coming Easter. We planned brunch at our favorite downtown restaurant, Vic’s on the River, and were not disappointed! We have dined there quite a few times, but had never been there for brunch. I usually steer clear of self-serve restaurant brunches, but Vic’s was exceptional! I could wax poetic about the green beans and carrots. What a misnomer! Bright green tender crisp baby haricots with long thin shreds of carrot, a feast for the eyes and palette. The smoked cheddar grits won hubby’s approval, and he doesn’t even like grits! My custom made omelette was perfectly cooked and just the right size to enjoy and still leave room for some tasty side dishes. For the more health conscious, there was Greek yoghurt, berries and other fresh fruits, smoked salmon, bagels and cream cheese. There was also a carving table with prime rib and ham, but why bother when the fried chicken is tender and amazing! Arrrgh. My mouth is watering just writing about it.

After brunch, we walked our way to the Telfair Academy, one of the threeTelfair Museums, a group that includes the Telfair Academy, the Jepson Center (modern art), and the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters. One admission covers all three sites, and is good for 7 days, so admission is perfect for a longer visit. Unfortunately, we couldn’t work all three in on one Sunday afternoon. We’ll catch the Jepson Center next time we are in town. We visited the Owens-Thomas on a previous trip; it was a powerful experience. It is impossible to separate the slave history of the United States from the history of Savannah, and it is painful and necessary to be reminded of that crime and indignity lest we ignore those lessons of the past that inform the present and continue to shape our future.

I don’t think we were allowed to take pictures inside the Telfair Academy, so I missed the Bird Girl statue from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, but I did sneak a picture of this gorgeous work by Edward Willis Redfield because I knew it would make my mother’s heart sing. Day trips are no longer in her wheelhouse, unfortunately… But finding a new artist to love is always a treat!

After the museum, we grabbed a quick drink to take to the park before going to the cathedral.

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You can tour the cathedral (self-guided) Monday through Saturday, and every once in a while you might catch a led tour, but they are very rare. If you can attach yourself to one, it’s worth it for a different perspective! After the service, we headed to Leopold’s for ice cream, but when we saw the line all the way to the corner, we wandered back down to the river to grab an ice cream and some treats to bring home. If you are a praline lover, you can get into some serious trouble in Savannah!

If wandering around a cemetery doesn’t seem like a lovely way to spend an hour on a sunny afternoon, Colonial Park Cemetery might just change your mind. You’ll find Spanish moss dripping from trees, restored tombstones and mausoleums, and more history than you find in your average textbook!

There are so many other lovely places to visit in Savannah, this was just one quick afternoon. Now I have an excuse to go back as I need pictures of all our other favorite places to play! Have you been to Savannah? What is your favorite place to eat? (Can you tell we are all about the food?) What do you love to see and do? Let me know in the comments below… I love to hear from you as much as I love to travel!

Stylishly yours,