Posts tagged ‘Downtown Savannah Tips’

Coming to Savannah, GA for July 4th weekend? Here are a few free and paid events in and around Savannah that you may want to consider:

Savannah

Fourth of July on the River
July 4
Phone: 912.234.0295
Admission: Free and open to the public
Location: Historic River Street

Festivities begin at 5 p.m. on the plaza with live entertainment, ice cream eating contests and more. Bring your radios tuned into KIX 96.5 as the fabulous fireworks will be choreographed to music simulcast on KIX. Fireworks will begin around 9:20 p.m.

July 4th Fireworks Cruise
July 4
8:30pm to 10:30pm
Location: 9 East River Street
Visit the website or call 912.232.6404

Savannah Swings! at the Lucas Theatre
July 4 – 4
Phone: 912.525.5050
Admission: 25 – adults, $10 – children
Location: Lucas Theatre, 32 Abercorn Street

The Lucas Theatre continues this great annual tradition with patriotic, swingin’ music, a New Orleans-style procession and reserved seats on River Street.

First, enjoy a big-bang concert in the air-conditioned Lucas Theatre with “Jeremy Davis and the Fabulous Equinox Jazz Orchestra” with singers Clay Johnson, Adam Jones, Trae Gurley and Huxsie Scott and Special Guest Kim Polote.

Then, follow the band, New Orleans-procession style from the front of the Lucas down the Abercorn ramp down to River Street. There, you will find reserved seats for fireworks viewing right on the river.

First Saturday on the River
July 4 – 4
Phone: 912.234.0295
Admission: Free and open to the public
Location: Historic River Street

Arts and crafts, entertainment and fun for the entire family on Historic River Street.

FourthFest at Battlefield Memorial Park, the Roundhouse Railroad Museum and Savannah History Museum in downtown Savannah
10 AM-6 PM Sat. July 4

Battlefield marches, musket and cannon firing demos, archaeology games, train rides, blacksmithing demos,  children’s activities and a chance to drive a hand car.
$13 adults, $4 children 6 and younger. (this includes admission to all the museums above)
912.651.6823
Email jxamis@chsgeorgia.org

Tybee Island

Event: Fireworks at The Pier
Date: July 3rd
Location:  Tybee’s pier and pavilion
More information: http://tybeevisit.com/

Event: Celebrating America at Fort Pulaski
Date: July 4 – July 5
Time: 10am to 4pm
Location:  Fort Pulaski
More information: www.nps.gov/fopu/

Richmond Hill

Event: July 4 Celebration at Ft. McAllister
Date: July 4
Time: 10am to 4pm
Location: Fort McAllister Road
More information: Visit website

Statesboro

Event: Independence Day T.E.A. Party
Date: July 4
Time: 4pm to 6pm
Location: Mill Creek Elementary (Across from Mill Creek Park)
More information: www.bullochtea.com

Rincon

Event: 4th of July Parade and Festival
Date: July 4
Time: 10am to 2pm
Location: Rincon
More information: www.cityofrincon.com

Hilton Head Island

Event: 24th Annual Hilton Head Firecracker 5000
Date: July 4
Time: 8am to 9am
Location:  Mall at Shelter Cove
More information: http://www.bearfootsports.com

Event: HarbourFest 2009 July 4th Celebration
Date: July 4
Time: 6pm to 10pm
Location: Shelter Cove Harbour
More information: http://www.palmettodunes.com

Bluffton

Event: Annual 4th of July parade
Date: July 4

Beaufort

Event: Beaufort’s Tea Party
Date: July 4
Time: 12pm to 2pm
Location: Bay Street at Bladen Street, downtown Beaufort
More information: www.beaufortteaparty.webs.com

And, for a little trivia about July Fourth from FarmersAlmanac.com:

Old Glory
Did you know, that there have been 28 versions of the U.S flag to date, and that the most recent one, designed after Alaska and Hawaii joined the union, was the result of a school project

Robert Heft was 17 when he came up with the flag design in 1958. He originally got a B- on the project, but when his pattern won the national competition to become the next flag, his teacher raised his grade to an A.

Need a place to stay? Heritage House and Gaston Street Getaway offer special rates in July.

In August, 2008, we reluctantly moved to Atlanta from our lovely Gaston Street house (now known as Gaston Street Getaway).   My husband had gotten a great job in the Kennesaw area and we needed the extra income, now that we have a third child.

I was able to convince my husband to let us come back to Savannah for a vacation this month, while he toiled away in Atlanta, eating fast food and lamenting the fact that he’s a “terrible bachelor.”

So for the past two weeks, the baby, two older kids, the nanny and I have stayed at our Gaston Street vacation home,  enjoyed every minute of  downtown Savannah living. However, as a tourist, versus resident, I’m looking at things a bit differently.

For starters, I was always puzzled when I saw people traveling down the wrong way on one of Savannah’s many one-way streets. It seemed so intuitive. But now, I realize how easy it is to head in the wrong direction.

I was driving from Bay Street the other day, and I inadvertently went the wrong way down Taylor Street (which I mistakenly thought was Gordon Street). The folks on the corner laughed at me, but I was horrified. I could have caused a serious accident.

I also realized that the Kroger on Gwinnett Street is not a great place to shop late at night. While there’s security in and around the store, it’s a bit scary when it’s dark. (For some reason, I overlooked that fact when I was a resident).

On the plus side, the playground at  Matilda Beasley Park is far more cleaner than it was a year ago. No more glass, wrappers and litter dot the play area. It also seems to attract a better, family-oriented crowd (in the past, it had attracted some stragglers and seedy folks).  So, that was a very pleasant surprise, and a treat for the older kids.

Finally, I took a good look at our Gaston Street Getaway as a “temporary renter” versus resident. While it’s absolutely lovely, there were a few things that were missing. The living room television didn’t work optimally. So I replaced it.  We didn’t have a handheld dust-buster/vacuum to clean up spills, so I bought one. And, we had mistakenly locked some additional folding chairs in one of the closets. So, I pulled those out and made them accessible.

But one thing I didn’t fully appreciate: the home’s fantastic location and neighborhood. The Gaston Street Getaway is located in a truly wonderful part of the Historic District – it’s so accessible to everything and yet very quiet.  It also has some lovely neighbors, who are friendly and willing to lend a hand.  So, from both a tourist and resident’s perspective, I think it’s a wonderful place to stay.

Treat Your Kids to the Beach and Ice Cream at the Sugar Shack

The Sugar Shack at Tybee Island

If you plan on vacationing in Savannah this summer, make sure you visit Tybee Island, about 20 minutes by car from the downtown Historic District.

It’s a wonderful beach, and a great day trip.

Unlike its neighbors to the North And South, Tybee Island isn’t over-commercialized. It’s also free, and open to the public. There are a few paid parking lots, as well as street parking. But make sure you bring plenty of quarters, because the meter maids are vigilant.

After spending a day at the beach, we recommend that you treat your kids to the “The Sugar Shack”, a Tybee ice cream parlor that opened in 1960.  (Although it looks like some of the furnishings still date from that period, the ice cream is very good).

Bruce Grosse owns the place with his parents.  He and his brothers started out selling boiled peanuts (a Savannah delicacy) up and down the beach.  They saved up $2,000 and ended up buying “The Sugar Shack” at a silent auction.

You can’t miss the place.  It’s on the left just before you go around a big curve on Butler Avenue.

And by the way, we were raised on the Sugar Shack, and our kids are getting their fair share of soft serve ice cream and banana splits, too.

Just to set the record straight, we thought it might be helpful to mention some of the biggest lies you could hear during your Savannah visit.  One or two are just “marketing spin.” Others are downright distortions of the truth.

Biggest Lies Heard in Savannah:

1) Green grits taste good.

Yes, green grits are often served on St. Patrick’s Day. And, no matter how much butter or salt you put on them, they just are awful.

2) Savannah was spared the real estate downturn.

Huh? There are tons of houses for sale in Savannah right now, and many have been on the market for a long time.

When people couldn’t sell their home in the northeast, investment and second homes went south in Savannah. Other factors also hit the Savannah market hard. But suffice to say, Savannah wasn’t spared the downturn.

3)  It’s not too hot in June.

This one falls in the “marketing spin” category. True, it’s not too hot, if you don’t mind weather over 80 degrees or sometimes higher.

4)  You can park downtown.

Perhaps in the year 2010. But right now, there’s not enough parking spots. If you stay in an Historic District vacation rental, you don’t have to worry about parking, because you can walk everywhere downtown. But if you don’t, expect to circle around quite a bit before you find a spot.

5) Trolley tour guides don’t exaggerate.

Yeah, right.  We’ve heard some crazy tales from tour guides, and I’m sure somewhere, there was kernel of truth.

St. Patrick’s Day is one of Savannah’s most enjoyable and well-known events. It starts with festivities the night before, when just about every Downtown, Savannah bar is packed with both tourists and locals savoring green beer and changing their ancestry to Irish (If they are not already).

Our favorite place is Pinkie Masters. It’s on the corner of Drayton and Liberty (just a few blocks from the Heritage House). It’s much more of a locals hang out than a tourist attraction, and if you go there, you’ll see what we mean.

One interesting tidbit, my husband Mark saw former President Jimmy Carter at Pinkie Masters in the early eighties. He was there with his security team – and just a few feet away. Wonder what he thought of it?

Check out it’s Facebook page.

Watch the Cars!

Driving in Downtown Savannah is fairly easy.  But, there are also some quirky traffic rules that you should be cognizant of:

- Traffic flows counter-clockwise around the Historic District’s beautiful squares. That means cars turn right to enter a square.

- Cars already traveling around the square have the right of way.  Cars entering the square must yield.  This doesn’t always happen, so look both ways and don’t expect every driver to understand the concept.

- Cars don’t always stop for pedestrians in walkways.  I know, they should.  But truthfully Savannah has seen a lot more tourists since “the book” became a bestseller, and everyone has become slightly more impatient on the road.  This is especially true in downtown Savannah where tour buses slow the flow down.  Don’t get us wrong – we love to show off our town to visitors!  And 99% of the drivers will stop and let you by, plus return your friendly wave.

- One-way streets abound in downtown Savannah, and sometimes the signs are hard to see.  Price Street outside your front door is one way, and unfortunately this inspires some drivers to go too fast.  Please be sure to leave plenty of distance between you and the oncoming traffic as you cross the street.  And always look both ways twice, even if it’s a one-way street.

Planning to visit Savannah? Please check out our historic Savannah vacation rental.