Posts tagged ‘Historic District Savannah’

As you walk the streets of Savannah’s Historic District, it’s very likely you’ll  have a few history questions.  You can check the tour guides for an answer of two. But if you want to go straight to the source, you may want to visit the Georgia Historical Society, located on the corner of Whitaker and Gaston Streets.

The Historical Society is one of the oldest historical societies in the United States, and the oldest cultural institution in the state of Georgia. Its mission is to “collect, preserve and share” Georgia’s history.

The society has a beautiful library, where thousands of researchers – from all over the world – visit each year.

It’s collections include  such treasures as:

- an original draft of the U.S. Constitution, one of only a handful in existence; – a compass and snuff box belonging to Georgia founder James Oglethorpe.

- records related to the Cherokee Removal and Trail of Tears of 1836.

- the correspondence of national figures such as U.S. presidents Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low.

It also has a manuscript collection of family papers, military records of every Georgia war, the papers of Georgia’s major political leaders,  plantation records, papers of social and cultural organizations, plus a lot more.

The library has some rules and regulations, so please observe them. It’s posted hours are:  Tuesday through Friday, 12 p.m. through 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Besides the libary, the Historical Society hosts many wonderful events that are open to the public. Here is a link to forthcoming Historical Society events.

(Post-script: We researched the 130-year-old Heritage House at the Georgia Historical Society. We were able to find records about the  builder, Alexander Marcus Barbee, and traced more than four generations of the Wessels family, who originally owned the house).

One of my favorite family events in Savannah is just around the corner. The Annual Sidewalk Arts Festival is scheduled this year for Saturday, April 25th.

This event, sponsored by Savannah College of Art and Design, is a great family activity for anyone visiting Savannah, whether you are on a budget or not.

For several hours, students let their imaginations run wild and draw chalk pictures on the sidewalks of Forsyth Park in Savannah’s Historic District.  Over the years, we’ve seen intricate renditions of dragons, sunsets, Savannah scenery, exotic fish and many more themes.

There is a competition for current SCAD students, alumni and prospective students. And, there’s also a faculty and student art exhibition, which is also a real treat.

Admission is free, and it’s open to the public. There’s also music, food kiosks and other entertainment for the kids.

But, what I like about it most is that it shows kids (particularly younger ones) that they don’t need video games or computers or even play dates for entertainment. They can sit down on the sidewalk with a couple pieces of colored chalk and draw whatever is on their mind.

That’s a great lesson to learn, even if it’s just one day a year.

For more information, visit the Sidewalk Arts Festival site.

Traveling on a budget to Savannah? Try saving money by staying in a Historic Savannah Vacation Rental.

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.

Child-friendly activities and a beach too!

Traveling with children under 6 is always a bit challenging. You need kid-friendly restaurants, plenty of diversions, parks and easy site-seeing opportunities.

If you’re interested in something more historic  and less expensive  than Disney World, you may want to try a Savannah vacation, particularly in the spring/summer months.

Savannah has the best of both worlds. It has a 100% walkable Historic District, with landmarks from the civil and revolutionary wars, as well as Tybee Island, a beach 20 minutes by car. So it’s a great way to split your time and keep both the parents and kids happy.

Historic District for Kids

The downtown Historic District – known for its beauty and rich history – also has wonderful places for kids to play. After living in Savannah for four years, we got to know them quite well (see pics below). Here are some of our favorites:

Roundhouse Railroad Museum – A favorite with boys. This outdoor museum has locomotives and a massive operating turntable from the 1800s. Kids can climb on the trains and let their imaginations run wild.

Whistle Stop Cafe – near the Roundhouse Railroad Museum on MLK Blvd., this cafe is actually a locomotive train. It’s great for breakfast and lunch.

Oatland Island- a wildlife habitat just outside of the Historic District. Plenty of animals to keep the family entertained – birds, alligators, deer, snake and many others.

Forsyth Park – This historic park, off of Gaston Street,  features a nice playground for kids, as well as large fields where they can run around. A coffee shop, the Sentient Bean, is nearby.

More than 20-well-coiffed squares – While these squares are a must-see for parents, kids love to play in them. Almost all the squares have historic monuments, so you can get a nice walking tour in while pushing a stroller.

River Street – While it’s highly focused on tourism, kids love to walk down this cobble-stone street and watch the boats on the river and the trolleys on the street.

There’s also events all spring and summer long that are perfect for kids. A good resource to find them is  Southern Mamas.

Historic District Vacation Rental

To get the best value for your vacation, try staying in a vacation rental in the Historic District, like the Gaston Street Getaway or Heritage House. You can walk to all the activities downtown, make meals in a fully equipped kitchen, and spread out in a house (instead of trying to cram the family into a hotel room).

Moreover, it’s only a twenty-minute ride to the beach. And, you can save money by staying downtown, instead of paying the in-season fees for beach rentals.

Hope Joelle doesn't fall in!

Colby pushing his sister's stroller near St. John the Baptist

Joelle and Colby playing in Forsyth Park

Resting at Forsyth Park

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.

Traveling to Savannah on a budget? Then, check out these tips to help stretch your vacation dollar:

- Avoid the tourist restaurants, primarily on River Street. There are plenty of wonderful places to eat throughout the Historic District. Many locals, in fact, go to Bay and Broughton Streets, where they can find diverse food for reasonable prices. A few reasonably priced local restaurants include: B.Matthews, 325 E. Bay Street, Juarez Mexican Restaurant on 420 E. Broughton Street, Saigon Restaurant on 4 West Broughton Street, Kayak Cafe on 1 E. Broughton Street.

- Pick up a free Connect Savannah at many new kiosks or stores downtown. You’ll find many free or low-cost events that are truly enjoyable.

- Stay in a Historic District Vacation Rental: There are plenty of comfortable and well-located vacation rentals available in the Historic District (thanks, in part, to the housing downturn).

These vacation rentals range from carriage houses to homes that can accommodate 10 or more people. They are highly cost-effective for couples traveling with other couples, or families. In fact, vacation rentals will decrease your lodging costs quite a bit. Most also have a fully equipped kitchen, so you can prepare a meal or two daily.

- Visit the Savannah Convention & Visitors’ Bureau on Martin Luther King Blvd. before you begin your touring to pick up free brochures, maps and advice from representatives there.

- Walking the streets provides its own storytelling. You can check out the architecture, wrought ironwork on the houses and plaques in the Historic District’s scenic squares. It will be a truly delightful walk.

The Historic District in Savannah is one of the most enjoyable walking cities. It boasts landmarks from many famous Revolutionary & Civil War Battles, more than twenty coiffed city squares, some of the nation’s oldest churches, and breathtaking Spanish moss. But before you embark on your walking journey, here are 10 tips to help you enjoy the city:

* Locals aren’t in the know: Don’t be upset if you ask a local where a certain square is located – most locals don’t know the names of all the squares.

* You don’t necessarily need a map: It’s next to impossible to get lost in the Historic District – all the streets run perpendicular and the river is North.

* The best view in town is up: To get a superb look at the downtown from 16 stories high, ride to the top of the Hilton Savannah Desoto on East Liberty Street.  Slip into the main ballroom and ask an employee for permission to take a couple of photos.

* Don’t confine yourself to the beaten path: Veer off it slightly to eat at The Pirate’s House on East Broad Street (on the outskirts of the Historic District), and ask if you can see the tunnel where slaves were escorted from the river.

* Keep it authentic:  Try dining in one of Savannah’s historic restaurants – The Olde Pink House, built in 1771 for James Habersham, one of the wealthiest Americans of his time; or 1790 Inn and Restaurant, located in the cellar of Savannah’s oldest hotel.

* Make sure you relax: Have coffee at Gallery Espresso on the corner of Bull and Perry Streets, and sit outside for some of the best people watching in America.

* Think about the Revolutionary, as well as Civil, War -  The “Siege of Savannah” occurred in 1779, when Franco-American forces attempted to retake Savannah from the British. The siege failed, leaving Savannah in British control until 1782. A landmark commemorating the Siege is off of Martin Luther King Boulevard.

* Enjoy the Spanish Moss from a distance: While the Spanish Moss draping the city is beautiful, don’t pick up any that has fallen to the ground. It’s laden with Red Bugs, also known as Chiggers, and they’ll bite.

* Remember:  The Lady and Sons Restaurant is not the only game in town: While Paula Deen’s restaurant is certainly the most famous, there are other wonderful places to eat.

* Don’t forget your running shoes: Forsyth Park is a great place for a jog or a brisk walk.

Even before Global Weirdness, the weather for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Savannah has been erratic. Some years, we bundled up in coats and mittens. Other years, we broke out the sunscreen.

The good news, though, is that even if it’s a totally blustery day, the parade is always memorable. To make the most out of the day – regardless of the weather – here are a few tips:

- Bathrooms, particularly clean bathrooms, are difficult to find. Most restaurants and stores prohibit the use of their restrooms for passersby. Some streets have portalets, but I wouldn’t use them unless it’s an absolute necessity.  In the past, the Parish Hall next to the Cathedral offered their bathrooms for a $1 per person.

- This year, Goodwill  Industries partnered with Royal Restrooms for a $5 all-day pass, with the proceeds beneffiting Goodwill. Royal Restrooms will be  located in the parking lot across from Kevin Barry’s & Fiddlers. Hours of operation will be Monday March 16 from 6pm-3am and Tuesday March 17 from 1pm-3am.

- Parking is a mess the night before and during the parade. If you go downtown on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day, make sure you have parked your car by 6 p.m. Otherwise, you will be trolling for hours for a spot.

- It’s not unheard of to see public drunkenness. So, if you are out and about with younger children, have a speech prepared in case you see someone falling over.

- Come back to Savannah. While St. Patrick’s Day is fun, it also gives only one glimpse of Savannah. There’s a whole lot more to see and enjoy.

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

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.