A few days ago, I returned from a four-day trip to Savannah with my best friend, Nadia. Now let the post-vacation blues sink in... Sadness aside though, the memories we made will warm my heart and fill it with joy even 30 or 40 years from today. Living in a digitally driven, media-based society, Nadia and I took enough photos that my iPhone storage could not even keep up. As I sift through these photos in an attempt to grasp onto the place or event displayed by them, I am realizing that Savannah, Georgia, has the best of both worlds: rich with history but also modernity. I have visited twice in the past, once in the winter and another in the spring, so having captured different facets of the city with each visit, I can confirm that it is truly a lovely, magical place. With the following eight reasons why I love Savannah, I hope to convince you of my statement and why it should be a destination on everyone's travel bucket list.
1. Proximity to Tybee Island
2. The photo-ops everywhere
I noted above that Nadia and I took an embarrassing amount of photos. That statement is no exaggeration, but you have to excuse us. Being the oldest town in Georgia, Savannah is a city abound with picturesque parks and squares, cobblestone streets lined with boutiques and restaurants, and architecture with endless history buried in its walls. The city also stretches along the Savannah River, which pours into the Atlantic Ocean and affords impeccable views of the waterfront that are as beautiful at night as they are in the daytime. It is quite difficult not to snap a photo. Or ten.3. Southern Living's "Most Beautiful Street in North America"
It seems impossible to choose the most aesthetically pleasing place in a city already brimming with beauty, but Jones Street does live up to its title given by Southern Living magazine. With quaint townhouses, enchanting trees strung with Spanish moss, and a serene atmosphere, this street would make anyone reconsider moving to Savannah to fight for a spot on the highly sought-after Jones Street.
4. Mouth-Watering Food
Prior to going on the trip, I bookmarked a few restaurants and coffee shops on Yelp to check out once we arrived in Savannah, but I soon found that unnecessary. At the beginning of each day, Nadia and I had no idea what we planned to eat for our meals, but even so, we were able to find something to our liking anytime we needed a bite to eat. People who visit Savannah do not need to concern themselves with the struggle of finding food. From Southern-style to Tex-Mex, Asian fusion to seafood, the palate of Savannah's cuisine is extremely diverse and caters to any taste. Most of our meals were unplanned and spontaneous, and there was not one we regretted.
The desserts here in Savannah are a whole different story, and I mean that in the best possible way. As frugal college students, Nadia and I made an effort to buy a single serving of something then share it. Having a little bit of everything actually worked in our favor since it not only reduced the cost of our overall trip but also saved room in our appetites to try an assortment of foods. I, and surely Nadia would, recommend the coconut flavor at Leopold's Ice Cream shop, the mint chocolate chip ice-cream at Vic's On the River, and the milk chocolate pralines from Savannah's Candy Kitchen on River Street or in City Market. Even thinking about them makes my mouth water.
5. Dozens of parks and Squares
(Top: here, Bottom: Claire Chan)
For my nature-loving self, the myriad of squares and parks at essentially every block in the Historic District was probably my favorite feature of the city. Although I was there for only a few days, I became well acquainted with the District's straightforward layout, an impressive feat for "America's first planned city." From Pulaski Square to Wright Square, these green community spaces comprise a bulk of the Historic District. To reach any place, we often had to cross through several squares on our way. I was curious as to why Chippewa Square of all the squares was one of the must-see sites in Savannah and soon discovered that it was where Tom Hanks filmed a scene for his film, "Forrest Gump." Unfortunately, the bench where Hanks sat in the movie is no longer there, but that did not stop us from attempting, with some success, to take a photo at the exact spot where he sat over 20 years ago.
Reviewing many "Things to do in Savannah" lists before our trip, I came across Forsyth Park several times, and it is easy to understand why people consider it a must-see in Savannah. Sitting on a 30-acre plot of land, the park is complete with a dozen pathways extending from the dazzling white fountain in the center. We visited this park twice, and both times, soccer games were taking place -- a display of the park's attraction to tourists and locals. I also could not fail to notice all the Spanish moss climbing up the trees. The moss is strewn throughout the entire city, but in Forsyth Park, its abundance proves most intriguing. A coffee shop, The Sentient Bean, is located directly across the street on Park Avenue and is perfect for an afternoon treat; they make a mean cold brew!
6. Museums
Aside from books, nature and coffee, I also love museums, especially art museums. On our first full day in Savannah, we headed to the SCAD Museum of Art where we were met with a wide range of contemporary art. The pieces on display were unlike the more traditional ones I had observed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. For example, the photo above shows me amongst five Everlast punching bags adorned with colorful beads and tassels; what an interesting spectacle! And lucky for us, student tickets cost $5.
We also made it to the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences located in the aptly named Telfair Square. The mansion-turned-museum has a room of portraits, which Nadia and I had some fun deciding which ones we were most like based on an individual's facial expression, dress, and posture. In addition to the Telfair Academy, our $15 student tickets gave us access to the Jepson Center and the Owens-Thomas House. We only had enough time to visit the Jepson, which is currently holding an "Elvis at 21" exhibit featuring photos taken by Alfred Wertheimer. Having written a research paper on Presley back in high school, I was excited to refuel my interest in the King of Rock 'n Roll at this gallery. The Jepson Center also contains the famous "Bird Girl" statue, which was originally at Bonaventure Cemetery and can be seen on the cover of John Berendt's book, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."
7. History
The Savannah Historic District was declared a National Historic Landmark district in 1966, so we made certain to explore some of the city's history, initiated by James Oglethorpe's landing in the early 1700s. Historic markers are stationed all over the city and provide brief descriptions of each bell, cannon and building in front of which the markers are posted. During our trip, I did not stop at each marker to read what is written on it because I did exactly that the last time I visited. However, this time, I was able to perceive a clearer sense of the historical richness and antiquity embedded in the city through experiencing its museums, a ghost tour, and a colonial hotspot, The Olde Pink House. There is something fresh and alluring about roaming a city whose history dates back several centuries, quite the contrary to my life in the metropolis of Atlanta that, despite also having a rich history, seems to be driven by the stronger forces of technology and industrialization.
8. Bonaventure Cemetery
Roughly 20 minutes outside of the Historic District lies the Bonaventure Cemetery with Wilmington River nearby. It may seem unusual that we went out of our way to visit a cemetery, but its elaborate gravestones and scenic pathways (it rests on a bluff) have made Bonaventure Cemetery a tourist site of its own, even offering guided tours of the 160-acre area. We visited in the morning, so the weather had not yet reached full humidity, and the birds and insects were the only discernible sounds for awhile. I highly recommend taking a stroll through this cemetery to gaze at the beautiful tombs and surrounding nature. You can also find the tombstone of a renowned American poet, Conrad Aiken, here!
Although I do not formally list these as reasons, the shopping, the inside of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and the amicable "Savannahians," as I should call them, add to the rich flavor of the city. I could rave endlessly about Savannah, but I should probably stop before this turns into a full-fledged tourists' guide. I hope to revisit this city of wonder and charm in the very near future; you should too!
