O.K. Admit it. How many of you have driven I-95 to Florida and back and have passed the Hardeeville/Savannah Georgia exits, seen all the commercialism at the exits (restaurants/Wal-Mart etc.) and said to yourself “nothing to see here”. I know you have, because I’ve done it myself on more than one occasion.
Boy, are you missing something. Downtown Savannah is beautiful! Very old, very southern and very Colonial British.
While in Hilton Head, we took a day trip to Savannah (an hour away) and had an absolute wonderful time. Lots of history. Lots of GHOSTS! We took a horse-drawn carriage tour and though we didn’t pay for the private tour, it ended up just being the four of us so in effect, we had a private tour. And Cathy, our “not so southern” tour guide was absolutely fabulous. Played the southern belle role to a tee!
We saw most of the major sites during our hour long tour (including the spot where Forrest Gump sat on the park bench waiting for the bus), then walked to one of the city’s famous restaurants and stood in line for a long time to get in.
Now here’s something they don’t tell you on the tour. For the protection of those involved, I won’t mention the name of the restaurant or the parties involved, but let’s just say this is one of Savannah’s best known restaurants where you sit down with total strangers to eat off of a set menu. Anyway, Brian and I stood in line for well over 1/2 hour and really hadn’t moved that far while our wives sat on a bench nearby. My wife, being the outgoing person she is, started chatting with one of the patrons who had just left the restaurant. Next thing I know, Brian and I are being summoned out of the line to join our wives at the back entrance to the restaurant. Five minutes later we were led through the kitchen and to a table inside, food waiting for us. Seems the patron had connections with a certain high ranking staff member in the restaurant and with a little “exchange” we were in. Fitting, you only hear of that stuff in the movies and since Savannah is a prime location for movie sets, our experience fit in.
After a great lunch, we strolled the streets for awhile, sat and had a Lime and Lager in front of a 200 year old pub that is prominently featured on every tour and then spent some time down by the wharf, home of the old cotton exchange.
Bottom line, next time you’re passing by, take at least a half day and stop in. You’ll enjoy it!
