Enjoying Beautiful Savannah Right Before the Storm

The iconic Forsyth Fountain.

Last Saturday we visited beautiful Savannah, Georgia, because my friend's daughter was getting married in nearby Pembroke. We arrived Friday evening at the Drury Inn in nearby Pooler where we had our reservation. The road construction on I-16 approaching I-95 made it difficult to find our exit. I don't recommend making an initial approach after dark.

After a good night's sleep and a wonderful breakfast, we headed into Savannah to explore. Our first stop was the visitor's center downtown where we made a plan for our next three days. We decided to drive downtown to find the Independent Presbyterian Church where we planned to worship Sunday. This beautiful church was founded in 1755 by Scottish Presbyterians who had settled in Savannah.

Tybee Island Lighthouse and Museum

Keith wanted to see Tybee Island, so we made the 25-minute drive. With marshes on one side and the river on the other, the drive out to Tybee crossed low-lying land. The water even came up onto the road in one place. Just when it seemed like the marshes would never end, we crossed a bridge and entered beautiful Tybee Island.

We love lighthouses, so our first stop was the Tybee Island Lighthouse. The 145-foot tall lighthouse is the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Georgia. First built in 1736, a lighthouse has been at this spot for nearly 300 years. It is still operational; however, guests are welcome to climb the 178 steps to the top where the view is spectacular. After every 25 steps there was a landing, so the climb really wasn’t bad, and the breeze at the windows grew more refreshing the higher we climbed.

Our lighthouse ticket also included a visit to the Museum at the historic Endicott Period Battery which was part of Fort Screven. The museum itself was worth the price of admission. It is filled with fascinating military artifacts and assorted memorabilia detailing Tybee's history. A 15-minute movie provided a wonderful pictorial overview.

All too soon we had to head back to our hotel to get ready for the wedding. Riley Anne Manor at VC Farms was the setting. Although it was over 80 degrees outside, the shade and breeze made for a comfortable experience. Kaci, the bride, was stunning, and her groom Garrett only had eyes for her all evening.

Sunday in Beautiful Savannah

We love to visit a local church any time we are traveling. The service at the Independent Presbyterian Church was a worshipful traditional celebration. Pastor Terry Johnson’s message from Haggai was deep and insightful. At least four people came over to greet us before the service, making us feel especially welcome.

After church we decided to try a little Puerto Rican restaurant right down the street from our hotel. Chazito’s Latin Cuisine is a hidden gem! I had fried yucca topped with shredded barbecued pork and beef.  A delicious sauce and avocado garnish made it perfect. Keith had empanadas with fried yuca. If you’ve never tried Puerto Rican food, you owe it to yourself to check it out!

Our afternoon adventure took us to River Street where we explored a variety of unique shops. We wandered past restaurants and through park areas, ending up at the ferry boat to Hutchison Island. This free ferry is a great way to cool off and see the Savannah River. It goes from the City Dock across the River to the Civic Center on the Island in the middle of the River. Then it crosses back to the mainland, landing near the Waving Girl Statue, which is where we got off.

This oak tree is over 300 years old. It was a landmark referenced by James Oglethorp, Savannah's founder.

Old Town Trolley Tour

We wanted a good overview of the city and its history on Monday morning, so we began the day with a 90-minute tour on the Old Town Trolley. The trolley thoroughly covers Savannah's historic district with 15 different stops where riders can hop off or get back on. After riding the full route and listening to Greg’s fascinating historical commentary, we got off at several points of interest.

Twenty-two city parks called “squares” dot the downtown area. Each one is named in honor of someone important to Savannah’s history, and many have statues. One of the most famous is the 30-acre Forsyth Park. The famous Forsyth Fountain is one of the most photographed images in the city. Ordered from a Sears catalog, the fountain was installed in 1858. It has been the site of countless marriage proposals, first kisses, and memorable moments!

No trip to Savannah is complete without a visit to Leopold’s for a delicious ice cream treat. With a line that stretches out the door, this place is popular for a reason: homemade ice cream that tastes like it just came from the creamery! While waiting in line, I looked in my purse for my phone and realized I had left it on the trolley. I remained fairly calm as my husband began to panic. Once we got our ice cream, we couldn’t find an empty table; however, a sweet younger couple invited us to sit with them. I mentioned my lost phone, and they showed us how to use my husband’s phone to track it on iCloud. What a blessing! The driver found it and took it back to the welcome station where we retrieved it.

Once we knew the phone was safe, we wandered back down to River Street where we caught one last ride on the Ferry before hopping back on the trolley. Our taste of Savannah left us hungry for more. However, just days after we left, Hurricane Helene hit this beautiful city leaving fallen trees and massive debris in its wake. As of today, city officials are still working to clean up the mess. Thankfully no major flooding or deaths were reported. Give them a little while to clean up, then plan your own visit to this beautiful historic city!