Anniversary Weekend in Savannah, GA

I was driving home from a long day of work when my car suddenly announced in its sarcastic robot voice, " ANNIVERSARY IN 2 WEEK, CONGRATS LARRY". I realized I was woefully unprepared this year.

I have no idea what men have left in the imagination department on their 30th Anniversary. That's probably why they just start buying expensive shit like diamonds and cars, they can't think of anything else.

I've been with my wife for 8 years. That's eight birthdays, eight Christmases, eight Valentines Days,  I think your getting the idea. Its not easy to keep your woman impressed after you continue to one up yourself year after year. So I did the only thing I could do; drank whiskey and hit the Google Search button on my desktop. What I found turned out to be a perfect weekend in Savannah, GA.

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I must say, recently I haven't been blown away by the last few locations I have visited. Savannah definitely changed all that. From the moment we rolled into the historical district there was a unique feel and look. It is a city filled with historic architecture, artistic antiquity, and beauty in the form of nature. 

The trees are the most immediate and prominent feature of the area. Gorgeous Live Oaks, Magnolias, Crepe Myrtles and Palms. The Spanish Moss hanging from these trees (seen above) was not only aesthetically pleasing but it sure helped to further block out the unrelenting GA sun. Savannah was an oasis with a canopy that covered nearly every sidewalk and street.

We stayed at the Hilton in the downtown historical district. It was reasonably priced for being in the perfect location ($150 and up). The hotel is definitely older and a bit dated so don't expect anything new or modern. We don't spend much time in our room so as long as its clean and safe it's good by us.  Overall, it was a quality place with an full breakfast buffet including smoked salmon, assorted cold cuts, crepes, and omelets made to order. We were more than pleased with our stay. As a testament, my wife who has serious sleeping problems said she never had a better nights sleep.

If you plan on bar hopping this is the place to stay. There is absolutely no need for a car or even a taxi. The only downside is the the hotel is valet parking only which means $20 a night. There is however, free parking during weekends in the city. Everything is packed into a relatively small space, probably 1-2 square miles.

One of the most notable highlights of the city..... you can drink in public! You are free to walk into any bar, order you drink "to go" and they will serve it to you in a plastic cup. Then simply walk your happy ass out the door, drink in hand. The first bar we went to at 12:30pm had a bartender who started taking shots with us while she was working. Now that's what I'm talking about people. It reminded me of Venice, as certain places in Italy had a similar policy. For all those bar hoppers out there here is a list of places to start.

If you aren't much of a party animal, don't worry, there's a lot more to offer then some strong drinks. One very popular location for people to enjoy a good evening dinner is the  The Olde Pink House. It came highly recommended from a friend who spent a lot of time in Savannah. Found in the center of town, it has some great architectural qualities, both inside and out. The food was also impressive with a range of options from burgers to steaks. Prices were better than expected, especially since this is a premier restaurant downtown. It was a little over $50 for the whole meal with wine.

Here's a buftravels tip for ya- reserve a table in the basement, especially if your looking for a romantic dinner setting. You won't be disappointed.

Other Savannah Specialties

Savannah is a city of architectural gold. That may be a bold statement considering I have zero architectural knowledge. To put it simply, the buildings, streets, and the walkways are "old". Cobblestone sidewalks, iron bridges and railings, especially on River Street. Combined with the looming trees overhead, this extenuates Southern Gothic imagery at every turn. And no, I didn't know what Southern Gothic was, so I looked it up.......in a book. Anyone?

Well anyway, it was a throwback in time to walk through. The city offered a chance to see an eclectic mix of handmade goods, antiques, and souvenirs. After finding yet another shot glass for my buftravels collection which now stands at 21 destinations, we made our way back. 

With all the great antiques, handmade crafts, and local art, its easy to forget the candy. There are two major candy shops in downtown Savannah; one on River St called River St. Sweets Candy  and the other on Julian Street by the name of City Market. They both make most of their candies by hand. You can't leave Savannah without eating at least one Praline. Make sure to stop by the shop on River St. They make them daily and will offer you free samples as soon as you come in. Neither me or my wife are big sweet tooth's but these Pralines are serious. Disclaimer: if you have a nut allergy you might die if you walk in here.

While the free samples are great, I wouldn't bother buying anything at this shop unless you like paying top dollar for you confections. Best bet is to check out the City Market Candy shop on Julian street to purchase in bulk. Also, the City Market shop has a special treat that not many candy stores have. I'm talking about flavored crickettes of course. I was hoping they would have some sugary flavors. Instead the box was lined with Sour Cream & Onion, Bacon & Cheese, and Salt & Vinegar. I tried but I couldn't get the wife to participate in this one. Do you want to know what they tasted like?

Go into your kitchen - find some Triscuts - and eat one. It was the taste of disappointment my friends. If you don't have Triscuts just go find a piece of cardboard, sprinkle a little salt on it, and enjoy.

I thought they would have more flavor...

We weren't even finished with day one at this point. The city offered much more than we had bargained for. To see the rest of my Savannah, GA photos check out my Savannah, GA page here.

View from our hotel room at the Hilton in downtown Savannah