Posted on by Randy

Savannah: Week #1, Historical District Walking Tours

We are now into our eleventh month as full-time RVers after I retired from my accounting job and the company I worked at for 44 years.  It is hard to imagine sometimes.  In our travels so far we have found a few gems that left us wanting to come back for another visit.  Savannah GA is one of those places.  We have three more weeks remaining for our stay here that includes a visit from some family that we are excited about.

Me on one of our hikes around the Red Gate estate.
We saw this barge lumbering down the river.  There is a website where you enter the ship’s name and can see the destination port and current location of any ship.
The Independent Presbyterian Church built in 1891.

For those not familiar with the city of 150,000 people, it is the oldest city in the state of Georgia.  Established in 1733, on the Savannah River, it was the first state capital and held a strategic position as a port city.

A pedal powered, mobile bar. Sightsee, get some exercise, and a drink.

The city streets are big and bold and are lined with large majestic oak trees draped with spanish moss.  The Historic District is well laid out by English designers that include 22 beautiful public parks in a grid design of streets.  It has a riverfront, many old cobblestone streets, beautiful old mansions, and places to eat or drink on every corner.

The Savannah Cotton Exchange stands as a grand reminder of cotton’s influence on this city. Built in 1886 by Boston architect William G. Preston, the cotton exchange was one of the first major buildings to be constructed entirely over a public street. Built of red brick with a terra cotta façade, iron window lintels and copper finials and copings, the building is one of the best surviving examples of the Romantic Revival period.  (source: visit Savannah)

It is also legal to carry a drink in most of the historical district.  And most do.  In one of the tours, the guide said one of the difference between Charleston SC (just up the road), and Savannah is the first thing they ask in Charleston is what family are you from?  In Savannah, it is what do you want to drink?  A very friendly place indeed.

Perhaps too much drink? Or how I felt after our 4 miles walking through town.

I have done a lot of research about the place on the web and youtube.  They do have a crime issue in some of the neighborhoods away from the Historic District (HD) and there are some warnings about being in the HD at night.  Just like any larger city in that regard.  We will minimize being out late and will be aware of our surroundings.

Another tour zipped past on these segways. I do wonder how safe they are for rookies?
How people train their dogs to use these doggie pottys, I do not know.
The azaleas are out in full force.
St John the Baptist, a Catholic church. Impressive building.
The pipe organ was playing during our short tour of this church. Incredible sounding.
Another tree lined street with some fine mansions
Leopold’s Ice Cream. Always a long line waiting.
We stopped by the Moon River Brewing Company and tried a couple of their finest.  By the way, the song Moon River was written here by Johnny Mercer.

While in Savannah, we plan to stay at the campground for 2-3 days a week to work on hobbies and stuff and then become tourists for the rest of the week.  We will also happen to be here over the St. Patrick’s Day weeklong festival.  They have one of the largest St. Pat’s parades in the world and the week may get a little nutty as the many park water fountains will have green water and I suspect the beer maybe tinted as well!  More on that to come…

Take care and God Bless.

8 Replies to “Savannah: Week #1, Historical District Walking Tours”

  2. Yes, Henry Mancini actually wrote the music, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Big hit in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but I remember it best by Andy Williams.

    Reply

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