Washington Square
Photo credit by Aaron D. Hunt via trover.com
Savannah is an American city filled with beautiful parks and squares that over the past ten years has been host to more than 50 million visitors. Often people talk about Atlanta when they mention the state of Georgia. But what may come as a surprise is the fact that Savannah, not Atlanta, was Georgia’s first planned city dating to the 1730’s. Today 22 of the 24 squares that originally made up Savannah still exist. This means you can walk the same wide streets under moss-covered trees that are woven with public parks that are hundreds of years old. Get an understanding of the Low Country culture à la Savannah. Pay close attention to the city architecture, visit a few of the restored plantations, and keep an eye open for any Anne Rice vampire said to still roam the Savannah streets at night.
Affordable Centrally Located Hotels
There are several hotels that are affordable in Savannah. Oglethorp Inn & Suites is one example of the cheap hotels in Savannah you can find that will make exploring the city’s history and plantations easy. It is a true budget-friendly hotel that in spite of its price has not cut back on its amenities. There is an on-site garden atrium, a pool, and a fitness center, all a testament to this great value. At the Springhill Suites by Marriott Savannah you can begin your day with a free hot continental breakfast which will save you money. Follow this with a swim in the hotel’s indoor pool before heading out to explore the town.
Savannah’s Most Famous Plantations
There are several old southern Georgian plantations near Savannah.The best ones were once rice plantations. Rose Hill Plantation was built in the 1850s and is about 25 miles from Savannah. Built in the Gothic style, this plantation, strange as this may seem for the American south, sits on beautifully manicured grounds. To visit Rose Hill you need reservations. Wormsloe Historic Site is the closest plantation to downtown Savannah. Take a self-guided tour of this plantation as this property is open to the public and is part of the Georgia State park system.
Low Country Meals
You probably won’t have better meals than what you will eat in Savannah. Southern cooking here is not limited to fried food. Savannah’s food brings the influences of the Gullah-Geechees from South Caroline Low Country and the Germans, French, Moravians and Scots who once spent time here together. Make sure you have some shrimp and grits, pulled pork, collard greens, Coca-Cola BBQ sauce on a Carolina Burger, grilled shrimp and black eye pea cake. The best restaurants are reportedly on Bull Street from Forsyth to the river where you can get anything from a falafel to a pork chop sandwich or a smoothies and farm to table meals. But if the opportunity presents itself, ask a local where they eat. You’ll find out that Savannah is really more than a southern cliché.
This was written for the Hipmunk Top Cities Project. Although I was compensated, the opinions are my own.
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