On
this edition of Travel Diaries we're in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah is the oldest city in the
state of Georgia and is a coastal city which is separated from South Carolina by the Savannah
River. It's known for its manicured parks, horse-drawn carriages, and ornate anabellum
architecture. Established in 1733, Savannah of today is an industrial center and an important
Atlantic seaport. Downtown Savannah largely retains the original town plan prescribed
by founder James Oglethorpe when he and settlers arrived in 1733.
The River Street area of today is home to a variety of shops, bars, and restaurants
and also hosts the city's annual St. Patrick's Day celebration, something you definitely
can't miss if you're in the area in March. One of the newer attractions on River Street
worth visiting if you're here is the World War II Memorial. Dedicated in November of
2010, this monument named a World Apart was erected to honor the men and women of Chatham
County who were killed during World War II. While on the waterfront, we recommend hitting
some of the shops for local gifts and souvenirs for the folks back home. If you really want
a good view of River Street and all that goes on there, head up to the Rocks and the Bohemian
Hotel for drinks and the view. We had some time before dinner for some cocktails and
the cocktails at the Rocks are epic. As darkness starts to fall, we walk back towards our
hotel and stroll through the city market on our way. For now, we have dinner reservations
to get to and we're looking forward to an evening out.
There are far too many restaurants, eateries and cafes for one couple to visit and even
a long weekend in Savannah, so we're being very selective in our choices. Our first culinary
adventure takes us to the Florence, a unique concept from James Beard award-winning and
celebrity chef, Hugh Acheson. Chef Acheson, while born in Canada, has adopted the state
of Georgia as a focus of his culinary empire. With multiple restaurants in Athens, Atlanta
and now in Savannah with the Florence, his restaurants range from casual continental
dining to Mediterranean in Northern Africa to the unique cuisine of the Florence, which
is described as Italy meets the South. All the ingredients are southern grown and locally
harvested wherever possible and the dishes are simply amazing as are the cocktails. We
started our meal with the chef's charcuterie board with fresh-made meats and sausages along
with pickled vegetables and cheeses. It was a treat to have the chef himself explain each
item on this exquisite cheese board. We next moved on to our second course, an amazing
octopus and potato dish. Not to let an opportunity like tonight go by without sampling as much
of the chef's great food as we could, we had additional courses and indulged in whole egg
yolk ravioli and sorghum pecan-crusted pork ribs. All were simply amazing.
Despite an amazing meal of abundance, we couldn't do without the house-made gelato three ways.
What a night and it's just getting started.
Savannah is a charming southern tourist city by day that turns all out on town by night.
Being the adventurers we are, we explore a number of local haunts well into the early
hours of the next morning.
So if you find yourself in Savannah, make sure you have a great appetite and rest up for
a late night on the town. You might have to pay for it the next day, but trust me, it's
well worth the effort to get out and about to see the nightlife in Savannah.
After our first day and night of adventure, we decided to start our next day with a walk
through the city's many expansive parks. Our first stop was for coffee and breakfast at
the Andez Hotel, a Hyatt property with a chic urban vibe right off Ellis Square near Market
Street and the downtown historic district. Savannah's downtown area, which includes the
historic district, Victorian historic district, and 22 park-like squares is one of the largest
national historic landmark districts in the U.S.
Throughout the downtown area, there are a number of interesting sites to see, including
Colonial Park Cemetery. Many of Savannah's earliest citizens are buried here, including
many who are victim of Savannah's tragic duel in Europe. This cemetery is also a popular
stop for local ghost tours.
As we continue our walking towards Savannah, we wanted to swing into a shop that we had
heard of from some friends.
Chocolat by Adam Tarani with three locations in Savannah. This young chef has made a name
for himself here in Savannah and around the world. Recently named one of the top 10 chocolatiers
in North America, his signature creations include honeycomb chocolate bars and a mint
julep truffle. Since we haven't an affinity for books and bookstores, it was only fitting
for us to visit his library location. This unique storefront has chocolates set in book
cases that would be as much at home in a small private bookstore or private library. After
making our selections, we head off to find a quiet place to sample these extraordinary
creations. Simply amazing.
Our next stop is Forsyth Park. Forsyth Park is the largest park in the historic district
of Savannah. The park covers 30 acres of land just south of Gaston Street and north of Park
Avenue. Forsyth Park was laid out in the 1840s and perhaps the most well-known feature of
the park is the large fountain that sits at the north end of the park. The fountain was
built in 1858 and resembles fountains found in Paris, France.
In 1879, another monument was introduced to Forsyth Park. This monument is the Confederate
War monument in the center of the park. The Confederate monument is a large ornate column
with a bronze soldier on top. This bronze sculpture was the work of David Richard, who
was a sculptor in New York City. The monument is dedicated to all the men who fought on
behalf of the Confederacy during the American Civil War.
After a day of sightseeing and shopping, a great place to relax and unwind with a drink
and a snack is the Old Pink House. It promises incredible food and I think you'll love it.
The Old Pink House, located next to the planter's end, is Savannah's only 18th century mansion
with outdoor dining and live entertainment nightly. Made popular by the book and movie
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, this historic venue offers some incredible cuisine
and a casual setting.
Today we're trying the Southern Sushi. Nori covered shrimp and grits, how novel. Then
we've got some Southern pulled pork on a nacho. Southern nachos. That's pretty damn
good. After taking the break and napping off our adventurous day, not to mention our late
night and night before, we're heading out to our last stop on this trip to Savannah.
Those who are fans of our video shorts may have seen this spot before. Vicks on the River.
Vicks on the River is located on Bay Street and overlooks the river. The building itself
was built in 1859 and served as accommodations for General Sherman's officers during the
Civil War. The restaurant was established by Dr. Irvine Vick and restaurateur Bill Hall
and is one of our top restaurant picks in Savannah and is a great place for that special
occasion. With live music most nights, the bar area is a fun lively place to relax before
dinner. The bartenders are exceptional and I have a great time trying to stump them by
ordering off the menu. The food is amazing but the venue in the ambiance is first grade
and that's what it's all about.
Thanks for joining us on our trip to Savannah, Georgia in this edition of Travel Diaries.
Be sure to catch this and other episodes on our Vimeo page.
We leave you with the sights and sound of a side adventure worth taking over to Tybee
Island if you're ever in the air. Until next time, eat, drink and travel.
Thanks for joining us on our trip to Savannah, Georgia in this edition of Travel Diaries.
Thanks for joining us on our trip to Savannah, Georgia in this edition of Travel Diaries.
Thanks for joining us on our trip to Savannah, Georgia in this edition of Travel Diaries.
Thanks for joining us on our trip to Savannah, Georgia in this edition of Travel Diaries.
Thanks for joining us on our trip to Savannah, Georgia in this edition of Travel Diaries.
Thanks for joining us on our trip to Savannah, Georgia in this edition of Travel Diaries.
