Sunsets in Savannah

The cool coastal breeze from the East swayed the Spanish moss that dangled from the old oak branches as we walked along the bumpy brick sidewalk. The church bells faded in the distance behind us and slowly the sound of running water grew louder as the street lights quietly switched on. Ahead we could see that behind the old brick buildings across the park, the sun was setting with its warm, golden colors. As the path neared the center of the park, the fountain appeared with its usual visitors lined along the iron railing, viewing its elegant and artistic splendor. This would be our last sunset in Savannah, for now. When you think of a historic Southern town, Savannah, Georgia is one that quickly comes to mind. It’s no wonder this historic town is such a gem; dating back to before the American Revolution, Savannah has truly embraced preserving the past while moving towards the future through its love for the arts and nature. Our experience here was very unique, and not like so many towns you find across the U.S. From its European vibe through its architecture and infrastructure, to its innovation and creativity in reutilizing the old for something new, you will find that Savannah is a city that is truly like no other. And that is just what they intend to keep doing.

This is most definitely an art town, and that is mostly attributed to the Savannah College of Art and Design which was founded in the 1970’s by a teacher and a few other founders with a unique dream. The idea was to create a specialized professional art collage to prepare students for creative professions. The SCAD Bees have transformed this town to a thriving hive, excuse the pun, that promotes and supports the art culture while preserving the things of the past. Most of the college buildings are actually renovated abandoned or run-down buildings that were in need of a new purpose. This unique movement has helped thousands of students apply real life experience to their projects and helped them be more prepared for careers after graduation. But not only has it helped thousands of students, it’s brought back to life one of the oldest towns in America. That just goes to show that art can make a change in this world. And while you’re in town you will certainly see the immense love and spirit there is for the school with touches of honey and bees everywhere.

Our trip was one that we wanted to truly take in as much as we could during our stay while still enjoying and taking in Savannah’s preserved beauty. Now being a historic and rather popular Southern destination, things can get a bit pricey. Knowing that in advance helped us make wise decisions that would allow us to enjoy Savannah to its fullest without breaking the bank. Honestly, we apply many of these things to all our trips. This is how we’ve managed to enjoy visiting some wonderful places without splurging in luxuries that we will most likely forget. For lodging in a pretty expensive city, we managed to find a more affordable option by renting a nice townhome as a large group. Since this was a family trip, this really helped each family out because it allowed each family to save while still getting to stay in a modest sized home relatively close to the main attractions. Now, if sharing a rental isn’t part of your plan, you can still find some very well priced options more along the suburban areas of town. This will require you to drive more, but with the street parking being surprisingly low, you can easily find parking along several of the main roads near the center of town, which still gives you the opportunity to walk and take in the sites. But I will say, sometimes you can snag a good deal with locations near the center and instead of dealing with parking fees, you can just walk. Savannah is a walking town, and it even has great accessibility for families with strollers or members with a disability. We walked everywhere with our compact stroller and had no problem getting from one place to the other. This was the primary factor to what made the whole experience so memorable. The majority of the things we do nowadays is by car, so this was such a refreshing change in pace. But apart from helping us keep a few extra calories off and saving some extra money, we truly got to experience Savannah like a local and have the opportunity to take in some spectacular views. We spent a lot of time walking and outside, which was so much fun.

Our top favorite thing to do was visit and attend mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. What made this more memorable was being able to just walk to it so easily and walking to mass on our last evening in town was just like something from another time. There’s something about walking to church that really helps you center yourself and be more aware of God’s presence. Perhaps it's being able to take in the beauty of nature around you, no fuss with loading or unloading the family from the car, and just walking up to such a majestic building without interruptions as you enter and find yourself there in our Lord's presence. At least that was our experience. As you walk around Savannah you will find that there are squares all throughout town. It’s so nice to be able to walk and suddenly come upon a little park with its fountain, benches, and shaded trees. This was very refreshing considering the summer heat was starting, but it’s also a unique experience we often don’t have. Our favorite square in town was Lafayette Square, which sits across the road from the Cathedral Basilica. The view from the center of the square was breathtaking. Sitting there on the edge of an old fountain with the elegant spires of the church peeking behind the Spanish moss filled trees, you felt transported to a foreign place. As we made our way towards this exquisite building, we watched from a distance as the people walked through the large wooden doors. There was just something beautiful about that experience. But once inside, we were left in awe. While the Cathedral Basilica was beautiful with its size and architecture, there was a simplistic design along the exterior. Yet, the interior made up for all that with its wall to ceiling murals of Christ, saints, the Holy Family, and biblical moments. There was not one inch that didn’t have a display of delicate detail and art. Everywhere you looked, there was this Divine beauty reflected on the walls. It was a palace, and rightfully so, this palace of a church paid homage to the King.

We enjoyed a cup of coffee across the street at Mirabel’s one morning when we first toured the Cathedral Basilica. This quaint little shop, with its vintage, modern flare served delicious coffee and had a waffle bar selection. The best spot to sit was on the bar stools lined along the floral papered walls and windows that overlooked the front view of the Cathedral Basilica. The best way to describe that morning was tranquil. Everything about visiting the church that morning was completely peaceful, tranquil, and simple. It’s funny how those are the moments we all look for in our everyday lives, and yet it takes being in a completely new place to remind you to slow down, enjoy the walk, take in the view, and visit Christ.

If you’ve heard about Savannah, then you’ve heard about how beautiful the streets are, each lined with historical houses, many dating back to the colonial era. This is all true, not to mention the dozens of mansions and European inspired homes that line the most luxurious streets in town. If you’re looking to take in some refined architecture, I recommend walking along Jones Street and Gaston Street. These two hold some beautiful and rather large homes with lush gardens and patios that truly blow you away. Lined with trees along the sidewalk, you will find plenty of shade as you take in these magnificent homes. Now if you’re looking to do some window shopping, and you’re like me and you like a more relaxed atmosphere, I recommend you explore Bull Street and Whitaker Street north of Forsyth Park up to Broughton Street. Here you will find dozens of boutiques, shops, galleries, cafes, and places to eat. These were our favorite streets and we had so much fun exploring them. Almost all our favorite shops or stops were along these two streets and walking south on Bull Street will take you to the north entrance of Forsyth Park that leads you straight to the fountain. The shops in town are more high-end boutiques, but seeing that we weren’t looking to spend money this helped keep the purse strings closed. But it did offer a fun opportunity to look at some absolutely beautiful things. Several clothing boutiques were reasonably priced in my opinion for being finer quality dresses. Harper’s had a pretty selection of fine womens dresses, tops, bottoms, and accessories. Compared to many other stores I stepped into, I felt the price was worth it. I personally didn’t get anything, but they had a nice selection of vintage shorts and summer dresses.

Not too far from there you will find a little art gallery which I highly recommend. Daedalus Gallery holds the collections of Jacqueline Carcagno and William Weyman. We had the pleasure of meeting Jacqueline and getting to hear more about herself and her work. She was the sweetest, and was so welcoming with our tired toddler. She made us feel at home in her gallery. We personally love exploring art galleries, it’s an opportunity to appreciate fine art and when you’re looking for affordable experiences, this one can’t be beat. But this little gallery was special in its own way. The artwork was amazing, with its impressionistic style that captured so much of nature's beauty, we wish we could have stayed longer. If you’re ever in town and have the opportunity to stop by Daedalus, you should. You will find wonderful artwork and meet one of the kindest souls there is in Savannah.

Savannah truly holds up to being known as an art town. We got a little taste of that within Forsyth Park. Near the fountain and throughout the park, you will find local artists set up with their work on display to sell and many who are even working on pieces there. We loved getting to take this in, and it really was such a unique experience for us country folk. One artist caught our eye, Sitora, and she has a great selection of canvas and prints that capture many of the city's famous landmarks while still capturing the surrounding nature with vibrant color. We loved her style and purchased two prints as a little souvenir. Forsyth Park is truly a beautiful park with its large trees, well kept gardens, and well shaded lawns. This is a picture perfect location for a farmers market. We had the chance to walk through the local farmers market one morning within Forsyth, which is held every Saturday morning. This was one of the biggest markets I have been to and it was packed with local artists as well as other crafters and farmers. With such a variety of vendors, if you’re looking for the best place for local goods and art, this is the place to go while you're in town. We walked through Forsyth Park several times, and this is truly a beautiful park that you need to enjoy. Don’t just walk through it, but sit, take it in, and savor its beauty. On our final night our whole group had a picnic which was such a unique experience, especially watching the sunset and evening begin around us with the fountain and old lamps on. A money saving option and one that creates a lasting memory in our hearts.

Now, it’s become a thing that I search for kids toys stores ever since becoming a mom. And this trip did not disappoint. I found the cutest kids clothing and toy shop that I didn’t want to leave, Peaches, A Sweet Children’s Shoppe. They had a very nice selection of heirloom pieces for both boys and girls. While I couldn’t afford any of it, that didn’t stop me from looking and marveling over such exquisite pieces. But my absolute favorite part was the back of the store which was a wall full of children's books. We spent a solid hour here just looking through the books. They also had lots of cute kids toys and dolls, which our daughter rearranged like five times. Thankfully the store attendant didn’t mind and was super sweet about it. Considering the clothing being high-end, the books were well priced and we ended up getting a classic, Pretzel. When we left my husband was like, “You found your store.” Yes, I did. I found a lot of stores that were so me. Another one that I have to recommend and it was both our favorites, was Saints and Shamrock. Not only were the owners super sweet and a blast to chat with, but the product selection was perfect. This Christian/Catholic store had a wide selection of religious goods, gifts, kids clothing, toys, books, and even an Irish section. We loved it so much, we went in a second time. Located on Bull Street, this little shop is worth the visit and I promise you won’t be disappointed. And if you are looking for something sweet, you can just hop across the street to Chocolat by Adam Turoni to indulge in some of the finest chocolates and truffles you’ll find. This quaint little shop has its truffles and chocolates in display cases around the store where you can hand-pick your favorites with an elegant tray. And if you go at the right time you may even get to view them making the chocolates in the back viewing area. This place is perfect for a chocolate lover, with fine chocolates that are not loaded with sugar and unique flavor combinations, you won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend the Sea Salt Honey Caramel truffle, made with honey from the Savannah Bee Company.

Finally, if you are looking for an area to do some shopping, or a more affordable option, window shopping, then head over to Broughton Street. You’ll find loads of boutiques, well known retail brands, and plenty of places to eat. If you want to try some amazing local ice cream, be sure to stop by Leopold’s for a refreshingly cold treat. This ice cream meets all the quality standards, from creamy and just the right amount of sweetness, to delicious and rich flavor combinations. My recommendation is you try to get ice cream early in the day, like in the morning as soon as they open, or you will have to endure a bit of a line to get some. But if you don’t mind that, it’s worth the wait. Speaking of treats, if you want to try the best croissant in town, go to the Paris Market. This was definitely a store for me, with its gorgeous selection of clothing, accessories, household items, cute children’s toys, etc. I could have spent the day there because it did feel like a market, and with so many products you would leave knowing you didn’t see everything. It had two levels, with most of its home goods downstairs in the basement that made you feel like you were at a bazaar with the way things were displayed. But for us it was the tiny little cafe they had in the corner of the store that was the icing on the cake, or croissant. Offering a nice selection of pastries and macarons, the Paris Market is your slice of France in Savannah. The honey almond croissant was so flaky, delicately sweet, and warm, that I don’t know how we shared one between the three of us. This unique shopping and cafe experience is one that will surely please anyone who walks through the pale blue doors.

Now I was looking for a hat and one store that was a straw hat lover's paradise was Bennali’s Coastal Wear. I honestly didn’t pay much attention to the clothes because I was focused on the wall full of beautiful hats. I definitely purchased one that was very well priced actually, compared to the rest that were pretty expensive. It’s funny how you can sometimes score a great deal in an expensive store. That’s my kind of shopping. While you explore the rest of the historic district along Broughton Street, be sure to check out the Savannah Bee Company. Producing an array of honey made products, this store holds up to its cute and buzzing name. You will discover all things honey here from their delicious selection of local honey to jams and little items for the kitchen. Savannah Bee Company knows how to elevate one of nature’s sweeteners with flavor and a modern touch. My personal favorite was their Orange Blossom honey. Also, did I mention they have a kid play area? Which brings me to a great selling point for visiting this city, Savannah is surprisingly super kid friendly. Everywhere we went with our daughter we had nothing but warm welcomes and Southern hospitality. When our toddler was making a mess we never received nasty looks or comments, only positive and kind ones that made us feel so much more comfortable and understood. People here are very family friendly and that was something we really valued and were not expecting. With store attendants and owners being so kind, our shopping and touring experience was much more enjoyable.

During our stay we chose affordable options as far as eating out goes, like sticking to coffee and tea places and getting a little sweet treat here and there. This is a huge money saver and it’s also become a bit of a tradition for us. We enjoy looking for those neat or cute coffee shops and bakeries versus sitting through a whole meal at a loud restaurant. Occasionally, we’ll eat out on trips if it's in the budget, but it’s something we have realized we don’t need. Not to mention there is something nice about going back to the rental and just cooking a home cooked meal after a day of walking and exploring. It’s just more relaxing and quiet, and we get to enjoy that family time without the business of a restaurant. Now there were several places that looked like they were worth trying and many that were recommended to us, but maybe for the next trip. And as I said earlier, we were careful with our “extra” spending. Choosing to walk versus pay for parking was a big one. We bought just a few items that didn’t cost much as souvenirs like our prints of the Cathedral Basilica and Forsyth Park Fountain, a small jar of honey from Savannah Bee Company, and children’s books from Saints and Shamrock and Peaches. I’ve found that buying things you’ll actually use as souvenirs is a better investment versus your more typical items that sometimes get put in a box and forgotten about. But that’s just me personally, in the end, to each their own. But if you’re looking to make a trip more affordable, these frugal practices won’t take away from your trip, but rather let you enjoy more of the beauty that’s around you and discover unique ways to make lasting memories without excess spending.

Overall, Savannah was a city with so much historic beauty and enchantment. With each stroll, we were captivated by the architecture, art, and the people. This is a place that is truly one of a kind. From its diverse food culture to its love for art, from the warm hospitality to the attention to detail in everything, Savannah is truly a Southern belle. We wish we could have seen more. There is so much to see and do in this town, one visit isn’t enough. We hope to get the chance to come back and see more of the wonder within this old Southern belle. But for now we will have honey-sweet memories of our sunsets in Savannah.