Touring the Sights of Savannah

Just a row of the beautiful crepe myrtles that are so prevalent here. 

We started our day at the museum complex and visors center, before boarding the hop on and hop off trolley tour. The history center, located in the old train depot, was full of information about the revolutionary war, where a uniformed docent played out the scenes for the fascinated children, doing a great job of involving them. We listened a bit, but wanted to explore the many exhibits more quickly so we could get on the trolley, as our shuttle from the campground had us limited in time. 

There was some random information I found very interesting, like the beginning of ice cream and the stats on the increase of cooking shows and food availability, and yet the big rise in restaurant attendance! 

A big attraction, the bench from Bubba Gump, which had to be removed from the square where it stood, as so many people crowded there standing out in the street to get a shot for photos, that it became hazardous! 

A collection of Juliette Gordon Lowe and Girl Scouts memorabilia which was astonishingly missing from her birthplace house that we toured!  It would have made that tour far more interesting. 

 Next the Railroad Museum. Clem kind of grimaced and said we will see when I told him it was on the agenda, but was pleasantly surprised by the huge roundhouse and car exhibit. We got to watch them turn a train on the round table, which was pretty neat, but passed up a ride to save time.  I couldn’t help taking what I thought were interesting shots of the old buildings and smoke stack as we explored. 

The roundhouse full of engines 

Boarding the trolley, our first stop was to be at Mrs Wilkes Boarding House, where we would decide if the line was worth the wait. Well, they had closed the line!  A woman told us she got there at 10:30, and at noon was still waiting for her food. Reviews say it’s worth the wait, but I didn’t realize they would actually just close at some point!  The waitress said “he closes whenever he wants to!” 

Next stop, the Cathedral of St John, which was stunning inside and out. The huge baptismal as you entered was beautiful, with small side receptacles of the flowing holy water pumped from the basin. 

We spent some time in contemplation and admiring the surroundings, and as our trolley guide suggested, soaking up some air conditioning, before heading back out. 

We visited Savannah in the spring on our last trip, and any return trips should be the same! 

Since we have been to River Street, we decided to stop at the second most popular, relatively new attraction of City Market.  Mostly bars and restaurants, with live music, but easy access to surrounding shops and restaurants, it seems a fun place for those inclined to drink, which is a big attraction here!  You are allowed to take them along with you, and you see people strolling around with cocktails, like I witnessed in Las Vegas. We did stop at the candy kitchen for some Pralines, and we sampled the Famous Byrd cookies.   Two bachelorette parties were riding around on the pedaling bars, which I must admit looks like great fun! Apparently a popular place for bachelorette parties, I saw no less than 3 additional groups around town, with one on our trolley, complete with veil. Cute. 

Another reason for this stop was the newest museum in town, the Prohibition Museum. Interesting choice for a location!  It was very well done, with wax figures, photographs, memorabilia, and videos.  It was interesting to learn that the population was so politically divided during these times, that they were called and campaigned as the Wets and the Drys!  

 One would never know in Savannah that there was a pandemic. We have seen hardly any masks, and signs still up, like on the trolley, are ignored. I asked the driver when I saw the sign, and he said no…it’s free will. Says a lot. As the Delta variant surges among the unvaccinated, we are now a nation of Vaxers vs Non Vaxers………wets and drys? Yankees and confederates? 

Great video of wild preaching against the evils  of drink and Savannah.  

Clem and the other notorious boys! 

I didn’t take any photos, but a good portion at the end was dedicated to the roaring twenties, with flapper costumes and videos of people dancing the Charleston.  

You rang the bell to enter the speak easy, and a holographic face asked you for the password before allowing entry.  Very clever.  My grandmother owned a speakeasy, and I can’t help to wonder if this is what hers was like. 

The architecture around the squares especially is beautiful, but Jones Street is the most elegant, and apparently most expensive. Iron was a status symbol, and the more you had, the wealthier you were thought to be. 

 

The Mercer House, featured in Midnight in theGarden of Good and Evil.  We toured the inside on our last trip, so just enjoyed the view from outside. 

They are good to their dogs in Savannah, with water bowls outside shops, but I thought these dishes of dog treats was really cute! 

Savannians  are very friendly, and more than happy to help visitors to their lovely city. On more than one occasion, we were asked by passers by what we were looking for as we studied a map, and one woman stepped out of a doorway to help when she heard me say I think it’s that way! A charming city indeed. 

We did our best, but missed our shuttle back to the camp ground, so thank  goodness for Uber, who delivered us back, hot and tired from an interesting day.