My first visit to the South was likely New Orleans in the mid-1990s. And it was love at first sight: history, architecture, music (which I write about here), food, and as they say nowadays: the vibe. It has been a love story ever since.
With the excuse of attending a conference in Savannah, Georgia, I spent some time exploring this enchanting city! I loved it! Architecture ranging from colonial to Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Victorian, Italianate, and Second Empire. Great southern gastronomy, cathedral, a beautiful series of squares, built to “cut” fires, which were common in the 19th Century, make for a city that is a living arboretum, with the characteristic Spanish moss hanging from old oaks.
Like all old cities in the Southern US, Savannah must contend with its history of slavery, which was the labor that worked the cotton that made the city so prosperous. One of the elements that helps the city work through that aspect of its history is the Savannah College of Art and Design SCAD, as well as other universities that bring young talent from around the world to make the city a thriving, broad-minded, humanistic organism and give it a healthy mix of quirkiness and artsy to the serious and conservative history.
Yes, the city suffers from overtourism, but that is part of the price most cities must pay for fame nowadays. The fact that they allow open alcoholic beverages on the street does not help, as it attracts all kinds of tomfoolery from partygoers.
I stayed at the Planters Inn, a cute -if a little in need of renovations- hotel in the historic downtown Reynolds Square, which is perfect for walking around this very walkable city.
I could go on and on. If you are planning to explore the South, you must have Savannah on your list. You are welcome.
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