Savannah is a city (literally) draped in the feathery wisps of Spanish Moss trees. It’s also symbolically draped in history – with a heritage as strong as the towering, whispering pines and as steady as the rolling tides of the marsh.
Aloe vera plants and palm trees soften the landscape, while florals decorate town squares, encircling the austere historic statues of brave citizens. The stately architecture endures and represents centuries of Americana lifestyle. Horse carriages trot by, echoing the past as trolleys and pedi-taverns transport people through a more modern mode.
Quirkiest of all are the hearse limos for ghost tours. Yes, ghosts and gravestones, genteel and bards, are the voices of Savannah’s past.
Egrets bask in the lushness and stand guard at the marshes. Hedges of palm trees border the streets, but the true showstoppers are the majestic Spanish Moss trees. Mysterious and moody like the spirits you learn about on the ghost tours of Savannah, the mosses cloak the city in that somber vibe.
There’s levity, too, with shops like the Olfactory Company with its oddities, souvenirs and sage sticks or the enlivened taverns perpetuating the party vibe with their “to-go” cocktails. This entices the tourists to keep the jubilance going as the pedestrian friendly city offers charm galore. What’s better than a mimosa with your meal? A mimosa while you stroll!
The clickety-clack of horse hooves is the rhythmic sound of the streets of an otherwise quiet city. Savannah caters to tourists with all it has to offer. Architecturally, there’s nonstop visuals. Old restored mansions boast the artistry of Americana. Galleries show the city pride with art depicting the city’s southern roots. In the 22 squares connected downtown, statues and plaques recalling history attract the pedestrians and tourists to honor heritage. Flowering bushes near park benches provide a restful feeling within each square.
James Oglethorpe founded the state of Georgia and had hopes of creating a Utopian society. Although that didn’t succeed due to the pushback of the people, a peaceful landscape remained.
Nearby islands and landings are idyllic places where residents can have the best of both worlds. They can retreat to their clubs and neighborhoods with no traffic lights and choose to drive into Savannah for an urban feel. In the marshes near Savannah, blue herons pose at lagoons. The neighborhoods have lagoons and ponds so plentiful they seem to play leapfrog over golf courses. The refuge is revelatory through: the hush of the whispering pines; the cadence of the boats bobbing on the marina; the poise of the egret on the lagoon; the blanket of soft leaves, unmulched; the patient anticipation of the young fishermen waiting for fish to bite; the wonder of the elderly man on an adult tricycle; the finesse of the fit pickleballers; and the glee of the retired golfer.
This is life on Skidaway Island. Flora and fauna marry well in Savannah. Patios are for luxuriating into the mesmerizing vista. You read this nature book with your senses – not just your eyes!
“Slow down,” whisper the pines. The tourist who succeeded at Savannah sightseeing will tell you what was learned: Savor the shores. Sail the seas. Hear the history. Dine at the river’s sunset. Believe the ghost tour storyteller. Smell the sage smudge stick from the oddities shop. Ogle the architecture. Study the art in the galleries.
Maybe James Oglethorpe succeeded after all since the landing residents have curated the auspicious lifestyle he may have wished for everyone.
