Recently I visited Savannah, Georgia. While I grew up in the South and visited the city previously, I never did the whole gambit of tourist activities. Returning to the city and viewing it from this perspective was interesting.
Savannah has a lot in common with Charleston, South Carolina. It has a deep and rich history. This city played a part in the Civil and Revolutionary Wars, as it was lost both times to invading armies. Both Savannah and Charleston were British colonies and were settled with very idealist mindsets. The city really jumps out at you when you see its large historic district. It also has cobblestone streets and lovely buildings from the 1700s and 1800s.
Of course as a visitor, one of the first things you learn is that Forrest Gump was shot in Savannah and that the seafood is extremely fresh. Pop culture has invaded this quiet Southern coastal town as one of the nation’s top foodies, Paula Deen, has a restaurant in town. There is usually quite a line of people to taste her legendary food. On my visit, the wait was two hours to sit for Sunday’s 11 a.m. meal. While that didn’t surprise me, we went a different way. When I think of a great coastal city like Savannah or Charleston, I think of fresh seafood. That’s why we went in pursuit of a great seafood meal.
The first night in Savannah, we visited the Fiddler’s Crab house. The waitress came to our table and presented us with a giant platter of crab legs, clams, mussels, crawfish, and shrimp. She also brought a fried platter of oysters, scallops, fish, and shrimp. My plate came with a side of hushpuppies and fries. Their hushpuppies were slightly sweet and almost reminded you of pancake batter. They literally floated on my tongue. The crabhouse was on the bay, and you could watch ships coming and going while you enjoyed your meal. Fresh seafood is one of the crowning jewels of Savannah.
The second day, we enjoyed a meal at a restaurant called the Pirate’s House. This restaurant was also on Bay Street, and it featured a pirate who came around to jest while we ate. The food was to die for. It featured traditional Southern foods like rice and macaroni, but the quality of the food was exceptionally high. The macaroni dishes were the choice of their buffet, but everything else included the fried chicken and beans that were of incredibly high quality. This was the best Southern food I had had in years. I highly recommend this location if you are visiting Savannah, Georgia.
Finally, a carriage ride in Savannah with an excellent tour guide is a must. Our tour guide was modest, but some tours included highly educated guides who gave deep historical perspectives. Our tour was focused on ghosts because of the lateness of the hour, but you could easily find a daylight historical tour if you are a history buff. For me, any tour in a carriage is a good tour.
Savannah is a good trip for a person who can enjoy a slow pace and good food. I recommend this trip to anyone with a passionate palate and a love for quiet beauty. This city has more than enough for a person of this caliber.