Editor Pick
A Gorgeous and Tranquil Step Back in Time
- January 18, 2009
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Troobabiee7 from Brooklyn, New York
Even before I got to visit, the thing that always reminded me of Savannah were giant trees covered in Spanish moss. To me, that's what symbolizes the beauty and tranquility of the cities of the south. After stopping overnight at the Baymont Inn and Suites in Savannah on our drive from New York City to Orlando, I started to wonder if my depiction of Savannah was only a fantasy... an artist's rendering of what the south once was, or could have been. Our hotel was in the industrial part of downtown Savannah where factories and CVS drugstores were more abundant than any kind of Spanish moss. Could this really be the gorgeous city I'd always dreamed of visiting?
Luckily my first impression was rendered mute on our second day in Savannah. Before continuing our drive down to Florida, we decided to drive into the historic district and take in some of the sights. What I really wanted to do was visit Forsyth Park because from the pictures I'd seen, it seemed to perfectly sum up the beauty of Savannah.
After checking out of our hotel, we drove the 15-minutes to Historic Savannah and I was instantly enthralled with the beauty of the place. THIS was where my imaginative view of Savannah really came to life... everything looked just as amazing as I thought it would! We quickly found a parking spot across the street from the park and walked over. It was still early and the streets were empty except for a few early morning joggers. If you're going to visit Forsyth Park, this is the time to do it! The giant trees seemed to stretch towards the sky for miles, and the Spanish moss covering them enveloped us in a shroud of mystery. The tranquil atmosphere of the park coupled with the 19th century mansions surrounding us really transported us into another place and time entirely, made even more magical by the lack of crowds.
Located between Drayton and Whitaker streets, the park was originally developed in the 1840's. It was then renovated and expanded in 1851, and was named after the Georgia Governor at the time, John Forsyth. Being used to Central Park, I was expecting the park to be a lot bigger than it was. In all reality, it's only six-blocks long and we were able to walk the entire length of it in fifteen-minutes. That was without stops, though, and we made many of them. There are a few gorgeous monuments and statues in the park that are definitely worth a look.
The most well-known monument in the park is the one we spent the most time admiring - the Forsyth Park Fountain. I had seen pictures of it before we left, and I was even more excited to see it after there had been a gorgeous photograph of it hanging on the wall of our hotel room. It's a symbol of Savannah, and for good reason. It's absolutely beautiful! Added to the park in 1858, the fountain was modeled after the French fountain found in the middle of the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Savannah was a very affluent city at the time of the fountain's installation, and the city's streets were called promenades and boulevards after the affluent street names of France. It's purpose was to act as a focal point for the city of Savannah, publicly displaying the city's money for the world to see.
We spent a good ten-minutes simply taking in the beauty of the fountain, and taking lots of pictures! The fountain was surrounded by colorful flowers, and bricks inscribed with the names of people who helped to make Savannah what it is today. It was a very pretty area. No trip to Forsyth Park is complete without a viewing of the fountain, which really is the heart line of the park. Also in the park is a Confederate Memorial and a nice playground for children. I'd recommend budgeting at least a half-hour of your time to visit Forsyth Park, and a little more if you have kids who'd love to blow off some steam in the playground.
Another important tip is to remember your bug spray! We were there in the middle of the summer and it was very humid out, even so early in the morning. The park seemed like a breeding ground for mosquito's that morning, and we were covered in bites by the time we left! It was pretty uncomfortable, but don't let that stop you from visiting. Just be sure to bring your bug spray and you'll be fine. Forsyth Park was one of the most beautiful parks I'd ever seen, and no trip to Savannah is worth taking without at least a few minutes spent strolling it's gorgeous grounds.
From journal Savannah the Beautiful: A Small Taste of the Old South