Savannah in the Spring

The highlight of our trip was a drive through Bonaventure Cemetery, the resting place of many prominent Savannah citizens, including songwriter Johnny Mercer. The cemetery was ablaze in color with all the spring time flowers.

Quick Tips:

Be sure and bring a good pair of walking shoes because Savannah is a walking city. Also be very careful walking on River Street. The uneven stones give one a bumpy ride if you riding in a car and it is easy to turn an ankle if you are not careful.

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around downtown is by foot, although a one day trolley pass is a very good investment, especially if you are planning to see some of the outlying areas of downtown.

A trolley ticket is especially beneficial in the summer when the heat and humidity of Savannah can cause those not used to it a lot of discomfort in a very short while. No matter what time of the year you visit, be sure and drink plenty of water.

This 150 room hotel, which is billed as an upscale boutique hotel, is the newest in Savannah, having opened earlier this year. Located on the lower end of Bay Street, the city market is just a few steps away and River Street is just a few blocks away.

Our room, which had a four poster king size bed, had a view of the river. Rooms on the otherside of the hotel have a view of the city. Amenities of the hotel include valet parking, a conceirge, restaurant, gift shop, fitness center and an outdoor heated swimming pool. The brochure said there was a complimentary 24-hour business center, but we found this was not true.

Our only complaint with this hotel was the staff's attitude. They were very unfriendly and not very helpful. This could be a very, very nice hotel and a great place to stay in Savannah, if the staff would make it that way.

I will highly recommend the hotel because of its location, price and furnishings but not because of its staff.

As far as our group is concerned, this is the place to stay in Savannah. Located in the heart of the historic district, the River Street Inn, is like living a part of history.

A Historic Hotel of America, the hotel is located right on the river with many rooms having splendid views of the riverfront and the activities on River Street. Some of the rooms even have balconies.

Built in the early 1800's as a cotton warehouse, it is now a full service hotel with 86 rooms. Each of these rooms is furnished completely different, some with highly polished wooden floors and four poster beds to those with plush carpeting and balconies.

The hotel also features a complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres reception Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in their hospitality room. We spent the two hours, sipping wine, and sitting in the rocking chairs on the verandah outside the hospitality room, watching the comings and goings on River Street.

The hotel also has a rooftop hot tub, which many enjoy while watching the stars in the Savannah night sky. The hotel offers some fantastic walk up bargain rates during the week, if you are willing to chance they have an opening. Check out any of the slick cover guidebooks for the coupon.

For a stay you will long remember, I highly recommend the River Street Inn.

WARNING - This can be a very busy place, especially on weekend mornings so be prepared to wait for a table.

While they do serve sandwiches, ice cream, beer and wine, the speciality of this restaurant is their breakfast menu.

The cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday.

We were there on Saturday morning and we had an approximate 30 minute wait but trust me it is well worth it, especially if you get the same waiter we did. Unfortunately, I can't remember his name but I do know he is the son of the owners, which may be one of the reasons he gets away with the things he does. One example is my friend asking for a spoon to stir his coffee. The waiter reached over to another table and picked up what was obviously a dirty spoon and wiped it off on his shirt and handed it to my friend. Of course, my friend was appalled until the waiter grabbed it away from him and went to get him another. Needless to say our waiter made our dining experience even more unforgettable. The breakfast was also good enough for me to warrant another visit on my next trip to Savannah.

One of the specials of the morning was an artichoke, swiss cheese and mushroom omelete that was very, very good.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Be sure and make a trip to the unisex bathroom while you are there. You will be surprised what you find when you open the door.

This is a great place to people watch with its benches, gazebos and sidewalk cafes.

The City Market is a four block area of restored grain elevators that now house souvenir shops, restaurants, art galleries and there is even a candy store. Most visitors end up at the City Market, no matter where they are staying in the city, because this is where the carriage tours depart.

Almost every afternoon and evening, a band can almost always be found playing in the courtyard of the market.

Also on our last trip, we discovered several street musicians, including an opera singer, while we waited to take our evening carriage ride.

What a beautiful place with its dogwood trees, azaleas and camelias all in bloom. Set along the Wilmington River, the Bonaventure Cemetery is the final resting place of many of its most prominent citizens.

Bonaventure, which means good fortunes, is probably best known for its part in the book and movie, In the Garden of Good and Evil.

In addition to being the final resting place of two of the main characters in the book, the cemetery is also where Putlizer-prize winning poet Conrad Aiken and songwriter Johnny Mercer are buried.