May 24, 2021

Lizzy’s Latest – Savannah: Hostess City of the South

Elizabeth H. Heels on the Battlefield, Other States, Sandals, Shoe Bliss, Travel Adventures, Uncategorized, United States Boho dress, Bonaventure Cemetery, Boston Proper, Boston Proper Dress, Chattanooga Campaign Map, Civil War, Civil War Savannah, Easy Fashion, Easy Outfits, Fashion Blogger, Floral Sandals, ghosts, Green-Meldrim House, Heels on the Battlefield, Joseph E. Johnston, Little Gracie, Lizzy's Latest, March to the Sea, MD Blogger, Moon River Brewing Company, nine west, Nine West Pink Floral Sandals, Paranormal, Paula Deen's Creek House, Robert E. Lee, Savannah GA, Shannon Scott, Shannon Scott Tours, Shoe Blogger, Six Pence Pub, Southern Maryland Blogger, spring fashion, Spring Looks, spring outfit ideas, spring style, Steve Ellis Tours, Summer outfits, The Pirates House, Vics on the River, William Tecumseh Sherman, Wormsloe 30 Comments

Savannah, GA captures my heart over and over again.  Its beauty captivates me while its soul always draws me back.  The last time I was there was in the summer of 2019.  I arrived the evening before my parents got there and I felt so happy to be back in my favorite Southern city.

I took an evening stroll a little before sunset taking in the artistry and atmosphere of this beloved town.  Eclectic architecture as far as the eye can see and beautiful squares (22 total) make up the historic district.  I sat at Madison Square named for President James Madison (4th President of the United States) for a quick rest.  The Green-Meldrim House is located here.  It was this house that General William Tecumseh Sherman used as his headquarters after seizing Savannah at Christmastime in 1864 on his “March to the Sea” campaign during the American Civil War. 

Of course, the popular legend is that Sherman spared Savannah from pillaging and slaughter because he was so enamored by its beauty.  So much so, he sent President Abraham Lincoln a telegraph offering Savannah as a Christmas present.  More likely, Savannah was spared because of its strategic position as a supply depot for the South.  Sherman disrupted it and instead, took the South’s abundance to supply the Union troops.  Whatever the case, I’m so relieved that Savannah was saved.

I headed back to my hotel, but made a quick stop at the Moon River House Brewing Company to pick up a late dinner.  This building used to be the City Hotel.  Opening in 1821, it was Savannah’s first hotel and is considered one of the most haunted sites in Savannah.  If you are there when it’s not too busy, you can request to see the upstairs area that is closed off to the public.  When I was there with my Forever BFF, Tammy, we were granted access to the upper level, but unfortunately (or fortunately) we did not see or feel anything paranormal.

I picked up my parents from the airport the next afternoon and it was a whirlwind of a trip the remaining days we were there.  Dad and I took several tours while we dropped Mom off at different shopping centers each day (she’d rather be shopping than taking in the sites…go figure!).

One of the best tours we took was a private Civil War tour with Steve Ellis.  He picked us up in his truck and took us all around the historic district and surrounding areas.  He gave us more insight to Savannah’s history than any other Civil War tour we’d ever taken in Savannah.  I highly recommend his tour.  He only gives private tours and you can choose other tours besides a Civil War tour.  Click here for his website and contact info. 

Of course, no visit to Savannah would be complete without a tour of Bonaventure Cemetery made famous by the book (by John Berendt) and subsequent film (directed/produced by Clint Eastwood), “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”  And there is no better storyist than the Bard of Bonaventure himself, my dear friend, Shannon Scott!  His way of storytelling is a lost art found again.  He speaks from the heart and each story he tells will touch you in a way that remains with you long after the tour is over.  He shares history, mystery, and intrigue of the many departed denizens of Savannah, including Johnny Mercer, Conrad Aiken, and Little Gracie.  What you will get is cast of (dead) characters that come alive again as Shannon tells their stories with an artistic flair that will make you want to return for an encore. 

My sister just took his After Hours tour on Saturday and she loved it.  She wants to take a private tour with him when she visits Savannah again.  I texted my sister and Shannon telling them how envious I was that I wasn’t there!  Lol!  If you’re in Savannah, you MUST take Shannon’s tour.  You will love it.  He has a bunch of different tour selections and his company also runs tours at Laurel Grove Cemetery and Colonial Park Cemetery.  Click here for Shannon’s website, tour and contact info.

Speaking of my sister, Jeanette is pretty much fully recovered from her horse riding accident I wrote about in my last post.  Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!  She’s on a vacation in the South right now.  She just left Savannah and is enjoying some beach time in Sea Island, GA.  She sent us this pic from her last day in Savannah.  It was taken on Jones Street, known as the most romantic street America for its beautiful live oaks.  That’s her dog, Fitz.  He is such a great dog and he loves traveling with his mama! 🙂

After touring, we looked forward to dinnertime!  So many good restaurants to choose from during our long weekend there.  We ate at The Pirates House, another old and haunted establishment, on my parent’s first night there.  I love seafood and you will get yummy seafood there.  We ate at Six Pence another night, my dad’s favorite place to eat in Savannah.  Being a picky eater, I didn’t care for it too much … Scottish eggs, anyone? 😉 We ate at Paula Deen’s Creek House just outside of Savannah another night.  Perfect combo of seafood and her famous fried chicken!  This is much better and quieter than The Lady and Sons, her restaurant in the historic district.  On our final night there, we ate at Vics on the River located in a converted warehouse.

During the Civil War when Sherman occupied the city, his men billeted at that warehouse.  These men drew a map on the wall of the Chattanooga Campaign and then it was lost to history for many years.  In 1901 it was discovered hidden under plaster during renovations.  A historic find!  The map is now preserved under tempered glass and the “Map Room” is the most sought after place to sit, so make your reservations early for a table in that room. 

In between our scheduled tours and eating, we decided to fit in a blog shoot.  It was oppressively hot and humid that August afternoon.  Pretty typical August weather in Savannah.  And no matter what products I put in my hair, the Savannah humidity won.  My hair is coarse and thick and very reactive to humidity.  Oh well…it was still a fun shoot despite the bad hair and feeling sweaty all over. 

My heels are Nine West and I paired the heels with a boho dress.  I got several compliments on this look, especially the dress while we were out and about taking pics.  😊  

Our last stop before leaving Savannah was Oglethorpe Avenue.  It was here in April of 1870 that a very famous picture of Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Joseph E. Johnston was taken.  General Lee was on a tour of the South when he visited Johnston in Savannah.  It was their first meeting since the end of the Civil War.  

Word got out about Lee’s visit to a photographer who lived across the street.  Realizing the historical significance of this reunion, he convinced the two men to pose for some photographs at his house.  Surprisingly, they agreed.   

Have a blessed new week!  Lizzy’s Latest will be back in a few weeks featuring a new pair of heels. Until then, enjoy the pics!

XoXo,

Lizzy