Savannah, GA

One of the first stories most people hear upon arriving in Savannah involves the life of Florence Martus (1868 - 1943), who was known as the Waving Girl. The daughter of a sergeant stationed at Fort Pulaski, Florence later moved to a cottage along the river near the entrance of the harbor with her brother, George, the Cockspur Island Lighthouse keeper.

As the story goes, life at the cottage was lonely for Florence whose closest companion was her collie. At an early age, Florence began welcoming ships sailors with a wave of her handkerchief. Sailors began returning her greeting by waving back or with a blast of the ship's horn. Eventually Florence started greeting the ships arriving in the dark by waving a lantern.

Florence Martus continued waving to the ships for 44 years and it is estimated that she welcomed more than 50,000 ships during her lifetime. There has been speculation about Florence having fallen in love with a sailor who never returned to Savannah. The facts, however, remain a mystery.

The story of Florence Martus grew into a Savannah legend. On September 27, 1943, the SS Florence Martus, a Liberty ship, was christened in her honor.

The Waving Girl Statue, by renowned sculptor Felix De Weldon, depicts Florence with her collie.

Statue location
The eastern end of River Street, overlooking the Savannah River from the bluff.

General James Edward Oglethorpe and the 120 travelers of the good ship "Anne" landed on a bluff high along the Savannah River in February 1733. Oglethorpe named the thirteenth and final American colony, Georgia, after England's King George II. Savannah became its first city.

"The river is wide, the water fresh, and from the key of the town you can see its whole course to the sea, with the island of Tybee which forms the mouth of the river... The landscape is very agreeable."

Let's take a day tour of Savannah! Come along and enjoy a short trip where we will just hit the highlights and you'll get a little history lesson in the process.

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The truth is, most people come to Savannah for the beaches. When I travel to Savannah, this is the way I like to start my day. I get up early and go down to the beach with my coffee and watch as the sun rises over the majestic waters at Tybee Island.

It makes me feel renewed, as if my whole life has been leading up to this very moment in time. To watch the sun rise on a new day with the waves gently rippling the sand, feeling the pull of the ocean as the moon fades from view is something that cannot be replicated at the lake. The hustle and bustle of the everyday work world fades into the background and I no longer worry about the reports, the meetings or even (gasp) the internet world where I seem to live.

Take a moment to relax and really look at the picture below. Can you feel it? Is it calling to you?

Most historians believe "Tybee" is derived from the Native American Euchee Indian word for "salt".

When I vacation in Savannah I try to find a vacation home rental instead of staying in a hotel/motel. With the amount of money that can be spent on just restaurant food and the aggravation of always having to get dressed to go out and eat, it's definitely worth it.

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After finally pulling myself away from the beach, which is not an easy task, I venture into the historic district of Savannah Proper. I have always loved history and the beautiful antebellum or pre-Civil War homes.

After surviving a consuming fire and a yellow fever epidemic in 1820, Savannah entered a period of great prosperity, which lasted until the Civil War.

Union General Sherman was so enamored with Savannah that he presented it to President Lincoln as a Christmas present in 1864. Thus, Savannah was spared from the devastation that was the fate of the South.

This may not seem like a place you would put on your itinerary, but it is definitely a must see. Bonaventure Cemetery is a public cemetery located on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River. The cemetery is open to the public daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There are many guided tours available.

The significance of this cemetery is not only the history but the notable figures who chose it as their final resting place.

Conrad Aiken, novelist and poet, 1950 Poet Laureate of the United States

Edythe Chapman, wife to James Neill, actress, the role of Mrs. Martha McTavish in "The Ten Commandments"

Hugh W. Mercer, Civil War Army officer and Confederate general

Johnny Mercer, singer/songwriter - notable songs, "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby", "Fools Rush In", "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)", "That Old Black Magic", "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive", and "Come Rain Or Come Shine" (1946)

James Neill, husband to Edythe Chapman, actor, role of Aaron, Brother of Moses in "The Ten Commandments"

Edward Telfair, governor of the state of Georgia in 1786 and 1790-1793

Jack Leigh, photographer, author- ironically best known for the cover photograph on the novel "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" which was taken at Bonaventure Cemetery. You've read the book or seen the movie, now see where it all began!

Savannah is filled with fountains. It is the location of one of the largest Saint Patrick's Day celebrations in the U.S. and each year the fountains' water is turned green in honor of the celebration.

Forsyth Park: Designed in the 18th Century by General James Oglethorpe, as part of his master plan for Savannah, the 30-acre Forsyth Park is bordered by Park Avenue on the south and by Gaston Street on the north. The romantic Forsyth Park Fountain sits in the north end of the park and is one of the most poplar attractions for visitors to Savannah.

The Forsyth Park Fountain was installed in 1858 and was designed to recall the Parisian fountain located at the Place de la Concorde. Following several repairs and renovations necessitated by damage related to weather, aging and vandalism, the fountain was completely restored in 1988.

Location: The northern end of Forsyth Park at Bull and Gaston Streets

Are you hungry yet? After all the sights we've seen, it's time to sit down and have a great lunch. Not fast food or just any old meal, we are going to the real Pirate's House! The entire family will enjoy this restaurant!

From the website:
Since 1753, The Pirate's House has been welcoming visitors to Savannah with a bounty of delicious food and drink and rousing good times. Situated a scant block from the Savannah River, The Pirate's House first opened as an inn for seafarers, and fast became a rendezvous for blood-thirsty pirates and sailors from the Seven Seas. Here seamen drank their grog and discoursed, sailor fashion, on their exotic high seas adventures from Singapore to Bombay and from London to Port Said.

If you've had your fill from the buffet, let's adventure a little more!

This home is the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low who founded the Girl Scouts. She held many early Girl Scout meetings and adult trainings in this very same house.

Dating to 1821, the house is an interesting blend of Regency architecture and Victorian-style additions. The tour includes a memorial to Julliette Gordon Low and a Girl Scouts museum.

Savannah, often described as charming, captivating, graceful and even sultry, has a mysterious dark side as well and has been recognized by many as America's most haunted city. Exploring the ghosts and eerie past of haunted Savannah is a favorite tourist activity and there are plenty of unique tours from which to choose.

I will sometimes indulge in a bit of "haunted history". I love a good ghost story especially when it's true. Come along and let's take a hearse ride around the haunted city of Savannah. The tour is not intended to scare you to death, only to entertain you with stories and introduce you to some of the "lesser seen" inhabitants of Savannah.

While you are here, please allow me to introduce you to Gracie (in the photo). The inscription next to Gracie reads: "Little Gracie Watson was born in 1883, the only child of her parents. Her father was manager of the Pulaski Hotels, where the beautiful and charming little girl was a favorite with the guests. Two days before Easter, in April 1889, Gracie died of pnemonia at the age of six. In 1890, when the rising sculptor, John Walz, moved to Savannah, he carved from a photograph this life-sized, delicately detailed marble statue, which for almost a century has captured the interest of all passersby." She enjoys visitors.

It's getting time for dinner and I can think of no place better to eat right now than Paula Deen's, The Lady and Sons restaurant.

You've seen her on TV and now it's time to taste the real home cooked goodness of her food!

You can't make reservations for a party smaller than 10 people, so bring ALL your friends and make a reservation, because people are standing in line at 9:30 AM to get priority seating for dinner at 5:00 PM!

After a full day of activities and a now a full tummy, it's time to start heading back to Tybee Island. Watching the sun set is just as beautiful as the sun rising.

You can sleep peacefully knowing the Tybee Lighthouse is out there guiding the ships and sailors to safe harbor and watching over you as you sleep. The lighthouse will always guide you back to Savannah, GA.