Savannah Vacation News

Last Minute Special for Labor Day Weekend

Planning on coming to Savannah for Labor Day weekend? You will definitely want to take advantage of a last minute special being offered at one of our nicest properties. Listing # 1007 is a beautiful three bedroom and two bath townhome located just off of Washington Square inside Savannah’s beautiful Historic District. This property is located just two blocks from River Street and has quick access to all the District has to offer.

This property will not last long at the discounted price so act quickly! Feel free to call toll free at (866)690-2074 to make your inquiries and ask for Aubrey.

Annual Savannah Garden and Antiques Exposition

The Savannah Garden & Antiques Exposition was founded in 2001. The event is held in the historic Railroad Roundhouse Museum and features walking tours, lectures and an open air marketplace.

Three days each Spring the Savannah Garden & Antiques Exposition magically transforms a 19th-century railroad complex into the most distinctive and charming garden and antiques show in the Southeast.

Held annually to benefit the Isaiah Davenport House Museum and Historic Savannah Foundation, the Savannah Garden & Antiques Exposition inspires visitors to discover their own creativity with thousands of ideas, the latest yard and garden products, experts to answer your gardening questions, and demonstrations to show you how… and so much more!

Check out the Savannah Garden & Antiques Expo website for ticket pricing and more information.

Savannah is a city that promotes creativity – you will see it in the many art galleries, the wide variety of cultural events, theater, sidewalk art festivals, music festivals and the street performers on River Street. At the center of this artistic explosion is the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Each year SCAD presents the Savannah Film Festival, which has promoted quality independent films and filmmakers. More than 50 films are selected from over 600 entries in a variety of categories. Lifetime Achievement Awards are also presented to outstanding individuals in film each year.

Professional workshops and lectures for the community and local schools address acting, producing, animation, filmmaking, etc. There is also a student competition for films which allows local students to meet with the filmmakers following screenings.

This year the festival will be held October 28th - November 4th.  Check back here for more details.

Savannah College of Art and Design presents many events throughout the Historic District featuring the work of SCAD students and faculty

The Savannah College of Art and Design hosts many events throughout the year around the Historic District.

The Red Gallery, located at 201 E. Broughton Street, will be featuring “Etchings of Rembrandt” beginning August 31st, celebrating the 400-year anniversary of his birth. There will be 40 etchings for sale ranging in price from $8,000 to $150,000. This exhibition is free to the public and closes on September 25th.

The Pinnacle Gallery, located at 320 E. Liberty Street, currently has an exhibition Jay Song called “Han”. The collection features lantern rings and stone brooches made primarily of silver. This exhibition is also free to the public and closes on October 1st.

Check out the SCAD website to find out more information on upcoming events and exhibitions.

Imagine preparing Frogmore stew at your Frogtown loft home.

Talk about going native on relocating to Savannah, the above premise is easily obtainable in a most affordable fashion. The Lofts at Frogtown will be designed in traditional loft style. Every floor plan is open, with ample living space, an abundance of natural light, an open kitchen on the first floor, as well as high ceilings throughout. Plus, The Lofts at Frogtown offers expansive views of the entire downtown area from nearly every room. This clean, open approach to design enables residents to make each space their own. Adjacent to Savannah Station, a well known destination wedding party and convention resource, this whole area once served as the end of the line train terminal for passenger rail traffic into and out of Savannah, Georgia circa early 20th century. With pricing running $240 a square foot, this 39 unit condominium project promises to be one of the most affordable in recent years. Located just outside of the landmark historic district in close proximity to all the points of interest, ground breaking is due to start fairly soon.

Concerning the history of Frogtown, in 1762, the area now known as Frogtown was consolidated under a land grant for the Royal Vale Plantation for the purpose of growing rice. In 1779, the site, along with neighboring Battlefield Park, was witness to one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution. Because of the large amounts of frogs that would come out of the canal during heavy rains, these inhabitants began referring to their neighborhood as Frogtown. One more piece in the well planned mosaic that keeps coming together year after year in America's best restored multi purpose historic district.

Dixieland Jazz Music in Historic Building featuring Exceptionally Good Eats

The Crystal Beer Parlor has historically been one of the preferred haunts of Savannahians for many years. Dating back to 1933, The Crystal Beer Parlor first opened her doors as one of the first establishments in America to legally sell food and drinks, marking an end to American prohibition. This venerable historic district beer parlor has maintained a reputation through the years as a gathering place for locals and visitors alike. Their legendary crab stew has been written about by numerous publications that report culinary excellence throughout the country as evidenced by the Silver Spoon Award the CBP won as one of Georgia’s top ten eateries this past year.

But the ambiance is what separates Greg Allman’s favorite Lowcountry Restaurant (you know the Allman Brothers Band did originate their southern rock music just up the road in Macon) when he slides into Savannah from his neighboring Bryan County waterfront home. The old wooden floors, oversized booths, and “Brunswick Built” mahogany bar built circa 1920’s  truly distinguish this uniquely historic piece of Americana. And the best kept secret about the Crystal is that they arguably have the largest off street parking lot within the historic district for their many patrons. Come early on the weekend if you are planning to hear the Beer Parlor Ramblers play their Dixieland Jazz as they typically get cranked up around 7:30 PM. As tasty a meal of baked flounder or crab cakes you are likely to eat while visiting Savannah, guaranteed.

Alfresco dining in Savannah

Savannah has a number of great restaurants that offer outside dining and with Fall just around the corner it will be a great time to take advantage.

Tubby’s on River Street has a wonderful view overlooking the Savannah River. The Firefly Café on Habersham Street offers about 24 outdoor seats on the weekend, less during the week. It is located in a quiet neighborhood and has a view of Troup Square. Vinnie Van Go-Go’s, the popular Savannah pizzeria, is located in City Market and features plenty of outside dining on a first-come, first-serve basis.

These are just a few of the many open air restaurants in Savannah to enjoy during the wonderful Fall weather.

Rock and Roll Tunes + Broadway Musicals = Smokey Joe’s Café Review

Rock and Roll music from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s never dies as our own accomplished group of artistic Savannahians at Jukebox Journey has shown us but merely reincarnates in the form of musicals performed on the stage. Seems that some of this action has migrated across the Savannah River to Bluffton, South Carolina where many of Sun City residents are joining forces with a young troupe of performers to deliver a rousing rendition of their “Smokey Joe’s Café” Review at Ulmer Auditorium put together by our friends at the May River Theatre.

Featuring classics from that bygone era such as “Young Blood”, “Yakety Yak”, “Poison Ivy”, “Charlie Brown,” and “Stand by Me” by renowned artists, Bennie King, The Coasters, and the Drifters, these classics have long been embraced here in the Lowcountry as evidenced by the boomer local’s ability to “shag” to these danceable tunes. The show revives the early days of pop music through the collaboration of legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s lyricist Jerry Lieber and composer Mike Stoller. This show has been well received in the Hilton Head/Bluffton area since their opening performance in mid August and is slated to run through September 3rd. Tickets are $18 at the various locations through the Hilton Head area. For details, call (843) 837 – 7798

Hilton Head Island is not just Fun in the Sun

When you vacation to the "Lowcountry" (1 word), there's more to do than just go to the beach. There is a lot of history tucked away in Hilton Head and Bluffton, and it's just a short drive from Historic Savannah to take a tour.

Englishman William Hilton sailed into the area in 1663 and proclaimed the island "very pleasant and delightful", although the entire population were Indians. This is when the plantation system was set up where first indigo and later sea-island cotton were grown.

The Civil War ended the plantation era and Union commanders selected Port Royal Sound for their headquarters to blockade Southern Ports. Several forts were constructed and the first Freedmen's colony was established-Mitchellville.

Our History doesn't end with the Civil War, so check back in a couple of days to get another lesson in Hilton Head Island History.

Contributed by Randy House

Charles Town Landing opens new Visitors Center and Museum

From Barbados to Charles Town Landing, coastal Lowcountry South Carolina has Caribbean flavored roots stretching back to 1670 when colonists first landed in our modern day port of Charleston over 300 years ago. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and Dame Billie Miller, senior minister of Barbados came together earlier this month to celebrate that historic transition with a dedication of a new Museum and Visitor's Center at this historic site in this popular tourist Mecca in coastal South Carolina. 

As many area history buffs already know, Charles Towne Landing was the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Carolina province. Approximately 148 colonists, including men, women and children, landed at Albemarle Point the first Wednesday in April 1670. The colony had to quickly establish homes, food and defenses to survive and create a successful colony. Nowadays, a fully functioning crop garden (similar to Savannah’s own Trustees Garden in it's breadth, scope, and purpose) and fortified area help to explain how this colony operated, lived and survived.

The official home of the Governor, the historic Legare-Waring House is also open for tours. The house and surrounding gardens are historically correct reminders of Charles Towne Landing's post colonial history. Additional activities include walking or biking along the marsh or through the 80 acres of English park-style gardens, featuring literally thousands of azaleas, camellias, and live oaks, many of which are several hundred years old. Looking for the perfect day trip out of Savannah to her sister city to the north? Visiting Charles Town Landing is essential on your "things to do list" while visiting Charleston as a compelling point of interest.