Savannah Vacation News

Savannah Goes Green

Join Savannah for a “green drinks” at Churchill’s Pub at 13 West Bay Street on December 11th, 2007 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Many shades of green, one good time!

GreenDrinks Savannah is a social networking group initiated by local non-profits and businesses to engage community members in an informal setting. Savannahians love to socialize and they love to improve Savannah. GreenDrinks aims to provide an opportunity for both!

About 102 people attended the November gathering, so all of you eco-conscious social butterflies make your plans to attend December 11th.

A Coastal Low country Tradition – The Blessing of the Fleet

Throughout coastal island eco-tourism fishing communities in coastal Georgia and South Carolina just as it is in other parts of the country, The Blessing of the Fleet is an important annual event dedicated to the premise of a bountiful seafood season and the safe coming and going of the local fisheries fleet.  Bluffton’s third annual Blessing of the Fleet on the May River a few weeks ago once again enjoyed a successful festival weekend according to some of the local coastal newspapers.  Last year’s blog posted on the Reform Anglican weblog captures the essence of this festive celebratory weekend.

As a parade of boats passed by the dock, Jay Slocum said a prayer and flicked holy water on each. "May the Lord bless this vessel and all therein," said the pastor of The Church of the Cross. "May he bless your going out and your coming in." After all the boats received good tidings, Slocum prayed for the salty spine of Bluffton: the May River and its bounty of shrimp and oysters. The second-annual Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival began with a ritzy champagne and seafood dinner Friday night, but ended Sunday with old-fashioned Southern religion at The Church of the Cross, a riverfront chapel that narrowly avoided the fiery wrath of Union troops during the Civil War. Families picnicked. Children tested parents' nerves by rolling down the steep bluff. Spectators swayed and clapped as two gospel choirs sang their hearts out. The May River glistened in the golden autumn sun.

The Hostess City Experience Alliance serves Savannah traveler’s vacationing needs

Savannah Getaways likes to think that all the members of the newly formed Hostess City Experience Alliance are equally passionate about resolving the dilemma of “What to do in Historic Savannah” while visiting our Lowcountry destination on the Savannah River that arises with trying to figure out which Hospitality professionals to choose from among a broad array of choices.  This was part of our thrust in joining up with our core group of like minded tourism partners here in coastal Georgia to form this Alliance with the idea we could cut to the chase so to speak by winnowing through the myriad travel experience choices given all of the historic district's hotels, B & B Inns, vacation rental properties, tour companies, restaurants, scooter rentals, boutique shops, art galleries, night spots, and other service oriented tourism professionals. 

The HCEA's mission is to meet the specific expectation of a memorable long weekend getaway for each traveler that patronizes any of our Alliance member travel resources. With a diversified membership representing well known names in all sectors of the Savannah travel industry, The Hostess City Travel Alliance will be adding a handful of additional new members based on recommendations of existing membership.  So, check out the roster page of alliance members in the weeks ahead if you are planning to visit Savannah’s historic district in the near future.  Why not connect with a local Savannah native and experience the district as a native does?

Coastal Georgia’s Jekyll Island attracts nature lovers year round

Those Georgia based travelers connected with Mother Nature that love the seashore always seem to manage several year round trips out to relatively pristine Jekyll Island, Georgia. The weather is moderate enough even in late fall that the Jekyll Island Campground, located underneath the majestic live oaks on Jekyll’s northern end, has plenty of campers and birders hanging out with our fine feathered friends in the specially created bird sanctuary. Jekyll Island has long been a popular destination for the nature-based tourist with many environmentally friendly ways to understand more about the plants, animals, and natural rhythms of our barrier Island ecosystem. Experience your very own personalized guided nature walk, held year-round, and learn first hand about Georgia's coastal environmental gem of a resource.

As we become more aware of the planet’s true calming effects, more and more families seek the soothing balm of a nature-based vacation even if it only lasts for a short days  during a last minute getaway weekend.  As the Jekyll Island Convention and Visitor’s Bureau/Welcome Center says on their website “When you arrive, you'll find the hustle and stress of everyday life seem to drift away through the moss-draped live oaks and swaying pines.”   So whether you wish to do a little shell collecting on un-crowded beaches, catch a little birding or just hang out in a  coastal Georgia barrier island salt water marsh environment, coast a while on down to the Golden Isle’s Jekyll Island.

Savannah Music Festival lineup set for 17 music filled days in 2008

The Savannah Music Festival’s phenomenal growth continues as this annual spring event continues to deliver the very best in every conceivable genre of music. This musical extravaganza for 2008 promises to be another stellar presentation with headliners that include legendary Porter Wagoner teamed up with Marty Stuart, pianist Bruce Hornsby paired up with country music great Ricky Skaggs, The Police drummer Stewart Copeland, and Georgia's favorite musical son Greg Allman's running mate Derek Trucks and his band back home now off the road after a year long world tour with guitar legend Eric Clapton.  Next year’s event will, as usual, be held throughout the landmark historic district day and night for over two weeks worth of live performances.  Scheduled to run from March 20th through April 5th, make arrangements to purchase your tickets online.

In case you have missed this extravaganza in previous years, “the festival features living, vibrant musical traditions, regularly presenting commissioned works, unique and imaginative productions and rare regional appearances by renowned artists in jazz, classical, blues, bluegrass, gospel and other styles of American and international roots music” according to the SMF website. This year’s festival will feature collaborative artists, student access to master musicians and the very best vocalists that can be found anywhere.  Start making your accommodation arrangements early as this event typically leads to a room shortage in the historic district that will also be hosting the St. Patrick’s Day Parade just a few days before, not to mention the equally sold out Savannah Tour of Homes scheduled at the same time in late March.