Savannah Vacation News

Dueling You Tube Videos for 15 G’s

A recent video created for You Tube by the Savannah Convention and Visitor’s Bureau does an excellent job of capturing the essence of our Top Ten Vacation Destination, Savannah’s Landmark Historic District. Typical of the Hostess City, some of our locals have a tendency to throw stones at those that are paid to promote Destination Savannah as doubtless some if these videographers believe they could create a better online offering here in the Creative Coast. As the Savannah Morning News reports in the excerpt below, a lot of fun was had by the cast during the production.

General James Oglethorpe’s statue in Chippewa Square faces south in tribute to his prowess in defending the new colony of Georgia from the Spanish. On Wednesday, Oglethorpe took an extended break from guard duty, at least on YouTube. Visit Savannah brought the statue “to life” for its first promotional film developed exclusively for the video-sharing website. The clip portrays Oglethorpe coming down from his pedestal to lead a dancing Conga line of tourists and locals through the Historic District he designed.

More than 100 locals appear in the video, which was shot in one day earlier this year. “It’s very clever because some see history as boring, and Savannah is not boring. It’s a living history museum,” Wood said. “The video shows off how fun the town is without sacrificing our dignity. We’re not a theme park, and we don’t want to be. The video strikes a balance.”

But the locals didn’t think so much of the video and as a result, you too can receive a grand prize of $15,000 if your Destination Savannah Video does as well as the one paid for by the Savannah CVB based on a recent television news report.

Savannah Getaways Guarantee – We will never Gouge

Just came across a late breaking ad today on Craigslist Savannah for the upcoming sold out Savannah Rock and Roll Marathon that was a real eye opener. Seems this most likely upscale facility as offered by the owner is well placed to the finish line of this November 3 – 4 running event as they advertise. And you would think that a 3700 square foot 3 bedroom, 3.5 Bath Victorian District Vacation Rental with a swimming pool would be a prime Savannah vacation rental when compared side by side to all the other upscale Savannah Vacation Rentals we offer for this inaugural running event, Right?

Not so fast my friends. There is a reason this property was not snapped up month’s ago in April and May like our long ago sold out availability was taken out of circulation by savvy marathoners looking for upscale accommodations at affordable rates. Check out listing # 1031 a few blocks away from the above Hall Street listing or listing # 1009 that overlooks Crawford Square in the true Landmark Historic District. Instead of six runners paying this property owner at least $625 apiece for a three night stay, you could have been like the smart shoppers staying at Savannah's most popular vacation rental options above at serious savings over that rate at $200 and $265 apiece respectively. The take away should be obvious. Do your due diligence to determine who the premier Savannah Vacation Rental Management Company is, Savannah Getaways, and book your reservations accordingly if value and savings are part of your shopping priority.

Not only do you live like a local when staying with Savannah’s oldest & highest ranked Savannah Vacation Rentals resource in coastal Georgia according to both Trip Advisor AND Flip Key, if you shop the rest and stay with the best, you will actually save money with our budget friendly Savannah Getaways townhouses and condominiums. Don’t be a rookie traveler returning to next year’s Rock and Roll Marathon event and stay at the mercy of Savannah Vacation Rentals by Amateur. Be smart next year, contact our year round Savannah Reservation Desk upon your return home THIS YEAR and nail down next year’s sure to be sold out rock and roll marathon vacation rentals rowhouse scheduled to be run on November 3 in 2012 AND save money all at the same time.

A Taste of Lady Chablis?

Okay, I freely admit to posting controversial titles in this blog. And I promise I will do better in my next Savannah Vacation News post. But I simply couldn’t resist combining two events that fall on the same day later this week that the gourmet visitors among you may want to take in. That would be the 11th annual Taste of Savannah Foody event AND an encore performance at Club One of Midnight in the Garden of Good and evil star, Lady Chablis on Friday September 9th.

From 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM, sample the latest low country “coastal cuisine” purveyors of delicious delights at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center on Hutchinson Island Georgia. Returning attendees know the drill, for just $60 per ticket per person, you can sample a wide variety of lowcountry comfort eating at this unique smorgasbord provided by Destination Savannah's best restaurateurs.

Don’t miss this always anticipated event for your sampling of outstanding cuisine from some of Savannah’s finest restaurants, Vic’s on the River, Rock’s on the Roof, Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House, and our renowned The Olde Pink House to name but a few of Savannah’s best eateries.

And after eating your fill, take a free ferry ride back across the Savannah River to River Street, walk a few blocks to Club One on Jefferson Street, and catch the outrageous Lady Chablis. Watch the Good Morning America Destination Savannah segment in the excerpted video below to get an idea of how it is that Savannah’s Blue Lady came to be courtesy of author John Berendt. Shows run at 8:00 PM and 10:30 PM on this command performance.

Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals at Savannah Jazz Festival

Here we go again music lovers. Since it’s inception back in 1983 some twenty eight years ago, the Savannah Jazz Festival is just around the corner in the month of September one mo’ time. This year’s free music event in keeping with scheduling for the last full week of September falls on September 18th through September 25th this year. Most of the jazz musical groups can be caught in Forsyth Park in the southern portion of Savannah's Top Ten Destination nationally, the Landmark Historic District. But the number of other musical venues throughout the landmark district continues to grow.

This year’s line up of accomplished jazz performers features Paul Martino, Wycliffe Gordon, and fellow Savannahian Howard Paul of Benedetto Guitar fame among many others. A friendly reminder to make your Savannah Vacation Rental reservation early through Savannah’s recognized Top Vacation Rental Management Company “that goes above and beyond” in delivering value vacation rentals to a discerning public and Trip Advisor/Flip Key Elite rated rental resource award for calendar year 2011, Savannah Getaways.

Rarely do we have any availability left for this event if you wait to book at the last minute in the month of September (remember what happened for the Rock and Roll Marathon – we sold out within a week of issuing a similar warning for this November 3 - 6 weekend event), so make your plans early if you plan to stay in a Savannah vacation rentals lodging option. And don’t forget to bring your music loving pets as we are picking up some very nice pet friendly accommodations in close proximity to Forsyth Park.

Rock & Roll Marathon in Savannah

Based on early pre-bookings for our always busy reservation desk here at Savannah Getaways, the first ever Rock and Roll Marathon to be ran in Savannah the first weekend in November is going to be a monster of an athletic event. We have already sold out our entire inventory of 3+ bedroom Savannah Vacation Rental homes (many closely located to the actual marathon route) before the official start of summer for this outdoor running event. We have been supplying upscale rental accommodations in the landmark historic district for the Savannah Memorial Bridge Run that takes place every December, and understand what a popular event for area runners this run is but we have been knocked over by the response to the R&R Marathon event that marries distance runners, all manner of musical bands that play along the way along with cheerleaders and themed water stations interspersed throughout the route.

Courtesy message, for those runners coming to savannah's in two's, three's and four's, the Savannah Rock and Roll Marathon Event  will be a vacation rental sale out within the historic district. Select your lodging options early while you still can, presuming vacation rental weekend lodging is what you have in mind within the honest to goodness landmark historic district for this event durng the fall high season. Hard to give a great last minute vacation rental deal when al we have left is sold out of inventory!

Comedian Kathy Griffin live in Savannah + Much More

Stand Up Comedian Diva, Kathy Griffin, will appear live at the Johnny Mercer Theater this coming weekend in Savannah Georgia for one night only, Saturday May 28th at 8:00 PM. A well known LGBT advocate who has amassed an impressive body of work on the improv comedy scene on the west coast, HBO star Griffin will be making her last live appearance until mid summer this Memorial Day weekend in coastal Georgia's Historic District.

Destination Savannah continues to deliver the widest assortment of weekend getaway attractions AND amusements all within short regional drive times from Jacksonville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, and Charleston & Greenville South Carolina.

Make those last minute plans to visit Historic Savannah and take in all the weekend festivities this long Memorial Day weekend including the Thunderbolt Seafood and Art Festival, a free outdoor concert this Saturday on the Pier at the Tybee Island Pavilion, and last but not least an inspired rhythmic journey high lighting the art of Belly Dancing through the ages at your alternative source of eclectic live performance art, The Sentient Bean Coffee House facing Forsyth Park.

Savannah Harbor PGA Tour AND Lt. Dan Band!

Once again the annual Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf Tournament has been in town all week long since moving up the low country coast from St. Augustine back in 2004. On Sunday, the grand finale out on Hutchinson Island at The Club at Savannah Harbor will wind up the final day of the PGA sponsored Seniors Tournament. As an extra added treat, this year, the tournament is sponsoring another adopted "Savannah fixture", movie actor Gary Sinise who played the memorable role of Lt. Dan in the Forrest Gump Movie that was shot in Savannah's Historic District.

Gary Sinise will not be reprising his role this weekend but rather displaying his musical chops with his well traveled Lieutenant Dan Band. Beginning at 8:30 PM and again at 10:30 PM on Friday, April 22nd you can take in a night of musical entertainment in "the District." This outdoor concert will be free and open to the public in beautiful Forsyth Park. Our 30+ acre park is located in the downtown Historic district of Savannah.  You too can join the long list of fans that have featured bands like Mr. Sinise's that have played in this musically oriented venue over the years.

Since the band's inception back in 2004, band leaders Gary Sinise and Kimo Williams have performed in over 40 concerts each year. Most of the proceeds of these concerts (75% or so) specifically benefit the USO and other worthwhile charities that support our troops. The good news is this band has been recognized nationwide as a recent 2011 recipient of Beaufort's Santini Award for their dedication to supporting American troops through a recent released documentary film of their selfless work.  But their wide range of music is not only highly recognizable with such classics across a wide musical genre such as "Baba O'Reilly" "Purple Haze", "A Little Piece of my Heart", and "Play that Funky Music White Boy", it is very danceable as well!

Savannah’s Downtown Gallery Go Round

Now entering its fourth decade, Savannah’s College of Art and Design inspired downtown Arts District continues to lead the way for art lovers along coastal Georgia’s designated Creative Coast less than a dozen miles up the Savannah River. SCAD, as it is affectionately known, is now an international player with multiple campuses scattered around for all things art related.

Meanwhile back here in the Lowcountry where it all started, our downtown galleries and artists are among Savannah’s most enduring attractions with transformative works of art in all their mediums. The historic district that General Oglethorpe probably imagined back in the day is in fact a teeming Art Destination when it comes to connecting collectors and art connoisseurs with the artists you can meet up with if you don’t mind a bit of a walk about. Take our Savannah Getaways Gallery Hop through the Historic District on your next trip to Savannah. Many of the art loving millions of annual visitors to Art Destination Savannah, make it a point upon their arrival to look in on key gallery venues, museums, artists’ studios, shops and restaurants strategically situated throughout this vibrant art community.

In need of a spring fling art themed getaway? Well here’s an insider tip that leaves enough time to prepare, SCAD’s annual Sidewalks Arts Festival is scheduled to be held once again in expansive Forsyth Park at the end of April. This is a really fun event that you don’t want to miss. Mark your calendar the weekend of April 30th on a Saturday, and you’re all set to complete your own customized Downtown Gallery Go Round.

Twofer Foody Tour & Movie Tour for the price of One

Talk about an interesting story in a town known for her interesting stories, Leopold’s Ice Cream has to be right up there. This Lo-country Savannah family’s ability to provide old fashioned ice cream has been legendary among local Savannahians in the landmark Historic District for going nigh onto 100 years now. This home grown ice-cream restaurant located at 212 E. Broughton Street since 2004 is also a favorite of visitors to Coastal Savannah.

Back to the story, one of the Leopold brothers, Stratton, went off to Hollywood to follow his dream of making movies. He became pretty successful at it too, considering he produced such well known movies as Mission Impossible III, Sum of All Fears, Paycheck, and the General’s Daughter to name but a few.

Now here is where the story gets interesting. Another local Savannahian went to Hollywood to get involved in the movie business as well, Ron Higgins.

He too eventually returned to Savannah, and when he did, he launched a tour company built around, wait for it…… movies shot in Savannah! Launched in 2003, “Hollywood Ron’s” Savannah Movie Tour Company is not only highly successful about all things to do with movie making in Savannah, they do a nice job of providing a regional food themed “Taste of Savannah Tour” with their equally popular Savannah Foody Tour.

And by the way, Leopold’s Ice Cream is one of the tour stops on the foody tour. How’s that for a twofer? For the same low price you get a snapshot of a bit of movie making history all combined at the same tour stop, Leopold’s Ice Cream Restaurant when you take the Savannah Foody Tour. And that’s why Savannah Getaways recommends you book the combination of this highly ranked ice cream restaurant and tour company tour.

50 Lady & Son Vacation Rental homes to choose from

Listen up Paula Deen fans! Here is a geography lesson about where our Savannah First Lady’s famed restaurant can be found on our popular Savannah Getaways Historic Map and exactly where it is located in proximity to our many Paula Deen Vacation Rental options in Savannah’s Landmark Historic District.

Now that you have checked out our highly detailed “what to do map” of the 2.5 square mile “District” of downtown Savannah that is laid out in nine different quadrants above, keep in mind that Lady & Son’s Restaurant is located in map section 1.

Savannah Getaways is pleased to offer over 50 different "Paula Deen Vacation Rental homes" all within a 10 minute walk of Savannah’s most popular restaurant from historic district map section quadrants 1 – 6. Check it out to find where your southern fried Paula Deen Vacation Tour begins: To book your Paula Deen Tour with tour partner Old Savannah Tours while staying in your alternative Lady & Son vacation getaway to a Bed & Breakfast Suite, click here to find out more (make sure you reference Paula Deen Tour in the vacation rentals comments section).