We took a short trip to Savannah in December of 2021. The first couple of weeks in December has always been a good time for us to travel. When Tom was working, it was a bit of a quiet season. Now it’s just an excuse to find someplace warmer.
I had visited Savannah a decade ago with my mother, but that was just a day trip from Charleston. We both looked forward to a few days in this unique planned city.
Shipping turned out to be a fun topic to explore. Much of the news talks about ports being backed up, and Savannah has worked hard to keep their shipping running smoothly. There was constant movement in and out of the river to the docks. Our hotel room had a view of it all. We stayed at The Bohemian, a Marriott property. I’d love to tell you it was fabulous, but the hotel was having staffing issues, and it was a rather lackluster stay. Still, the water view made up for some of the rocky service.
Our last full day in Savannah we booked a tour with Savannah Dan. Should you want to do the same, I’d encourage it earlier in your stay. Dan certainly knows Savannah. He honored our group tour even though we were the only couple who had booked. The two-hour stroll gave wonderful history and current developments for the area. Dan even taught us about the ship horn signals, which led to downloading the shipping app Marine Traffic. This, by the way, is how you entertain a husband in the afternoon when you’d like a bit of a break from walking.
We were not disappointed in our decision to forgo renting a car. There’s a bit of free public transportation available, but walking always wins. Savannah is mostly flat above the river and easy to navigate. There will be stairs to access the riverfront, but if you plan ahead, there are hotels with street-side entrances and elevators that will take you down.
No Kilkenny trip is complete without checking out the beer options. Savannah rewarded our efforts with New Realm Brewing. The Georgia based brewery has four locations. This one, not far from the hotel, had a wonderful selection of brews on tap. The staff were charming and chatty. We even ended up with a porter/stout tap blend that the bartender recommended.
Dining in Savannah is a real treat. Dan explained that the best dining is in some of the hotels, and we found that to be true. My favorite meal was Duck Two Ways from 45 Bistro. Our favorite restaurant, though, was Farm to Table Cha Bella. The menu changes, but I’m thinking it will be wonderful no matter when you go. A fun spot for lunch was Huey’s on the River, where you should definitely eat dessert first. The one restaurant I’d avoid next time is Little Duck Diner. Also, the evening Packers game at PS Tavern was fun.
We picked Savannah for a short trip because neither of us knew much about it. That made it even more fun. The unique history of the city certainly adds to the charm. We probably won’t make it back for a few years, but it was a wonderful place to visit for four days in December.
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