Savannah, GA: River Street
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After sleeping in and having another late breakfast at Goosefeathers, we spent today exploring River Street. Since we knew several people who loved it here, we grabbed a sneak peek the day we arrived, but today we wanted to check it out more thoroughly with a little shopping, a little eating and – as it turned out – a little more than a little drinking.
The map below can be accessed at savannahchamber.com or you can grab one almost anywhere in town.
On the map there are several points that call out “Steps to River Street”. Although we didn’t go down (or come back up) every set, the ones we did were affectionately referred to as “Historic Steps”, and were pretty treacherous. There is one area with an elevator (and restrooms), which I would definitely find if you have any problems with your legs, feet, knees, heart or other vital organs! OK, I may be exaggerating a bit.
At about 300 miles, the Savannah River is one of Georgia’s longest and largest waterways, and it flows between the borders of Georgia and South Carolina. We grabbed an open park bench to enjoy the river and feel the warm sun on our cheeks for a while.
As far as river views, there’s not much to look at, with the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center and the Westin Hotel as your main focus across the river, but it was still nice to hang out and enjoy some relaxation time. This is a vacation after all!
On a future trip we’ll probably take a free service to cross the river called the Savannah Belles Ferry just to see the views of THIS side from over there, as they will undoubtedly be better. In the photo below left – notice how the weather turned on us as the day progressed. Soon there was no sun to warm our cheeks, so I’m glad we got that in while we could!
“On the coast, the Savannah River is the shipping channel for the Port of Savannah, the nation’s tenth-busiest port for oceangoing container ships, which is operated by the Georgia Ports Authority. Before emptying into the Atlantic, the Savannah forms a braided network of tidal creeks, salt marshes, and freshwater marshes, much of which constitutes the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, one of Georgia’s prime bird-watching spots.” – READ MORE about the Savannah River
“The Ocean Steamship Company of Savannah, generally known as the Savannah Line, was founded in 1872 to assume the operation of the Empire Line of steamships from William R. Garrison to operate passenger and cargo steamships between Savannah and New York. The newly founded company took over six steamers from the Empire Line to start the service. The company was to provide a major travel link over the next 70 years moving passengers, agricultural products, principally cotton and fruit from Georgia and Alabama to New York and Boston.” – READ MORE about the Ocean Steamship Company
There are Riverboat Cruises that depart from City Hall Landing, but we enjoyed our bench on shore. The Savannah Riverboat Cruises got mixed reviews on Trip Advisor, but we’ll probably give it a try anyway on our next trip.
Several other points of interest are situated along the river, which are worth noting. Hover over the photo to see a caption, if available.
Below is Savannah’s “Waving Girl” statue that takes over where Florence Margaret Martus left off greeting ships to port for 44 years. “Her impact extended far beyond those who indulged in her supposed tale of awaiting a long lost love; she became a beacon of hope for many sea-wary travelers. James Mack Adams, wrote: Lonely sailors strained their eyes to look for her. They called her the ‘sweetheart of seafaring men of the world.’ She represented the wives and sweethearts they had left on distant shores.”
The Olympic Cauldron is a tribute to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Summer Games, held in Atlanta. “Since Atlanta is a landlocked city, Savannah was selected as the city that would host the Olympic Yachting events. Savannah was selected both for its proximity to the water, and its rich Southern history and beauty.”
We found out at our first stop that Savannah has no open container laws, which means you can have a beverage at a local restaurant or bar and then take one to go, just in case you get thirsty on your journey to the next restaurant or bar. This worked out pretty sweet, because today was November 8, 2016. Yes – it was election day – and a day filled with apprehension calls for multiple alcoholic beverages.
We stopped at several establishments along the way for some crab dip and a beer (at Tubby’s at the River Street Inn), or just a beer and then lunch and then another beer. The TVs were all broadcasting election information and as much as we tried we couldn’t get a way from it. Sometimes we took our beverages out to another park bench or into the shop next door. It was a wonderful day.
We ended at the Pirates’ House for dinner, which was fantastic with a capital FANTASTIC!
“Since 1753, The Pirates’ 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. The entire family will enjoy Savannah’s most intriguing restaurant. At the Pirates’ House, our most precious treasure is our food, acclaimed for over three decades. Our extensive menu includes dishes for all tastes and our varied selection of scandalous desserts is sure to delight. Like a tale of the high seas, The Pirates’ House rambles in all directions. We operate 15 separate dining rooms each with a distinct charm all its own.” – TO SEE A MENU from the Pirates’ House
What a great day, but a long night waiting for election returns. Good thing we had one more day to sleep off the beer… and the eventual bad news.
Next up: Savannah, GA: Finale
Happy trails,
Barb
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