It isn’t possible to fully describe the beautiful city of Savannah, Georgia, with its landscaped 22 squares, meticulously planned out by its founder, James Oglethorpe.
We realized that right away when travelers from Shelby Senior Services recently toured that city. We also visited St. Simon Island, Jekyll Island and Parris Island during this trip.
On our trolley tour around Savannah one hot afternoon, our guide/driver told us the squares are dedicated to the many important military heroes throughout the history of Savannah.
I thought it unusual, however, that the squares’ names didn’t match up with the statues of the heroes in those squares. One hero might be several squares away.
Regardless, the squares, their statues and their beautiful fountains are breathtaking, and their perimeters are marked with live oak trees, gorgeous flowers and manicured grassy areas.
Of course, the River Walk along the shore of the Savannah River is where one goes to eat and shop in the quaint, unique restaurants and shops. Paula Dean thought so, too, when she opened her restaurant there.
Parris Island is the Marines military base where training of new recruits takes place. We arrived on family day when the latest group of recruits were going to be assembled on the marching field. Dressed in their uniforms, the recruits were proud and happy to see family members after a challenging few weeks of training.
Jekyll Island was where millionaires in the 1800s and early 1900s gathered to spend the winter months away from the cold of the north. The Jekyll Island Club members built “cottages” that were, in fact, mansions. They brought their families and servants to “rest” away from the big cities.
Meals were taken in the large clubhouse in order to socialize with the other millionaires and their families, so very few mansions had kitchens.
St. Simon Island had wonderful food, picturesque shops and a beautiful shoreline to observe as you walked along the sidewalk. We happened to arrive during a downpour, so our stroll along the shore was limited, but the food and shops were worth the adventure.
Next year in June we will again offer a trip to Savannah and all it has to offer. Why not join us then?
Call the office at 317-398-0127 for details.
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