Ya’ll Come Back Now, Ya Hear!

Ancient haunted tales spoken over the sounds of horse hooves clanking on cobblestones… Spanish moss draped throughout a cemetery where faint conversations can be heard… The famous Mercer House said to be haunted by a man who was killed in a heated argument…

Does this sound thrilling to you? Ladies and gentlemen, we are talking about Savannah, the most haunted city in America. Savannah is one of the cities the American Institute of Parapsychology gets the most reports about. But really, that’s not all that you will find thrilling about Savannah. The beautiful destination offers three centuries of history. You’ll see 22 public squaresdesigned by General James Oglethorpe, the Forsyth Fountain, the Mercer House (made famous by the novel “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”), Bonaventure Cemetery known for the “Bird Girl” sculpture, and Old Fort Jackson and Fort Pulaski (both linked to the Civil War). In addition, this city bursts with artistic and cultural energy. Savannah College of Art and Design plays host to students who bring a creative edge to the community. You can experience SCAD’s annual Sidewalk Arts Festival, which is a temporary showcase of chalk masterpieces created on sidewalks of historic Forsyth Park. Interested in other festivals? The Savannah Music Festival is a month-long celebration that draws music stars from all ends of the spectrum. The Savannah Film Festival, a movie lover’s haven, has honored big name guests such as Alec Baldwin and Michael Douglas.

You are probably wondering, “where would one eat in between all if the site seeing and activity?” Well luckily, Savannah is a feaster’s delight! Swing by Paula Deen’s “The Lady & Sons” or take a stab at any of the dining options that offer old-time soul food or coastal bounty. You can even take a walking tour of the salt marshes or motorboat tour of tidal creeks to see where the delicious seafood comes from. After you’ve dined upon the local delicacies you can lace up your walking shoes and explore Savannah’s antique shops or quirky boutiques on Broughton Street and City Market. At this point you are probably hoping to cool off from all that calorie burning. Well it’s a good thing Savannah is only 18 miles west of Tybee Island where you can sunbathe and take a dip in the refreshing water. At Tybee Island you’ll see rough-billed pelicans, fiddler crabs, and bottlenose dolphins. You can always rent a kayak, take a jet ski, or climb 154 feet to the top of the Tybee Light Station (the first lighthouse on the South Atlantic Coast) if you still have energy to burn.

So, are you convinced or what? We are talking about haunted history, centuries old site seeing, and art and culture at its best. And with soulful cuisine caught locally, shopping until you’re dropping, and plenty of nature and coastal activity, what else could you ask for? Take a gander and see for yourself!