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Savannah
The symbolic city of Savannah in Georgia is locates on the Savannah River, which is just a few miles from the Georgian coastline and the cerulean waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It revels in stereotypical southern charm and old-fashioned hospitality, inviting visitors to stroll back in time, right to 1733 when British General James Oglethorpe first founded the city on a bluff above River Street.
Savannah's old world grace is enchanting and it is the largest historical urban region that has been preserved in the USA, with magnificent mansions lining the streets and ancient moss covered oaks offering welcome shade from the bright sunshine. Apart from hundreds of architecturally significant buildings Savannah is also not short on restaurants, shops (particularly fine antique stores), Civil War forts, museums, art galleries, parks and nearby beaches. The city has a well-earned nickname as 'the Hostess City of the South'.
As Savannah is located on the craggy coastline in northern Georgia, it is an ideal starting point for exploration of the beautiful barrier island and is dotted with pretty resort towns and secluded coves. Of course it is also imperative to sample some of the world-famous shrimp that is caught and cooked in a myriad of ways in this Region.
Davenport House
The first of Savannah's architectural gems to be preserved for it's historical beauty was the enchantingly pink homestead of Davenport House, which is located at the historical centre of Savannah. It was the threatened demolition of this house that goaded the city's residents to form a fund to preserve Savannah's historic heritage. The house was built between 1815 and 1820 by Isaiah Davenport, a master builder. It features a semi-circular staircase with wrought-iron trim leading up to the recessed front door. Inside the polished hardwood floors gleam and the mansion is furnished befitting the period with Hepplewhite, Chippendale and Sheraton pieces.
Fort Jackson
Georgia's oldest standing fort is enclosed by a deep tidal moat and located just to the east of central Savannah. A mud battery, the brick fort having been built in 1808, preceded the fort. It was the headquarters for the Confederate river defences during the Civil War, when it was enlarged and strengthened. The fort today contains numerous exhibits pertaining to the war. Living history demonstrations are staged in spring and summer.
Telephone: (912) 232 3945; Website: www.chsgeorgia.org/jackson; Opening time: Daily 9am to 5pm; Admission: $4 (adults), concessions available
The Okefenokee Swamp
Across the southern coastal region of Georgia is the wild green wilderness of the mysterious Okefenokee Swamp, which stretches over seven hundred square miles. The largest peat-producing bog in North America, Okefenokee is a national treasure because it provides a refuge for a vast number of animals and plants that thrive in its lakes, islands and wetlands. The park consists of different environments, from towering cypress stands in still waters to vast prairie grasslands in other areas. Visitors have four parks to choose from when pursuing an Okefenokee experience: three of the parks are on the east side of the swamp and one on the southwestern side. All three offer sightseeing, boating and fishing opportunities. The southwestern park is Stephen C. Foster State Park, featuring cypress swamps, at the headwaters of the Suwannee River, near Fargo. Laura S. Walker State Park is near Waycross, on the swamp's margin. South of Waycross Okefenokee Swamp Park has some alligators, snakes and other swamp wildlife in easy-to-see captivity for a quick swamp experience, while Suwannee Canal Recreation Area near Folkston provides access to the prairie environment of the swamp, offering nature boardwalks and historic sites.
Telephone: (912) 283 3744 (Waycross Tourism Bureau); Website: www.swampgeorgia.com
Darien
Dating back to the 1736, the quaint old town of Darien was built on the banks of the Darien River as a military outpost originally. Today it is a favoured tourist town; its historic shopping enclave specialises in unique gifts and antiques, and the picturesque waterfront is lined with shrimp boats. A series of walking and bike paths, lined with Spanish moss-draped oak trees, connect the downtown waterfront with Fort King George, which houses a museum and plays host to living history pageants. Other diversions include paddling the river and tidal creeks in kayaks or canoes and dining on delicious shrimp. The area around Darien in McIntosh County is extremely scenic, dotted with quaint fishing villages like Valona and Shellman Bluff. Just offshore, accessible by ferry across Doboy Sound, is the pristine barrier island of Sapelo, which boasts one of Georgia's most beautiful beaches and a restored lighthouse.
Website: www.mcintoshcounty.com/points.htm
Tybee Island
Tybee Island is just eighteen miles east of Savannah and is a small barrier island, which has become a popular seaside resort. The three-mile (5km) long beach has rolling sand dunes, and at the south end of the island a pier and pavilion offer a pleasant stroll, usually accompanied by live band music. Apart from swimming and sun worshipping, the island also has sightseeing opportunities including Fort Screven, a historic Tybee lighthouse dating to 1773, an intriguing museum and Fort Pulaski. There is a selection of restaurants, hotels, motels, inns and cottages available.
