Savannah Vacation News

National Historic Landmark - Old Fort Jackson

For nearly two centuries, Old Fort Jackson has been a part of Coastal Georgia’s history. The fort is named after Georgia governor and Revolutionary War soldier James Jackson.

A short distance to the east of central Savannah stands Georgia's oldest standing fort, surrounded by a deep tidal moat. The fort was preceded by a mud battery, the brick fort having been built in 1808. It was the headquarters for the Confederate river defenses 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.

Thousands of people visit the fort each year, which is owned by the state of Georgia and run by the non-profit organization Coastal Heritage Society. Open daily from 9 – 5.

Perfect townhouse for a romantic getaway in Savannah

The owners of this circa 1848 townhouse have traveled extensively in Europe and it shows in the upscale décor. You will absolutely love having your coffee on the comfortable fish chair on the back porch.

Perfect for a romantic getaway for two or a honeymoon, this one bedroom, one bath vacation rental features a unique kitchen, floor-to-ceiling windows, lots of great art, a big, comfy king size bed and off-street parking.

Take advantage of the fact that this property is centrally located in the Historic District, within walking distance to all local attractions, restaurants, parks and shops.

Flannery O'Connor's Childhood Home

Noted author Flannery O’Connor was born in Savannah, Georgia in 1925. She and her family lived at 207 E. Charlton Street until 1938.

O’Connor wrote novels and short stories, including A Good Man Is Hard To Find and Greenleaf, even after being diagnosed with debilitating lupus. She died of lupus on August 3rd, 1964, at just 39 years of age.

O'Connor's childhood home on Charlton Street is currently owned and operated by Flannery O’Connor Home Foundation, a non-profit corporation. It is open to the public and is free of charge – Saturdays 1-5 and Sundays 1-4. Visitors are invited into the parlor level which consists of the living room, dining room, kitchen and sunroom.

The home is maintained as a tribute to the great Flannery O’Connor and as a literary center for Savannah.

Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center on Jekyll Island

The Jekyll Island Foundation was formed in 2000 to assist with the conservation, education and preservation efforts of the island. One of their projects is the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

In February construction began on Georgia’s first hospital for sea turtles. The hospital is a dream come true for Terry Norton. Norton is a veterinarian at St. Catherine’s Island Wildlife Center where he has treated sea turtles who have been injured and wash up on Georgia beaches. Norton’s most serious patients have required transport to Florida or South Carolina as the closest rehabilitation clinic is 150 miles away.

Opening next year, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center will have up to 6,000 sq. ft. of space for turtle rehabilitation, research and education.

It would be nice if history would repeat itself in a bit more civilized manner

St. John's Episcopal Church and the Green-Meldrim House, where architecture and history come together on Madison Square in Historic Savannah. This impressive gothic structure is a footnote in history when our nation's greatest Repulican President Abraham Lincoln interceded during the Civil War to save Savannah's St. John's Episcopal Church bell from his Union commander.

Situated on E. Macon St. facing east towards Madison Square, St. John’s Episcopal Church and the Green-Meldrim House complex has significant historic value for Savannah dating back to the Civil War. General Sherman on his “march to the sea” captured the City of Savannah virtually without a shot being fired in late1864. Sherman proceeded to set up his headquarters at the Green-Meldrim House, home of a wealthy cotton merchant, located beside St. John’s Episcopal Church that was relatively new, having been completed in 1853. This Gothic-Revival architecturally influenced church was designed by Calvin Otis of New York.

It was from the Gothic influenced home (designed by well known architect John Norris) of cotton merchant, John Green, that now serves as the parsonage of St. John’s Episcopal Church that Sherman sent the following famous telegram to President Abraham Lincoln in December, 1864: "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah...". Sherman ordered the church bells of St. John’s to be melted down and made into bullets for his Union troops. With much alarm, many of Savannah’s citizens sent a telegram to President Lincoln imploring him to save the church bells from Sherman. President Lincoln responded by countermanding Sherman’s order to have the chimes made into bullets much to the relief of the parishioners of this historic church. This remarkable intervention of President Lincoln on behalf of his “southern enemies” should serve as a model for our own leaders today on how to implement true Christian based “family values” during a desperate war time struggle. Our forefathers obviously knew the difference between talking the talk and walking the walk.

Savannah Getaways kicks off their second annual Fall Fling Getaway to the Historic District

Savannah Getaways enjoyed such success last year with our promotional Fall Fling to the Historic District for Canadian tourists in the fall high season with discounts of 10% to 30% off on select properties for pre-booking reservations well in advance during the summer that we are initiating this program even earlier this year and keeping it in place for a longer period of time. As the Canadian dollar, the "loonie", reaches record highs with the exchange rates against the American dollar, there is even more reason to take advantage of this smart travel deal for our thrifty minded value-seeking neighbors to the north. 

Savannah Getaways again joins with SEDA (Savannah Economic Development Authority) in opening up new opportunities for rewarding the State of Georgia’s largest single trading partner, Canada by offering these discounted lodging rates for Canadians visiting Savannah Georgia during the coming fall high season. For the next 60 days (promotion to kick off on June 15 and end on August 15), all Canadian citizens* will be rewarded for booking accommodations during this time frame with discounts in the high season of at least 10% off on selected participating consortium properties for self catered accommodations that are booked through Savannah Getaways and stayed in from September 21st through November 15th, 2006.

To obtain more information about how our Savannah Fall Flings to the Historic District will make your "loonie" go even further this fall, contact our Savannah Getaways reservation desk at (866) 690 – 2074 and find out about our discount fall vacation rentals in the landmark historic district. This is just one more way of saying Thank You to our many Canadian friends and repeat patrons who have stayed with us over the past seven years as well as providing a promotional vehicle to make new Canadian friends with Savannah Getaways consortium owners.

*Valid Canadian residence required to participate in this promotional offering

Tybee Island maintains old Civil War artillery battery sites

Tybee Island, Georgia hopes to attract even more history loving eco-tourists by connecting historic parcels of land to existing nature and history trails on the island where union batteries shelled Fort Pulaski during the Civil War. Tybee Island was recently awarded a federal grant to enable this coastal Georgia city to purchase historic land where Union troops once manned batteries of artillery during the Civil War siege of Fort Pulaski. It is hoped that two parcels of land at Battery Halleck and Goat Head may one day become an extended part of the already linked history and nature trails currently owned by Tybee Island. At present, the National Park Service administers Fort Pulaski and could include these historic sites if the sale to Tybee Island does go through. Assuming these plans materialize, one Tybee Island official believes that “both these sites are historically and environmentally significant and will enhance Tybee’s appeal to eco-tourists.”

In 1862 Union troops attacked what was, up until that point in time, thought to be impregnable Fort Pulaski situated across the open water from these two points, opening fire with a combined twenty artillery pieces. These batteries utilized rifled cannon pieces that spun shaped shells through the brick and mortar walls of the fort which fell in just over 24 hours after the bombardment commenced. This cutting edge technology for it’s day changed warfare as it had been waged up until that point in time by rendering these type constructed fortifications as fundamentally useless in defending fixed geographic positions from this type bombardment.

Rolling on the River, The Midnight Gambler II

The Casino Boat Midnight Gambler II took her inaugural cruise down the Savannah River one year ago, July and by all accounts gaming on the Georgia coast is alive well. Got time to take a little cruise while visiting Savannah? You may win a little walking around money at the poker table on this gambling vessel.

The Midnight Gambler II became the fifth casino boat in the past decade to ferry gamblers out to the legal three mile limit in federal waters off the Georgia Coast to try their luck against the house in mid July, 2005. Featuring live tables of baccarat, blackjack, craps, and poker as well slot machines, MG II was able to up her ante of passengers from 150 to 500 when she passed a Homeland Security inspection earlier this month.

This 160 foot craft plans two five hour cruises a day leaving from her Wilmington Island based Williams Seafood dock at the base of the Bull River Bridge off of Highway 80 between Tybee Island and Thunderbolt as she cruises past Tybee Island out to the legal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Departure times are 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM daily seven times a week.

Coast Guard officials praised the craft prior to her maiden voyage last year when one official indicated that “it looks like it is going to be a nice boat for our area.” To obtain more information about undertaking your own gambling excursion aboard the Midnight Gambler II, call (877) 758 – 2597

Coastal Heritage Corridor Conference

Interested in African American historic points of interest in Brunswick, Georgia and the surrounding Lowcountry area? Enjoy viewing Victorian architecture by renowned Savannah architect and Savannah College of Art and design darling, Albert Eichberg. If the answer to either of these questions is affirmative, then you may want to take in the Coastal Heritage Corridor three day Conference this weekend at the Eichberg designed Old City Hall (designed circa 1889) in Brunswick, Georgia to focus attention on saving Lowcountry African American historic landmarks. This wide ranging conference is sponsored by the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.  Registration starts at 5:00 PM at the Old court House in Brunswick on Friday, June 8th.

Murder mystery cruise along the Savannah River

Murder Afloat is a sightseeing cruise along the Savannah River with a twist as a murder mystery begins to unfold once you are on your way.

Become an amateur sleuth during this fun 1½ hour cruise along Savannah's Historic Riverfront." An entertaining murder mystery will unfold around you as professional actors enact a fully-scripted, original "whodunit." You are encouraged to mingle, question the "suspects," uncover clues, and compare notes with other guests.

This season of the murder mystery cruise begins in April and runs through August. Each Thursday night from 9:30 to 11:00 p.m. the cruise will board near the Hyatt on River Street.