Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Our Trip To Savannah, part I

We're home from our Savannah adventure!  Thank you all so much for your helpful comments and suggestions... I printed them all out and they served as our personal travel guide.  Thank you!  You might remember that our original travel plans called for two days in Savannah and one day in Charleston.  But, I have to confess: we never made it to Charleston!  Seriously.  We booked an extra night at The Gastonian and spent all three days in Savannah.  I hear that Charleston is completely wonderful...  so, I guess we'll have to go back and visit.  Oh gee darn.  :)

It goes without saying that I completely fell in love with Savannah.  Love the architecture, love the history, love the parks, restaurants, shops, and I love their entire Southern attitude.  I said I wanted to move there, but I think that a yearly visit might be in order (that way, I can stay at this fabulous hotel once a year). 

This city is just SO PRETTY.  Here are a few snapshots from our trip...


Forsyth Park, developed in the 1840s and named after Georgia Governor, John Forsyth (1780-1841).  The park was expanded in the 1850s to include ornamental plantings, walkways, iron fencing and of course, the idyllic fountain stands at the center.  The park is just gorgeous in person and there were lots of people walking around, riding bikes, and enjoying the scenery.


me, in front of the fountain in Forsyth Park (husband behind the camera)


oak trees with silvery Spanish moss...


our charming Bed & Breakfast


a set of front steps near our hotel, and a gorgeous hanging light fixture in the same neighborhood (while this one is electric, many of the outdoor fixtures were gaslight! They created the most woderful flickering light in the evenings)


Savannah has the most beautiful collection of well-kept historic homes.  Everywhere you looked there was another townhouse with large shutters and iron railings.  And, the color schemes were so inspiring!  This one was a lovely olive color.  And in the same neighborhood, the antique cast iron fish downspouts were fabulous!


More stunning homes with iron railings (love the giant pots with the topiaries)... and, on the right, I loved this cast iron dog sitting outside the front door!


standing in Chippewa Square and looking at Gallery Espresso (a hippy dippy coffee house that also serves food, and wine in the evenings).  Six Pence Pub is across the street.  We grabbed an outdoor table and ate dinner there on Thursday night.


The Green-Meldrim House
We toured this historic home on Thursday morning.  While they don't allow cameras inside, you can take a glimpse of the grand interiors HERE.  It was built by Charles Green (a wealthy cotton merchant) in the 1850s for $93,000(!!!) and it's pretty incredible.  During the Civil War, it served as the Union headquarters for General Sherman.  Charles Green moved into a few upstairs rooms while the Union officers occupied the rest of the property.  It was here that General Sherman sent the telegram to President Lincoln, notifying him of the fall of Savannah. 
Saint John's Episcopal Church (which is the building next door) owns it now. 


Pretty front doors, in glossy black and red.  Love the brass door knockers, love the letter slots...



another beautiful home (this lantern was gas powered)


One of the many properties own by SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design).  You almost feel like the city of Savannah is their campus (there were creative looking people everywhere!). 
LOVE the black trim on this building.


goregous ironwork, brick sidewalks, and grand entrances.
We loved this sweet garden entrance with the bright red door.



one of the many landscaped squares, scattered all throughout the city.


a walk down on River Street...
cobblestone streets, homemade praline candies (that you could smell a few shops away!), and riverboat rides!  We didn't get on the boat this time, but might take the tour on our next trip.


The Paris Market (loved this shop!), the Savannah Bee Company, and of course Paula Deen's "The Lady & Sons" (didn't eat here this week, but we'll make reservations the next time we're in town).


we took a trip to Tybee Island,
saw the lighthouse and ate chicken fingers (with yummy honey horse radish sauce) at Spanky's.


The Gryphon Tea Room was delightful.  I loved the tiled floors and bright orange windsor chairs!  Plus, look at that ceiling.




Thank you for indulging me and letting me share my Savannah vacation with all of you.  We had such a fabulous time and can't wait to go back!  We also came home with more enthusiasm for our own home renovation... while gas powered lanterns are out of the question, we do feel inspired in other ways.  New home projects will resume this spring! 

I still want to post about our hotel, and the FABULOUS Savannah shopping (antique stores and gorgeous home stores).  More to come.

I hope you are all enjoying your Saturday. 


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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Well, I Do Declare!

That is what my friend, Brooke, said when I told her that we were going to Savannah.  Well, I DO declare!  In her sweetest Southern accent.  We rolled in last night, and let me just say that our hotel is magnificent. 

Here's a sneak peek...


brass door handles at the entrance


the back entrance to our building


One of the many antique marble fireplaces


the most amazing Chinoiserie mirror I have ever seen.


gorgeous brass wall sconces


love the worn finish on this pineapple finial


And, to rub it in even more? 
I am typing this post from my private terrace.



Off to see Savannah now.  Have a lovely day, kittens.



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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Sweet Savannah!

A few weeks ago, I mentioned an interest in travelling to Savannah, Georgia.  Well folks, I booked the trip!  I am SO excited to be taking a REAL LIVE VACATION.  For my husband and I, this will be our first "just for fun" vacation since our honeymoon.

In one week, we will be walking on these magical streets...




And, we're staying at this sweet bed & breakfast...



I can't wait.  We will be in Savannah for a couple of days, and then we'll drive up to Charleston, South Carolina.  We'll tour Charleston for one day before heading back to Philadelphia.  I've never been to this part of the country and I cannot wait experience it.


So, on my list of things to do:
  • walk through Forsyth Park (which happens to be steps away from our B&B)
  • tour the historic district (perhaps tour some historic homes, like the Mercer Williams House)
  • maybe visit a plantation (like this one)
  • tour the downtown design district (and stop into every possible antique store!)
  • possibly take a trip to Tybee Island to see the lovely beaches and lighthouses
And, we'll eat a lot.  Because, we're really good at that.  :)



Have you been to Savannah?


UPDATE:  Thank you ALL for your fabulous Savannah recommendations!  There are so many things to do, places to see, and restaurants to visit... I hope we can fit it all into our two day trip!!  Thank you, thank you.  We will take these recommendations with us.

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Weekend Road Trip

We drove to Ohio this weekend for a friend's wedding, and it was a fabulous mini-getaway for us.  The drive from Philadelphia to Columbus is about 7 hours, so we had plenty of "together time" as I like to think about it (I like to talk a lot, so I'm sure my husband thoroughly enjoyed the 7 hours of driving with me by his side!). 

The wedding cake with completely delish (with a chocolate ganache center!)...  and this tiny flower girl jumped and danced for about an hour straight.  It was some of the best wedding entertainment ever!


The drive was uneventful, but beautiful (rolling hills, and quaint farms all along the interstate)...


almost missed the sign for West Virginia!  We stopped here on the way home to eat lunch and walk through a GIANT car & bike show.  The vehicles were so impressive...


I choose this beauty as "mine"...


check out the interior!


my husband preferred the 1958 Corvette convertible.


After we walked through the show, we got back into our real life car and continued home. 

I am catching up on work today, but will be back tomorrow!  Enjoy this short week everybody. 

 Happy Tuesday!

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Friday, August 13, 2010

Day Tripper

Washington Square Park

Yesterday, I took a day trip to New York City.  One of my dearest friends (of 18 years) will be attending Fordham next year to get his PhD, so we took the day to celebrate and do a little exploring. 

We spent most of the afternoon in the West Village, enjoyed cupcakes at the famous Magnolia Bakery, and strolled around Washington Square Park.  Afterwards, we ran up to ABC Carpet & Home to browse the eye candy, and we ended the day with a delicious dinner at Inside Park at St. Bart's (a yummy restaurant set within a converted church, right next to the Waldorf Astoria).  Like an idiot, I brought my camera without the memory card.  So, please enjoy these snapshots from my iPhone...

lovely gardens


The street lanterns at Washington Square Park are enormous and each one has a gold eagle at the top! 


Carrie Bradshaw's infamous steps...


ABC Carpet & Home, it's six floors of design bliss...


large brass pulls at the entrance of ABC Carpet & Home


LOVE the herringbone floors...


a Great Wall of China...


stunning glassware


textiles galore


the most precious baby section, complete with snuggling bears...


I love how everything was displayed...


a grouping of some seriously awesome quartz crystals.


more glass and quartz...


a knock-off Bertoia chair, painted in a metallic gold!


the most beautiful Madeline Weinrib Atelier...


Madeline ikat pillows...



gorgeous ikat rug


vintage rugs in gorgeous shades of raspberry and plum!

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