Blue Highways: The Past Comes Alive in Historic Savannah
This is one of my favorite day trips and it perfectly fits the definition of Blue Highways. I start all my trips in North Augusta, South Carolina and this destination…
Tee Gentry | Augusta TodayA riverboat docked near River Street in historic Savannah, Georgia. Augusta Today columnist Tee Gentry says that the city's connection to its past makes Savannah a favorite Blue Highways stop.
This is one of my favorite day trips and it perfectly fits the definition of Blue Highways.
I start all my trips in North Augusta, South Carolina and this destination is an easy two-and-a-half hour drive. It’s a perfect time if you only have a day to explore.
This is Savannah, Georgia.
My first stop is Forsyth Park, a 30-acre piece of paradise in the middle of the city. On Saturday mornings, the Forsyth Farmers Market is open for business. Farm fresh eggs, veggies, homemade jams - all locally sourced – as well as street musicians and humanity’s parade make this a perfect first stop.
After the market, it is on to River Street, said to be one of the most haunted places in Savannah. That makes sense because Savannah was built on a burial ground for native tribes.
Today, it appears that this area hasn’t changed much over the centuries. Cobblestone streets and riverboats on the Savannah River take you back to a forgotten time. Shops, bars, and restaurants are tucked away in old warehouses that are hundreds of years old.
Pro tip - wear comfortable shoes because cobblestone streets can be tricky to walk on.
The Haunted Pub Crawl is a favorite for visitors, including me. You’ll hear some spooky stories about each bar and have a few cold ones along the way.
One thing I noticed is the doors to most of these bars are smaller than normal and I was told it’s because they were built in the 18th and 19th centuries, when people tended to be shorter than today.
I’m a sucker for a good dive bar and there are many in Savannah. In fact, Abe’s on Lincoln is one of the oldest bars in the United States. You’ll find it at 17 Lincoln Street in Savannah. File it under the duck-when-you-go-in establishments. More than 170 years of bumped heads.
Put Savannah on your back roads getaway list. I promise it is worth the trip.
Blue Highways is named for the distinctive blue lines that marked two-lane back roads in old Rand McNally Road Atlas. That is where adventure lies.
