Some of the greatest places we saw while visiting Savannah, Georgia were located a very short distance from Historic Downtown. We visited Fort Pulaski, the Tybee Island Lighthouse, Wormsloe Plantation, and Bonaventure Cemetery, all of which were under 16 miles from our Inn.
{Monday, November 10}
Our first stop was at Fort Pulaski. "Construction began in 1829 and required $1 million, 25 million bricks, and 18 years of toil to finish."
A moat completely surrounds the fort.
The Fort surrender two hours after this room, the Powder Magazine, was fired upon back in April of 1862.
"This rifled cannon had a projected range of five miles and fired a projectile weighing 64 pounds."
Next, we made the short trek to Tybee Island. I'm told Sandra Bullock has a home on the Island. And no, we didn't see her. =(
The Tybee Island Lighthouse has been guiding ships into the Savannah River since 1732. It's 178 steps to the top. It was tough for me and the 73 year old lady that followed behind us. (Note to self: Must exercise. Any exercise will do.)
{Wednesday, November 12}
Let me start by telling y'all of our awesome idea to rent a scooter for our afternoon travels. I mean, it looked fun; why not give it a try, right?
After speaking with the associate about where we intended to go and showing her the route we intended to take, we were given a quick run down of how to operate our "hawg" and told to have a great time.
About a mile down the road, we bottomed-out after ramping the equivalent of an ant hill. Okay, maybe we didn't ramp it. We were only going 30 mph, but we definitely bottomed-out.
Next, I navigated Brad onto the freeway. Yes. The freeway. We are pushing 40 mph up the on-ramp with cars ZOOMING past us. We were taking the route the associate told us was safe. She was wrong. Then we begin to hear whap, whap, whap, etc.
We exited off, and after Brad's inspection, we discovered that all four lug nuts on the back right tire were about two threads from completely coming off. Which means the noise was our tire trying it's best to wobble off.
We almost died.
Okay, maybe not die, but I had an out-of-body experience.
Okay, maybe not an out-of-body experience either.
Brad got the tool-kit, which I'm pretty sure was made of plastic, tightened the lug nuts, and we returned our scooter.
With our bodies safelty buckled into the seats of Brad's truck, we made our way to Wormsloe Plantation, my favorite location from the entire trip. I'm so glad God let us live to see it!
Wormsloe was the colonial estate of Nobel Jones, a carpenter who arrived in Georgia in 1733 with James Oglethorpe and the first group of settlers from England.
My favorite picture, maybe ever. The iron gate at the entrance.
And then the 1.5 mile road, lined with over 400 oak trees. The moss, y'all! THE MOSS!
Jones and other family members where originally buried here, although, his remains have been moved, first to the Colonial Park Cemetery and later to Bonaventure Cemetery.
Photographed here are the Tabby Ruins, the oldest standing structure in Savannah. It took nearly six years to complete the construction of the 1.5 story home.
Wormsloe, I LOVE YOU!
Next, we drove to Bonaventure Cemetery, 103 acres of grave sites, and it was beautiful. And huanting.
Gracie Watson was a victim of yellow fever and died at the young age of six. Her story was one told to us during our Ghost Tour earlier in the week. It is said that the marble statue is warm to the touch attributed to yellow fever that caused her death. The story is also told of how visitors to her former home report having her ghost tug at their clothing as they pass by the staircase she would play under. Creepy.
Johnny Mercer, co-founder and former president of Capitol Records. It was his Grandfather that started construction of the Mercer House, later owned by Jim Williams.
And Jim Williams is responsible for this man's death, Mr. Danny Hansford. You must read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil to learn more.
More from our Ten Year Anniversary trip is below:
