Savannah, Georgia is the grand dame of the south. Known for beautiful historical architecture, breathtaking scenery, and southern hospitality, Savannah is definitely a place you need to put on your bucket list.

During my recent visit to this spectacular destination, I got a little taste of why people return year after year. The streets are lined with trees draped with Spanish moss, giving the city a feeling of romantic times gone by.

Since we visited during the blazing heat of the summer, our family spent most of our time at the Tybee Island Beach. However, we did set one day aside to do a little exploring in the historic district.

Our first stop: Forsyth Park. The big attraction for us was the beautiful fountain found at the park’s center. This fountain has a specific meaning for us since it is the sister fountain to the Broadway fountain found in our hometown of Madison, Indiana.

While the fountain fixtures are very similar, there are a few differences: Madison’s fountain is aged-green copper, while the Savannah fountain is white. Our fountain is smaller with the fixtures situated more compactly, while the Savannah fountain is larger and more spread out. Despite the fact that the fountains are so similar, my family decided that they preferred our hometown fountain of the two. However, both are beautiful iconic monuments in their communities.

Both fountains are located in the center of a park. However, we had to admit that Forsyth Park as a whole had so much more to offer than our own Broadway Park in Madison. For one thing, Forsyth Park is much larger, giving patrons plenty of space to participate in the variety of activities available. There are shaded benches, walking paths, interactive art pieces, a splash park, monuments, and areas for music performances. All of this is packaged in a beautifully landscaped environment. It really is a jewel in the city’s crown.

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

After spending a bit of time enjoying the park, we set off on a hike through the historic neighborhoods in search of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. My son, Nathan, is an ardent student of religion, and his two requests for the trip was to tour the cathedral and the local Jewish Synagogue. So off we went.

You would think it would be easy to find a massive Cathedral since the spire towers above every other building in the city. However, we managed to get lost which resulted in us walking blocks out of the way – I now like to refer to it as the scenic walk because we saw parts of the city we would have missed if we hadn’t been directionally challenged.

In spite of the beauty we were able to take in, it was an extremely hot day – temperatures climbed into the high 90s with high humidity – so we were very relieved to finally step into the cool air-conditioned Cathedral.

Being Baptist, I’ve only been inside the couple Catholic churches in my own town, so I was not prepared for the beauty inside this amazing structure. From the stained-glass windows to the paintings to the soaring ceilings, beautiful is not even a strong enough word to describe the interior of this house of worship.

I urge you to take an hour to check out the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The church is open for self-guided touring Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and from 12:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. The admission fee is a $2 per adult donation.

Mickve Israel Temple

After leaving the cathedral, we set out on a hike to the Mickve Israel Temple. We finally had our bearings, so we found it fairly quickly. Again, we were glad to step into the coolness of the lobby, where we were greeted warmly by the tour guides and gifted with frosty bottles of water. We paid the $7 Per person admission for the tour, and then relaxed until it was our turn to ascend the stairs to the auditorium.

When our group stepped into the sanctuary, I was surprised to find that it looked very similar to the Catholic churches back home. I was even more surprised to find out that although it looked like Catholic Church architecture, the Jewish congregation had actually built the building to look the way it does.

Our guide gave an interesting presentation on the history of the church and its members and then invited us to step onto the platform for a closer look at the artifacts located in the case behind the pulpit. We were then ushered to the upper level of the building where we were given time to peruse a mini-museum about the founding of the Jewish community in Savannah.

Although my husband’s family were originally of Jewish faith, we don’t even know any practicing Jews in our own community, so this stop on our vacation gave us a glimpse into the faith practices of some of our ancestors. Our guide said they rarely get non-Jewish visitors on the tours, so he was delighted to meet our family and share his faith with us.

If you’re looking for an interesting, mind-stretching experience, make sure visiting the Mickve Israel Temple is on your Savannah itinerary. The temple is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

With both churches, you’ll want to check their websites to make sure they are not closed for religious services on the day you want to visit.

After all the walking and church touring, the natives were getting restless for food, so it was time to hike back to our vehicle which was several blocks away at this point. We snaked our way through the residential streets, noticing the beautiful historic homes. We all had to admit, while our fountain is prettier, Savannah has the upper hand when it comes to historic buildings, both in quality and quantity. You just feel like any moment you’ll see a horse and carriage clop by as if it is suddenly the 1800s – of course, you might since carriage rides are available around the city.

Street after tree-lined street offered beautiful historic homes, lovingly preserved. Along the way, we discovered the first headquarters of the Girl Scouts of America. Although we did not go inside the building, it is open to the public. Check their website at: gshg.org/en/our-council/girl-scout-first-he for more information.

Honestly, you could stay in Savannah for weeks and not see all the attractions it offers. There are dozens of historic sites, museums, music halls, theaters, and sporting events in and around the city. One day of wandering Savannah is simply not enough.

Where to Eat?

I had done a little research before leaving for the day’s adventures, and found a restaurant that I just had to try out. Sweet Potatoes Kitchen, located at 6825 Waters Avenue, Savannah, did not disappoint. Of all the places we ate during our stay in the Savannah area, Sweet Potatoes Kitchen offered the tastiest cuisine and the friendliest service.

As I said on my Trip Advisor review: This was the best food we’ve eaten this trip. It’s like eating Sunday dinner at grandma’s house – home cooking at its best! I loved the vegetables the best – collard greens, lima beans, corn pudding, and more. Top it all off with the absolute best peach cobbler or banana pudding, and you’ll think you’re in Heaven. This food will speak sweet words to your soul!

Also, the prices are reasonable, with none of the entrees costing more than $8. A combination of southern and Caribbean cuisine, you will not go away hungry. Enjoy Jerk chicken or pork, barbecue, fried catfish, gumbo and more! Just make sure you save room for dessert because it will make you cry for joy. Seriously – Do not miss this place!

Stuffed tummies and a post-dinner thunderstorm put an end to our Savannah exploration, but we’ve all decided that we’ll be back. Like millions of visitors before and after us, we’ve been put under the spell of this beautiful genteel city.

All photos are the property of V. Lori Hedges and may not be used without permission.

Copyright 2016 V. Lori Hedges. All Rights Reserved.