I’ve always wanted to visit Savannah, in fact since childhood when I read about it in a few books, but when we moved to America, there have always been more famous sights to see: New York City, Grand Canyon, the Niagara Falls, California, Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes and so on - a very long list of all the beautiful national parks and cities in the US. 

We had actually booked a hiking trip to the Acadia National Park for that weekend to see the fall foliage. However, we felt so low on energy and in need of a warm sea and sunshine that we all agreed that a city break with easy access to a beach would be a much better option. 

It was still very warm in Savannah in October and we could swim in the Atlantic ocean for hours without getting cold. It takes only 30 min by car through picturesque marshes. Mid beach is much less crowded than the Tybee beach that offers shopping and restaurants, therefore attracting crowds of tourists. 

We stayed at the Cotton Sail Hotel on the banks of the Savannah River. This way we could explore the quaint city squares on foot without having to worry about driving and  parking. We walked through just a few of Savannah’s countless squares - Chippewa, Madison and Monterey - past Mercer-Williams House Museum portrayed in “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”, to Forsyth Park with a gorgeous fountain and a very popular playground. 

Spanish moss is everywhere and I can easily understand why it’s called a ‘symbol of nature in its most relaxed way’. The feeling of tranquility is almost surreal in the city.

My only regret is that when we got to Bonaventure Cemetery with lush vegetation and views of the ocean, they were closed for the day. Really sad, but more reason to come back. 

Did you know that you don’t have to go to New Orleans to try beignets (пончики in Russian)? Huey's makes them all day and they are just delicious. The lines are certainly not as long as in Cafe Beignet in NOLA and the river views are very pretty. 

Another romantic place, excellent for lunch or dinner, was Mansion on Forsyth Park and its outdoor dining and Bosendorfer Lounge. 

And if you like ice cream as much as we do, Leopold's Ice Cream is a must. We recommend coming to the opening as the lines in the evenings can take hours. 

Why am I talking about food if there are no pictures of the food or restaurants? Because I didn’t take any. When the food is great, I just forget about my camera. ))