The oldest and best known section of Savannah which is part of Chatham County is the Historic District. The historic district includes the city's 21 beautiful squares (22 when Ellis Square reopens in late 2007) with her lovely accommodations, dining, and shopping. It is bordered on the north by the Savannah River and Savannah Harbor, on the east by the Truman Parkway, on the south by Victory Drive and on the west by West Boundary Street. Included in this area is the National Historic Landmark District - 2.5 square miles bearing the highest historic district-level designation awarded by the National Park Service. The borders of the Landmark District are the Savannah River, East of Broad Street, Gwinnett Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Also located within the Historic District area are two neighborhoods on the National Register of Historic Places - the Victorian District, which is just south of the Lankmark District, and the Thomas Square Streetcar Historic District.
Savannah Midtown . . . area stretches from Victory Drive south to DeRenne Avenue and is vordered on the east by Waters Avenue and on the west by Bull Street. It's the home of another National Register historic district, Ardsley Park-Chatham Crescent. Running east of Waters Avenue to the Wilmington River is the
Eastside/Thunderbolt area. Thunderbolt is a fishing village almost as old as Savannah, the Eastside harbors Bonaventure Cemetery and the National Register historic districts of Gordonston and Daffin Park- Parkside. Extending eastward from the Wilington River is the
Island/Tybee portion of Chatham County. The islands are verdant residential enclaves, while Tybee - with its wide beaches, distinctive lighthouse and traditional seaside cottages - is an alluring combination of the offbeat and upscale. The huge area south of DeRenne Avenue is the
Southside, a shopper's paradise that;s also full of recreaitonal opportunities. The Southside is the location of both of Savannah's malls and numerous smaller shopping centers, of an abundance of restaurants and motels, and of 500-acre Bacon REgional Park, a recational complex offering venues for a multitude of sports and outdoor activities. The Bethesda Home for Boys, the charming riverside community of Isle of Hope, and Skidaway Island and its spacious, high-end golf and tennis community, The Landings. To the west of the Southside, out past the picturesque Forest River and its wide expanse of marshland, is
Southwest Chatham, the site of the Interstate 95-Georgia Highway 204 interchange, with its many motels and restaurants. Northwest and due west of Savannah loom the fast-growing
West Chatham municipalities of Garden City, Pooler, Port Wentworth and Bloomingdale. Also is the area are heavily forested residential communities and one of the Savannah area's top attractions - the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum.
Reference Savannah Travel Planner 2007
Far beyond the natural draw this city has in its history, there is a wide variety of entertaining attractions to enjoy in Savannah. Of course there are the rich cultural arts and museums with a wealth of interesting legends and narratives as well as outdoor activities: the recreational beach, water sports and golfing galore, one will find a waterfront city worth its stripes in hospitality. Savannah goes above and beyond with a multitude of interesting things to do and see not typically found elsewhere. Savannah is unique in the attractions as well as the means by which to do and see them. One can walk, ride a carriage or hop the trolley to tour much of the historic city but there is an underlying culture that one might never experience if they don't pay attention. There are ghost tours and murder mystery cruises for those with a propensity for drama and intrigue. For the food coinsure, choose the restaurant tour, which among seven quality eateries, includes Paula Deen's famous place, Lady and Sons, where Paul may actually be in the kitchen! Or dine at the Pirate's House Restaurant, in business since 1753! For those interested in star power, there are almost 70 sites where movies have been filmed that can be visited as well as a tour of homes of stars. Drink in the soulful sounds of the Gospel music of the south on a dinner club cruise or take in the grand old homes of the Victorian District. So much southern flavor, charm, hospitality and style; it's not all historic but it's why you'll come back to Savannah again and again.
Whether interested in America's history, long past, Revolutionary War, southern history, Civil War History, World War History, Civil Rights history or any number of other historical studies, architecture, arts, botany, the categories are boundless in what Savannah has to offer. Of course her history begins with the founding of the state of Georgia while still under British rule but there are many subsequent facets to this southern city, which brought her to the shining gem she is today. Choose any one the above named areas and find a multitude of interesting facts and sites to learn about and study. Are you a War buff? Visit the town squares and many monuments or the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. Train enthusiast? Visit the museum with the historic account of America's oldest antebellum rail Facility, The Central of Georgia Railway Roadhouse Complex. Mix a little art with your history? There are no less than four art museums in Savannah, many of which offer pictorial history of the southern lady's journey through time. Being a coastal city with fresh water rivers, flowing as lifeblood through Savannah, there are marine based historical accounts from pirate's coves to the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. There is history for just about every possible interest: gospel, civil rights, wartime, freedom fighting, aviation, maritime, architecture and a smattering of ghost stories to salt things up a bit. Come to historic Savannah. She'll exceed your expectations.
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