A Weekend In Savannah

My daughter and her friend have been planning a mother daughter getaway for more than five years and we finally got to make it happen! Savannah was our destination and I was so excited. I’d never met my daughter’s friend or her mom and was excited to do so. Also, Savannah was a city I’ve wanted to visit. Both exceeded my expectations. 

We arrived in Savannah on Friday morning (We took an early flight and it was direct. One of the perks now that I live in NYC!). We checked into our hotel, The Alida. The lobby was so welcoming with it’s holiday decor, gift shop, and friendly staff. Our room was spacious and I really loved the window seat as well as the beautiful charcuterie board and champagne that was kindly left for us in our room. In addition, the hotel has a beautiful rooftop and is in a fantastic location. 

We arrived earlier than our friends (my new friends) so my daughter and I took a walk along the river. We stopped into Urban Poppy, which is a botanical boutique selling everything including chocolates, candles, stationery, jewelry, and of course, beautiful flowers. They also offer floral services for weddings and other events.

Along the river there was a Christmas Market going on and we felt like we were in a Hallmark movie. It was just so charming! We continued on our walk and came upon a beautiful river boat which added to the charm. As we continued to walk we passed a Leopold’s Ice Cream. Well, almost passed…doesn’t matter what time of day it is, it’s always the right time for delicious ice cream!!

We met up with our travel companions and spent the rest of the exploring the city. The architecture was so beautiful and it seemed that every few streets there was a park. The parks were filled with lush greenery, benches, statues-they were just so inviting. We came upon Congregation Mickve Israel, the third oldest Jewish congregration in America and the only gothic Jewish synagogue in the US, which was really cool. I love seeing beautiful cathedrals, which we saw on our walks in Savannah, and it was nice to see a unique synagogue as well! Dinner that night was sitting outside at Collins Quarter and it was delicious. We started off with a glass of champagne and that always sets the perfect mood for me! 

The next day we started our morning with breakfast at The Paris Market Cafe. I love a good hot chocolate and the Chocolate Chaud here was the best! After we ate we walked around the store, which was an incredible treat. The store is beautiful and sells a wonderful mix of items including home goods, beauty items, jewelry, and other new and vintage items. We continued walking and exploring and spent some time visiting antique stores. These stores were not like any antique stores I’ve ever been in before. They actually felt a little haunted and that was very cool! 

We enjoyed lunch at Gryphon, which is located at The Savannah College of Art and Design and the servers are all students at the school. Lunch was delicious and it was fun people watching as we sat outside on the beautiful 80 degree day. After lunch we continued walking around and came upon some really great shops to explore. Asher + Rye is a shop not to be missed! When you walk in to the shop you feel like home, or the home I’d love to have! At every turn there was something to ooh and aah over. From furniture to kitchen goodies to pet accessories and everything in between, Asher + Rye has an amazing selection. I even found the sink I want to use in one of the bathrooms in my new apartment! (I haven’t told my interior designer yet-yup another change!) 

Our next stop was at Hannah E., a haven of beautiful clothes, shoes, and accessories. Another incredible boutique is The Edition Shop. Unfortunately I didn’t buy anything at either boutique as I’m trying to remember my downsizing and limited closet space (admittedly the one negative to moving from a house to an apartment, but still worth it!)

Dinner that night was at St. Neo’s Brasserie. It was another great meal. I recommend starting the meal with the charred rustic bread appetizer: trout dip, salmon mousse, deviled egg. We shared this and it was so good. I actually finished off what was left and didn’t order an entree-I was too full from this delicious appetizer. After dinner we walked back to Leopold’s for ice cream and probably for the first time in my life I was too full for dessert!! Crazy, I know!!

The next morning we were back at Collins Quarter for brunch and it was delicious. Since we’d been everything on our “must see” lists we decided to head back to the hotel after brunch and enjoy the beautiful rooftop and view. Of course we had some snacks before heading to the airport. 

It was such a wonderful weekend. If you’re looking for a quick getaway, Savannah is the perfect destination. Two days is plenty of time to enjoy the beauty of this city and come away feeling relaxed and happy. If you leave Friday after work and spend Saturday and Sunday there, taking an early evening flight home, you’ll have plenty of time. I’m looking forward to going back with my husband as he loves a good walking city also!

A Quick Guide to Savannah:

Where to Stay:

• The Alida Hotel

What to Explore:

• Riverwalk
• Rainbow Row
• Forsyth Park
• Gothic Synagogue
• Churches
• Roam the streets and look at al the beautiful architecture and parks

Where to Eat:

• Collins Quarter
• The Paris Market
• Gryphon
• St. Neo’s Brasserie
• Leopold’s Ice Cream

Where to Shop:

• Asher + Rye
• Urban Poppy
• Hannah E.
• The Edition Shop
• Walking around you’ll come upon so many great antique stores to pop in to