Beech Tree News Network

I believe fall break was designed for us to take a break from our routines. So, I did. I went to Tybee Island and Savannah, Georgia, for a few days. I had never been to either location, so I saw some new territory.

Tybee Island provided some relaxing days on the beach. The island is barely separated from the mainland – a barrier island about 18 miles east of Savannah – and is connected by roadway. Most of the construction is older, and anywhere in the city is an easy walk to the beach. The entire island is just under 22 square miles, and the island and city have the same name. The resident population is just under 3,000. While there, I visited the Tybee Island Light Station and Museum. The lighthouse has 178 steps inside and is 145 feet tall. The original lighthouse was built in 1773, but it was burned in 1861 by the Confederates and rebuilt in 1867 after the Civil War. The bottom 60 feet are from the original 1773 lighthouse, and the top 85 feet resulted from the 1867 reconstruction. The island’s museum is across the street from the lighthouse and is housed in Fort Screven’s Battery Garland, constructed between 1898 and 1899. The observation deck of the battery provides a view of the Atlantic Ocean and the mouth of the Savannah River.

 Savannah, Georgia, is an absolutely beautiful city. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, it is the oldest city in Georgia. Savannah was the British colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. It was also a strategic port city in the American Revolution as well as the American Civil War. Today it is an industrial center and an important Atlantic seaport. Savannah's downtown area, which includes the Savannah Historic District, the Savannah Victorian Historic District, and 22 park-like squares, is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States. Downtown Savannah largely retains the original town plan of founder James Oglethorpe. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Savannah's 2016 estimated population was 146,763. Today this city’s downtown area provides old-town beauty, cobblestone streets, well-preserved historic buildings, manicured gardens, oak-shaded parks, lodging, restaurants and outdoor cafes, shopping, festivals and cultural events. It’s a beautiful, friendly city. I felt safe exploring and walked wherever I chose in the downtown historic district.

Some of the things I learned on this trip included the following:

• ·       The downtown Savannah carriage tour provides an excellent overview of the town’s history and is a great way of getting a feel for what you really want to see.

• ·       The original plan for the colony of Georgia was anti-slavery, emphasizing small family-owned farms.

• ·       The colony's charter provided for acceptance of all religions except Roman Catholicism. The ban on Roman Catholic settlers was based on the colony's proximity to the hostile settlements in Spanish Florida.

• ·       Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) students have helped to ensure the Savannah downtown renovations.

• ·       In the Savannah Historic District, city law allows possession and consumption on the street of one alcoholic beverage in an open plastic container of not more than 16 ounces.

 My fall break was definitely a break from my routine, and the new territory was beautiful. I could spend more time in Savannah, Georgia. It is definitely a welcoming city.