Savannah, Ga

As you enter Savannah, Georgia, there is no doubt as to what a busy shipping port this is alongside the Savannah River that flows into the Atlantic Ocean.  Tobacco and cotton created a major trading center in the early days in the city founded in 1733.

We parked at the visitor's center for our free Sunday overnight stay and once the parking lady arrived to evaluate our rv and decide that we should park in the motor coach section then she told us about the live music at City Market. We hopped the free DOT bus for our roller coaster ride through town to the park.

It seemed to be the place to be on a Sunday afternoon and we immediately went into relax mode and soaked up the sun while enjoying the music.

After lunch we strolled down to the candy shop and watch them make taffy while we sampled some warm pecan pralines.

Nearby the mules waited for tourists to fill their wagon for a ride through the historic district.

Not everyone in the area was intested in a tour.

Soon we happened upon the small group standing up for democracy as they paraded down the streets, all part of the Occupy Wallstreet movement spreading across the U.S.

Down on River Street, which runs alongside the Savannah River, is where we found the largest accumulation of tourists and the tourist shops are plentiful for their perusal. All of the old factories and warehouses have been converted into a tourist shopping area.

The free trolley runs back and forth the length of River Street so we hopped on for a ride.

The Waving Girl statue depicts the early 20th century light tenders' sister who supposedly waved at every ship. According to one legend she would wave until her sailor sweetheart returned.

Factors Walk is an amazing conglomeration of steel and brick. The factors or merchants would trade here from their brokerage offices when cotton was king. Entrance to the buildings is across the steel platform, below which is a narrow street.

The Savannah Cotton Exchange Building is one of my favorites. It was built in 1887 when Savannah was the 2nd leading cotton export city in the world.

Washington presented these bronze  guns to the Chatham Artillery after his visit in 1791.

The metal arch and walkway lead across the street below to the old cotton warehouses on River Street.

Spanish moss and Live Oaks shade much of Savannah and give it a real feeling of southern hospitality.

21 of the 24 parks designed by Gen. James Oglethorpe when Savannah was laid out remain. They are bordered by townhouses and most feature a statue or fountain, surrounded by live oaks laden with Spanish moss. The azaleas add an extra accent when they bloom each spring. If I have missed one of the parks then I am not sure which one. We walked to as many as our feet would allow.

Beside one park is the Mercer Williams House where Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was filmed.

Forsyth Park is the largest park and we found it quite busy on a Sunday afternoon. This park was laid out in 1851.

Juliette Low was born in this 1821 house in downtown Savannah in 1860. The house has been restored to its 1886 appearance. She was the founder of the Girl Scouts.

Savannah, like Charleston, has someone offering every imaginable tour in every type of vehicle. Downtown seems to be overflowing with young people, many students at the Savannah School of the Arts. Our favorite way to see the city is to walk or bicycle, depending on the day and time and traffic. We found Sunday afternoon to be most enjoyable and also appreciated the quiet night we spent in the middle of the downtown historic district.