| Those of us who live in Atlanta know this already, | | | | and you can get off at any stop and re-board |
| but Savannah is a terrific choice for a long | | | | later. The price is $25. If you travel a short |
| weekend. Frankly, this historic party town makes | | | | distance from the Visitor Center to 215 West |
| a great getaway from anywhere in the U.S. And | | | | Boundary Street in the historic district, you can |
| yes, if you visit Savannah during summer, you will | | | | take an Oglethorpe Trolley Tour that's just as |
| feel the heat and humidity. | | | | good for $10 less. |
| Savannah became especially popular in the | | | | Savannah has some wonderful restaurants but |
| mid-1990's following the release of Midnight in the | | | | for me, a first-night tradition is dining at Elizabeth |
| Garden of Good and Evil, a murder mystery that | | | | on 37th, an acclaimed eatery that pairs American |
| took place in the city's historic district. Sightseers | | | | cuisine with southern specialties. Elizabeth features |
| scrambled to see Monterey Square and the | | | | such entrees as Broiled Mustard-Garlic Wild |
| structures written about in the novel. | | | | Atlantic Salmon complemented by shrimp and |
| Monterey is one of 22 little squares, each a | | | | grits with red-eye gravy. The elegant dining room |
| compact park, that define the historic district and | | | | is housed in an early 20th mansion. Founder and |
| help make it beautiful. The squares are bordered | | | | original chef Elizabeth Terry has retired, but |
| by and populated with native flowering species. | | | | according to reviews, the restaurant is as good as |
| One-way streets surround the squares. | | | | ever. Elizabeth on 37th is a short drive or taxi ride |
| Savannah has the world's largest registered Urban | | | | from downtown. |
| and Historic District, which encompasses | | | | Some of Savannah's other premier dining |
| approximately 1,200 buildings of significance. The | | | | establishments include The Olde Pink House, as |
| city's original structures remained intact for many | | | | noteworthy for its 18th-century mansion as for |
| years, initially as a result of the population's | | | | its food, and Cha Bella, a Mediterranean restaurant |
| impoverished nature. Then after World War II, | | | | that uses local organic produce, and seafood from |
| preservation and renovation took center stage as | | | | the local fish market. Two famous though less |
| Savannah residents, partly with an eye toward | | | | formal dining spots are Ms. Wilkes' Dining Room, |
| attracting tourists, turned the old city into a thing | | | | where diners sit around large tables and share |
| of beauty. | | | | heaping platters of fried chicken, baskets of |
| A good way to learn the lay of the land is to | | | | biscuits and bowls of vegetables, and Lady & |
| start at the Visitor Center and then jump onto a | | | | Sons, the southern food bastion of Food Network |
| trolley for a tour. The vehicles of Old Town | | | | star Paula Deen. |
| Trolley Tours leave right from the Visitor Center, | | | | |
