Our Babymoon in Savannah
We are freshly home from our long weekend in Savannah, GA, and are eeking back into our regular life schedule little by little.
I’m a big fan of taking time to get away regularly, whether that’s somewhere close or far, for just a day or for longer. Jay Shetty recently said that every year you should take time to go 1) somewhere you’ve never been before, 2) somewhere where no one knows you, and 3) somewhere that gives you a sense of peace. Well, Savannah hit all three for us!
Over the last 5 years of trying to grow our family, we’ve daydreamed over and over again about what we would do to celebrate once we conceived. We knew a nice babymoon would be up there on our list! We considered a few different places and levels of extravagance, but ultimately chose Savannah due to our ability to drive (more time on vacay, less travel stress and cost), the fact that we had never spent time there (a shared new experience), and that the money saved by staying closeby could be used to beef up on luxury experiences!
We decided to combine Valentine’s Day celebrations as well as our 8 year anniversary in with the Babymoon to feel the freedom to go all-in without hesitation.
STAY
After scouring all of Airbnb to find a perfect fit, we ultimately chose a local Bed & Breakfast. We’ve used the Select Registry several times throughout our marriage to find nice B&Bs all over the country. It’s a decidedly non-millennial choice for lodging, I’ll admit, but we love that there is someone there to look out for us and provide guidance and company. Also, there are usually nice robes, above par bedding and linens, and delicious breakfast, snacks, and beverages all included.
Azalea Inn was a lovely little stay for us. Within walking distance from Forsyth Park in the historic district, this preserved mansion felt welcoming and homey. Teresa, the owner, was usually there and always kept us laughing and took great care of us. The scratch-made southern breakfasts were exceptional and helped us begin each day without a sense of having to rush out the door (very appealing at 7 months pregnant!) The bed was especially comfortable, too.
PLAY
We drove down on Thursday, so we got a full day of fun on Friday. We chose to purchase tickets for the Historic Trolley (we used Old Town Trolley), which we were able to do right at the B&B, and picked up the stop closest to us, just two blocks away. Not only is it a live-narrated historic tour, but you can hop off and back on all day long, as many times as you want, so you can explore throughout downtown. It was a very cold and windy day, but the Trolley was nice and warm!
We explored St. John the Baptist Cathedral (free), River Street (lots of shopping right by the river on historic cobblestone streets), and Broughton Street (the main downtown thoroughfare with lots of shopping). We especially loved the Savannah Bee Company, and made a couple of purchases there, including some Royal Jelly Body Butter (which I’ve been slathering all over my baby belly), and Bourbon Honey. Along the way we saw many of the historic landmarks and squares around downtown Savannah, and got all of the details from our trolley drivers.
On Saturday we drove out to the Wormsloe Historic Site, where the famous tunnel of spanish-moss covered Live Oaks is (seen in The Last Song - I did briefly hang my head out the window a la Miley for about 30 seconds). It’s about a 20-minute drive away, and cost $10 per person. We got there by 10:00 am, so it was not crowded, and the sunlight was streaming in through the trees perfectly. We took a walk along the trails there in the brisk morning air, and then headed to Bonaventure Cemetery. That evening, we walked into downtown and explored more on foot, did some shopping, and sat in The Book Lady bookstore (a recommendation from my high school history teacher!)
On Sunday the weather was amazing, so we walked to Forsyth Park and had a little quiet time there in front of the fountain journaling and people-watching. I felt like J.M. Barrie in Kensington Gardens. It was sad to leave on such a pretty day, but that hour of park time was something I’ll never forget.
Read John’s beautiful story about this surprise sun-spot in this picture here!
EAT
All of our breakfasts were included at the B&B, so we had fun picking out our lunch and dinner options.
Lunch Friday - Soho South Cafe - this cutie little warehouse feels like a solarium inside, with tall ceilings, tons of greenery, and kitschy-cool decor. We went with simple sandwiches, salads, and soup.
Dinner Friday - we went all out at one of Savannah’s fanciest and most highly-rated restaurants, Elizabeth on 37th. Even so, it didn’t feel stodgy or uncomfortable, and the food and service were absolutely incredible. It is located in a historic mansion, and there was even a fire lit in the fireplace where we sat. We enjoyed fresh-caught seafood (don’t worry, only the kind I’m allowed to have now!) and a cheesecake for dessert.
Coffee Afternoon Saturday - we opted to eat our dinner leftovers for lunch at the B&B, and then I took a nap : ) But afterwards, we took to the popular Coffee Fox coffee shop for an afternoon treat! I got the Horchata Latte iced and an energy bite to pick me up for the rest of the day.
Dinner Saturday - Flying Monk Noodle Bar! If you love ramen, pho, or asian noodle dishes, this is definitely a place you want to hit up for lunch or dinner in Savannah! It’s right off of Broughton Street and has a very cozy cool atmosphere. John got the curry ramen and I got a spicy noodle dish, and suffice it to say there were no leftovers between us! We then walked to Leopold’s Ice Cream just down the street for dessert.
We had an incredible time resting, relaxing, experiencing new things, and just spending time together. Are you going on any trips soon? Which places are on your bucket list?
We might try to sneak away one last time before baby arrives, but after that, it might be a while, so be sure to share your travels so I can live vicariously and get ideas for the future!
Love,
Sam
P.S. Want to read more travel posts? Check out these posts too!
my Raleigh City Guide
Our 10-year-anni Trip to the Shenandoah Valley in VA
my post telling you just how to totally enjoy your next trip!
