Rehearsal day and tours of the city on foot
I don't know why, but I've always dismissed Savannah as being sort of 'second rate' to other cities like St. Augustine, Charleston, Williamsburg, Boston, etc. And I've been there literally hundreds of times but never gave the city a chance to show what it had to offer from both a historical perspective and as a modern, metropolitan city.
We went to Savannah this time around to attend the wedding of our good friends Jana and Gary. Everyone in the wedding party was staying over near Riverstreet and their hotel was booked. And since we weren't part of the wedding party and wanted something a little tucked away from the activity, I booked us a room at the historic and luxurious Mansion on Forsyth Park since the rates were similar to others like the Marriott and Hilton that were directly on Riverstreet.
We spent most of the day touring River Street and all of the squares around downtown Savannah. A bicycle would have allowed us the opportunity to see so much more, but we decided to do it all by foot - we needed the exercise anyway. All the hotels offer free maps of the area and how the squares are layed out. I also highly recommend the trolley tours of the city - very informative. We happened to do the ghost tour that stopped at many of the legendary locations in Savannah famous for their goulishly guests.
We were strolling along Riverstreet in Savannah after our drive from Atlanta, which in case you've never been, is loaded with tourists and the selection of businesses and dining establishments along the river tend to reflect that sort of mentality. Mostly bar-type restaurants with burgers, wings and seafood that shouldn't really qualify as "fresh local seafood" since it came out of the freezer. Then we happened along a lady sitting behind a podium asking everyone to go upstairs via the elevator to Vic's. And boy are we glad we did!
Situated in a former cotton warehouse on Savannah's historic River Street District that was built in 1858, the building was once occupied by Sherman's officers during the War Between the States (a.k.a. Civil War even though it wasn't a 'civil war') as offices and planning space. A map that was hand drawn by Union soldiers detailing Sherman's march through Tennessee had been covered by plaster and during a renovation of the building in 1901 was rediscovered. The map has been covered and framed and to this day adorns the wall of the dining room over looking the Savannah River and River Street.
The service in this restaurant with hardwood floors and high ceilings is absolutely fantastic! The staff is very attentive and the food is "to die for." Growing up on the coast, I'm particular about how my seafood is cooked - SO many people over cook shrimp until they're though and hard. Vic's cooked and seasoned everything just right. Can't wait to visit this location on a future visit to Savannah.
