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2013A Perfect Day in Savannah, Georgia
By Teresa Jacobson of Azalea Inn & Gardens
Steaming hot coffee on the wrap around porch of Azalea Inn and Gardens, early morning quiet along the brick-lined walkways of Huntingdon Street. A perfect beginning to a perfect day in Savannah.
Time now to slip inside the inn for a picture-perfect breakfast and some easy conversation around the communal table with the guests. What will we enjoy today? Ah, Banana Pancakes with Banana Caramel syrup, chicken-apple sausage, and a refreshing fruit cup of strawberries, black grapes and melon balls topped with blackberries and raspberries drizzled with a ginger-mint syrup, oh my! A little hot tea now to compliment my Savannah Sunrise – an Azalea Inn and Gardens breakfast specialty juice.
The perfect day in Savannah ~ imbibe in the thick of things – tourist sightseeing, history, art, architecture – and along the fringes. It’s what Jake and Teresa Jacobson love to do: the way-pointing for their guests to discover the southern city’s unique character. Teresa recommends her guests indulge in an overview of the city by trolley – its world-famous landscapes, architecture and vibrant history. She shares that it is essential to lay this foundation to ensure that even those with the shortest of escapes from life have the opportunity to savor the city. Finishing the 90-minute tour at the Visitors Center, guests are only a few blocks away from the best soul food restaurant in town, Mom and Nikki’s. Teresa is not one to resist the urge to lunch on the Shrimp and Grits and has been known to sneak on down whenever she gets a hankering for crispy fried chicken, mac’n’cheese and greens with a side of cornbread.
After guests enjoy this soulful feast and can push away from the table, a slow and easy ride with Kathy of Classic Cars Tours is ideal. The first stop in your 1938 McLaughlin Buick Special is at the lesser well-known Laurel Grove Cemetery. With its lush plantings and beautifully carved stones, it is the final resting place for such notable Savannahians as Juliette Gordon Lowe, founder of the Girl Scouts, and James Lord Pierpont, writer and composer of Jingle Bells. Motor about the lush Savannah squares (not missing the movie locations of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – Lafayette Square, Monterey Square and Forsyth Park); Telfair Square (where George Washington lodged overnight at an inn); and Chippewa Square, Savannah’s early center of entertainment at the Savannah Theatre. A ride down River Street reminds one of the grand harbor, King Cotton exports, and inbound treasures from China, Europe and England.
On return to Azalea Inn and Gardens, the backyard gardens and summertime heat quencher (the pool) draw guests to various sitting areas. Scattered throughout the yards are decks and balconies, giving the perfect setting for sipping wine and nibbling on appetizers, savoring the time to unwind, sharing adventurous memories, discussing dinner plans, immersing yourself in Savannah’s slow and easy pace.
Teresa and Jake have a handful of restaurants that meet the expectation of every type of foodie. Dinner at Alligator Soul, an off-the-beaten-path hidden gem beneath the post office on Telfair Square, is a perfect accompaniment to a delightful day. This is delicious place to unwind or to celebrate in a cozy yet sophisticated way with food that is remarkable, rich with flavor, texture and colors.
One last stop before the night is over – Lulu’s Chocolate Bar whose motto is “Life is Uncertain, Eat Dessert First!!” The day is done and perhaps you need a fix – Crème Brulee? Chocolate Fondue for Two? Cheesecake? Perhaps the perfect Espresso martini? This is the spot to finish off your night sweetly, sublimely.
Homeward bound, wander towards Bull Street, gaze upwards and all around to discover the majestic mementos of world-famous architects that abound in our city. With or without wine in hand, drink to the history. Feel the spirits of eras gone by. Delight in the most breathtakingly perfect day in Savannah … a day to call your own.