Georgia Byrd - Local Author
If you sought a truly "off the beaten path experience" in your city, where would you go or what would you do?
My husband and I dash out in our convertible to Tybee Island, take the first right past the last bridge before the island, and drive until the road ends at a little creek-side called, Cafe Loco. We bypass the restaurant and head up the wooden stairs to a newly built outdoor deck. At sunset, the views are panoramic and the mango rays of the setting sun illuminate miles of marshland from this perch. As shrimp boats head into the docks, gulls swarm, dolphins jump and a spectacular showcase of wildlife unfolds as we savor some of the best steamed shrimp in Savannah!
Where would you go to see intriguing local art?
We consider a Saturday afternoon at Universal Trading Post on Franklin Square a treat, not just for local art, but for entertainment and occasional "finds."
What types of family fun activities would you suggest to those you know?
I always advise friends and family who visit to start with a carriage or trolley tour (open-air). This is an excellent way to get a good feel for the city and motivation to get off, walk, eat and shop when the tour is finished. Also, sounds eerie, but an afternoon traipsing through Bonaventure Cemetery is both educational and entertaining for families with pre-teen to mature elementary-aged children.
What is your city best known for, as far as the locals are concerned?
Ask any local what Savannah is known for and they'll probably shake their heads and credit Paula Deen for the city's newfound fame. A few years ago, the answer would also be media-related, giving credit to John Berendt's, "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil," and "Forrest Gump." Historians or those true to Savannah culture would agree that Savannah's fame should be attributed to her Historical District, deeply rooted in a magnificent eclectic show of architecture.
