Wyndham Wisdom

Savannah Walking Tours: Wyndham Wisdom

Whatever your interests, Georgia's historic port city has a walking tour that's right up your alley

By Deborah Geering

YOU GET THE FEEL OF Savannah quickly: canopy trees draped with Spanish moss, green public squares, cobbled streets and a rich blend of architecture that reflects nearly 300 years of American culture.

But if you're driving and not touring Savannah on foot, you'll miss the artful ironwork and hidden gardens, not to mention a lot of local flavor--for example, Pogoman, a fellow with a flowing white beard who gets around on a Pogo Stick. Savannah is made for walking (guided tours are a must), and spring is the perfect time, as the azaleas burst into bloom, filling gardens, boulevards and other nooks and crannies with color. It's a different sort of "colorful" than the Savannah portrayed in the novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and slightly more enticing, especially on a warm April day.

This is Austin today: a sophisticated and increasingly urbane boomtown with a funky down-home foundation. (The town's unofficial motto, "Keep Austin Weird," was reworked as a glitzy charity-event slogan: "Keep Austin Fabulous.") These two worlds might not always be comfortable with one another, but visitors are free to sample the best of both.

The grid and the guides

British general James Oglethorpe founded Savannah in 1733 and laid it out in a straightforward grid pattern. It's still easy to tour Savannah and its 2½-square-mile historic district. That said, you'll discover much more on a guided tour. Luckily, "tour guide" seems to be one of Savannah's most common job descriptions. This friendly workforce--a mix of college students and retirees--staffs a dozen-plus companies that offer walks covering everything from pirates to churches.

Four squares on foot

What better introduction to a historic city than a Savannah walking tour focused on, well, history? Savannah Heritage Tours' guides explain Oglethorpe's vision of a city centered on four open squares surrounded by public buildings, churches and houses (there are 21 squares today). The tour guides also describe the early settlers' treatment of native peoples, the Civil War and modern efforts to reclaim historic sites. One walking tour highlight is the grand Owens-Thomas house. Completed in 1819, it was the first house in the city with indoor plumbing. Another is the birthplace of Juliet Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts. Savannah Heritage Tours; 912-224-8365; savannahheritagetour.com

One unexpected treat of the Savannah Saunter Tour is the opportunity to mingle with a local celebrity, Frankie the cat. The on-site feline at Urban Cargo, the tour's starting point, Frankie is now kept on a short leash after an unfortunate run-in with a passing taxi. For anyone who asks, store owner Dan Gleason will proudly pull out a stack of photographs of his furry friend, snapped by visitors and mailed back to him from around the world. Frankie tolerates the attention between yawns. See Savannah Walking Tours; 912-234-3571; seesavannah.com

Gates and gardens

If you're lucky, you'll get Liesl Noble as your Savannah tour guide for the Gates & Gardens Tour offered by Savannah Walks. A retired educator, she patiently instructs her charges about the architectural significance of entry stairs and the origin of side yards. She also salts her lessons with juicier tidbits, like recent selling prices of local homes and the names of the best modern ironwork artists. Savannah's semi-hidden gardens are the pride and joy of homeowners, she says, so it's okay to peek over hedges and through garden gates. On Noble's tour, you'll see the city's oldest Crape myrtle (about 150) and learn a bit about other native flora of the region. Savannah Walks; 888-728-9255; savannahwalks.com

Ghosts

It's hard to be frightened while traveling with a group of giddy--and in some cases tipsy--Savannah tourists on a Saturday night, but the Ghosts & Legends of Savannah Tour is a hoot. Tour guides point out the ancient trees in Wright Square, where two indentured servants were hanged for murdering their master. The trees bear no Spanish moss--apparently they're too haunted to be tolerated even by a chigger-ridden air plant. Also on the walking tour are allegedly haunted taverns, inns and houses; the site of a former Civil War hospital and yellow-fever infirmary; and the Revolution-era Colonial Park Cemetery, where occupying Union troops are said to have tinkered with the dates on headstones. Ghosts & Legends of Savannah; 866-264-8160; theghostsofsavannah.com

Kid's view

Ted Eldridge, the delightful Savannah walking tour guide and owner of A Walk Through Savannah, offers a slew of interesting strolls, including one that's all about songwriter Johnny Mercer. But his Child's View of Savannah Tour is among his best. At the start he hands the kids a stack of colorful cards, each printed with a question, and leads them (and parents) on a scavenger hunt. Youngsters try to spot the "oldest living thing in Savannah" (the 200-year-old Candler live oak tree on Drayton Street), "frogs in Lafayette Square" (sculpted into a fountain) and "a line that never ends in the Cathedral" of St. John the Baptist (a Celtic knot set at the bottom of a holy water font). A Walk Through Savannah; 912-921-4455; awalkthroughsavannah.bravehost.com

Galleries

Since its founding in 1978, the Savannah College of Art and Design has left an indelible mark on the city. After buying up about 60 buildings (so far), the college has restored and repurposed them to the needs of one of the nation's largest art and design schools. Its 9,000 students leave an impression, too--not just in their colorful presence, but also in the emphasis on visual art that they bring to the city, with studios and galleries on nearly every corner. Two to check out when touring Savannah: the Telfair Museum of Art's two-year-old building, called the Jepson Center for the Arts, at York and Barnard streets; and the Jack Leigh Gallery at Oglethorpe and Abercorn, showing works by the photographer who shot the cover for the first edition of Midnight. The Chroma Gallery on Barnard Street, in the tourist-friendly City Market, is ranked among Savannah's best.

Just start walking

You don't need a plan of action when Savannah walking tours are on your to-do list. Just start walking toward the Savannah River to discover City Market, a former market that's been refashioned into a center for art, dining and entertainment. River Street, right near the water, is lined with shops, restaurants and bars. Head away from the river, down Bull Street and through the squares that intersect it, and you'll reach gorgeous Forsyth Park, where you just might run into the previously mentioned Pogoman, who, for the record, lays claim to only a single proper name, Christopher. Pogoman hops his way around the park for exercise, enjoyment and a mission: to spread word about the nation's homeless. His purpose might be somber, but his delivery is whimsical--not unlike his town.

Other walking tour contacts

Most city-licensed tour operators charge roughly $15-$20 a tour.

STAY

RCI-affiliated resorts near Savannah are on Hilton Head Island, SC, about an hour's drive.

Island Links Resort
Port O' Call

For more information,
visit RCI.com or call
Weeks: 800-338-7777
Points: 877-968-7476

Other Savannah Hotels

Ballastone Inn
A 16-room B&B in the historic district. You'll get a dose of history without even leaving the property--it was built in 1838. 14 E. Oglethorpe Ave.; 800-822-4553 or 912-236-1484; ballastone.com; doubles from $235

Thunderbird Inn
Save money, stay funky. This 42-room 1964 classic motel has new carpeting and furniture in retro-cool style. 611 W. Oglethorpe Ave.; 866-324-2661 or 912-232-2661; thethunderbirdinn.com; doubles from $100

Mansion on Forsyth Park
Simply lovely, the 126-room hotel is decorated in soothing olives and creams, with comfy linens and huge bathrooms. 700 Drayton St.; 888-711-5114 or 912-238-5158; mansiononforsythpark.com; doubles from $200

Eat

Vinnie VanGoGo's
New York-style pizza in Savannah? It's right in City Market, and it comes with New York attitude--no credit cards allowed. 317 W. Bryan St.; 912-233-6394; dinner for two, $30*

Firefly Café
Stop by this charming café on Troup Square for breakfast or a casual lunch or dinner. The menu is vegetarian-friendly. 321 Habersham St.; 912-234-1971; dinner for two, $55

Local 11 Ten
Set in a former bank building (the vault is still intact!), this hip spot has a Mediterranean-influenced menu that uses locally sourced ingredients: Sapelo Island clams, coastal shrimp, Georgia squab, and vegetables and herbs from a nearby farm. 1110 Bull St.; 912-790-9000; dinner for two, $50

Sapphire Grill
A romantic spot that earns high marks for its regional and organic foods, especially seafood. 110 W. Congress St.; 912-443-9962; dinner for two, $60

*Prices cover a three-course meal for two, not including drinks, tax or tip.

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