2024 Archives - Woman on Her Way

We arrived in New York at Port Authority and then carried two backpacks 5.5 blocks to our hotel. Along the way, we stopped at Mom’s Bar and Kitchen. It was a good choice: we were hungry, having skipped breakfast to catch the bus, and it gave us a break from the bag’s weight.

Why are we each carrying two backpacks? After we disembark in Southampton, England, we are hiking the South West Coast path, where one backpack will be ported to that day’s destination while we hike with a smaller pack with that day’s food, water, and extra clothing/rain gear. We also needed clothing for the ship, which we discarded as we used it.

The next day, we used the Hop-On Hop-Off bus to tour the city, getting off at the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. Since we had to wait, we visited The National Museum of the Amerian Indian. Entrance is free, and I recommend it. We only had an hour to visit, but we would return to complete it. After the ferry ride, we spent several hours exploring Central Park’s 1.32 square miles, seeing most of its perimeter but missing the zoo.

New York City Public Library — NYC from Hop-On Hop-Off bus

The next morning, after visiting the 911 Memorial, we made two trips with our packs to the pier, where we boarded the NCL Prima. The embarkation took more than four chilly hours, and it was the worst shipboarding I have ever experienced.

World Trade Center — WTC Memorial Center

We arrived in Savannah early last night and checked into a hotel in the historic part of town. It was a short walk down steep, uneven steps to West River Street, which borders the Savannah River and offers many choices for food and drink. We supped at Dub’s Bar; I tried crab cakes, which many eateries claim to have the best, and was happy with my meal choice. Dennis had a terrific pulled pork sandwich.

Historic Steps to W. River Street — Historic steps to W. River St.

On our way back to the hotel, we spotted the iconic power plant’s tall, illuminated twin smokestacks. The original 1912 power plant has been restored and repurposed for hotel rooms, restaurants, lounges, and meeting spaces

The following morning, we took the ”Savannah for Morons” comedy trolley tour. It was hilarious and informative, though the acoustics could have been better. The tour guides used music, costumes, and gymnastics to entertain us.

Historic Savannah is about two miles square, roughly corresponding to the pre-Civil War city limits. Within this district are 22 squares (parks), of which I visited about half, and a plethora of tourist attractions and eateries. Since drinking is legal here, many tourists and Savannahians walk around with open containers, yet the streets are pristine of litter.

I walked along the river and then through half of the squares. The blue-bird sky was spotted with clouds, and the air was in the 70s, perfect for my 10-mile walk. Afterward, we ate outdoors, where I tried cheesy grits, which I liked after seasoning with fresh ground pepper and salt.

Old Town Trolley Tours of Savannah — Old Savannah Trolley Tour

That night, we went on a Ghost and Graveyard walking tour. The narrator was very informative, not only about the ghostly topic but also about the history of Savannah. According to him, people walk over the bones of 20,000 corpses buried under sidewalks and streets in unmarked graves. He regaled us with stories of murdered people or those who died suspiciously, about battles and the yellow fever epidemic. Among the haunted houses, we visited The Pink House, now a high-in-demand restaurant, The Mercer Williams House, the Foley House, the 432 Abercorn Street House, The Davenport House, The Marshall House, and more. Our guide, Dan, was very knowledgeable and encouraged the audience to ask questions.

Marshall House Savannah Georgia — Marshall House Savannah, Georgia

Savannah surprised me with progressiveness, tolerance, and friendliness, which are uncommon in the South. There is much to do and explore in Savannah; I recommend at least a two-day visit.

Category: 2024

New York City, New York

Savannah, Georgia