I am super excited to not only rehash some of my favorite haunts in Savannah today, but to also welcome Kendra Thornton to share her favorite way to spend a day in her hometown of Chicago. I had the pleasure of spending a weekend in the Windy City with bestie E back in 2005 (I was pregnant… and I’m sticking to that as my excuse for that glorious ensemble). We hit many of the places Kendra talked about and I’d love the chance to go back!
Visiting Savannah
As y’all well know, I’m a so-Southern girl that's spent her whole life living in the South. Originally from Savannah, Georgia, I eventually stepped out from behind the moss curtain and made the move to Atlanta for college. And though many, many years have since passed, I visit my hometown family and friends often, and always relish a trip down to the South’s most splendid city!
Here’s my part native, part tourist take on the most delightful things to do and discover in Savannah:
- Historic District – The historic district is the heart and soul of Savannah and no trip would be complete without a visit. Take a guided ghost tour, trolley ride or carriage tour of the city to get your bearings and a great overview of the city. There are countless stately Southern mansions, museums, squares and churches to explore, including the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, the stunning Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the Georgia State Railroad Museum, the unique and whimsical Savannah Children’s Museum, and the famous Forsyth Park. When you work up an appetite, pick up lunch at the retro and relaxed Back in the Day Bakery, stop in for a salad, sandwich and cookies at Byrd Cookie Company, or treat your children to a fun filled lunch at The Pirate’s House. Spend your afternoon on Broughton Street, being sure to leave plenty of time to sample the honey at Savannah Bee Company and explore the divine wares at Paris Market, and head over to Whitaker Street for more unique Savannah shoppes like One Fish Two Fish and Number Four Eleven. Wrap up your day with unrivaled Southern service and eats at The Olde Pink House or Paula Deen’s The Lady and Sons!
- River Street and Bay Street – If a cocktail is up your alley, we love to savor a drink at the roof top bar at the Bohemian while watching the boats come in to harbor, or to belly up to the piano bar at Vic’s on the River for delish small plates and a glass of wine. If you’re traveling with little ones, catch the water taxi across the river to the Westin hotel, grab fingers and spuds at Spanky’s and top off your day with a praline at River Street Sweets.
- Tybee Island – Tybee Island is not just a day at the beach! For active visitors, you can explore Fort Pulaski and your little ones can become Junior Park Rangers in just an afternoon, or head over to the Marine Science Center for guided beach walks. We love to sit on the porch at Tybee Island Social Club or to pick on fresh seafood at AJ’s Dockside. Huc A Poos has the best pizza on the island, cornhole and good music, and the Sugar Shack is a must for a cold sweet treat at the end of the day. Everything on Tybee is extremely casual, decidedly laid back and kid friendly.
- Around town – No matter what part of town you find yourself in, there is much to enjoy! The Savannah Sand Gnats let you get up close and personal with baseball, Maison de Macarons brings a sweet taste of France to the South, Two Smart Cookies is a scrumptious cookie bar with a side of lovely home décor, Sweet Tea in Sandfly is the purveyor of gorgeous home décor, gifts and accessories, and the Habersham Antique Market is chocked full of everything under the sun!
This is by no means an exhaustive or expert list of all there is to do in Savannah, but rather is simply a list of the things my family enjoys most! I constantly update our favorite haunts on my Guide to Delightful Savannah, so stop by before your trip!
Now we have Chicago native Kendra Thornton to tell us about her hometown and why she feels so strongly about it.
Visiting Chicago
My home has always been the Chicago, Illinois. This Midwestern city has so much to offer, and I find myself constantly eating at new places and enjoying new attractions. Even those of us who live here sometimes have problems choosing among the wide variety of places to go, so for a visitor to the city it might seem a little overwhelming. An entire book could be written listing all the shops, restaurants, and entertainment available. While there are many wonderful places to go and things to do in the city, these are a few of my favorites.
- The Michigan Avenue Bridge, across from the main stem of the Chicago River, is a bascule bridge and one of the coolest sites in the city to see. The bridge has been designated as a Chicago landmark and is a part of the Michigan-Wacker Historic District. Sculptures and plaques on the bridge commemorate events from the city's past. The bridge also holds 28 flagpoles that usually fly the flags of the United States, Illinois, and Chicago, though other flags may be displayed on special occasions. The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum is housed in the southwest bridge tower of the Michigan Avenue Bridge.
- Located on the east side of McCormick Boulevard, adjacent to the north channel of the Chicago River, is the Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park. This formally landscaped park includes bicycle paths, walkways, and seating areas surrounded by over 70 large-scale sculptures. The contemporary sculptures were created by well-renowned local, national, and international artists, and are extremely impressive. The sculpture park is a unique venue, and my kids always get a kick of walking through the massive sculptures that line the 2 mile walkway. It is a great place to go soak in the beauty of large sculptures while enjoying a nice walk with your family.
- The history of Chicago is very unique, and one of my favorite parts about the city. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 ravaged nearly the entire city, and led to a rebuild that catapulted Chicago into one of the biggest cities in the United States. A fire began in a barn, and almost every building in Chicago burned to the ground. One of the few left is the Historic Water Tower. If you ever visit Chicago, stay in a hotel downtown that allows you to take in this beautiful city and learn about its wonderful history. I know you might be thinking, “a hotel downtown is expensive!” but with the site gogobot, I’ve found there are often great deals on Chicago rooms.
- Now that fall is here and the weather is starting to cool down, RL (the Ralph Lauren restaurant) is one of my favorites. Located on N. Michigan Avenue, in the heart of downtown, RL is next to the Chicago flagship Polo store, which is the largest in the world. My children love to eat the nice grilled cheese with tomato soup! It's a great way to warm up during the cold weather.
Whether you're looking to site-see, take in the arts and culture, or have some fantastic food, Chicago has it for you. With so many things to see and do, there is always a new adventure waiting to be had!
It’s been a fun blogger collaboration and I can’t wait to see what other cities Kendra has in store!
xoxo
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