Crew cuts

CREW CUTS

Words by Sean Harder

This month we take you to Savannah

From its moss-draped historic downtown to nearby sunny beaches, Savannah will captivate you with its southern charm, says AirTran Airways Special Services Supervisor, Mindy Saxon.

Whenever Mindy Saxon hosts out-of-town guests in Savannah, the fi rst place she takes them is River Street, where charming restaurants, pubs and gift shops occupy the street’s restored 18th-century cotton warehouses. And if you like shopping, the fi rst Saturday of each month fi nds arts and crafts vendors fl ocking to River Street from all around southern Georgia to sell their wares. Beyond the cobblestone riverfront is where British colonialist General James Oglethorpe set up camp in 1733 and founded Savannah—Georgia’s fi rst city.

Today, this port city of 130,000 is known as the Hostess City of the South—and for good reason, notes Saxon, who works for AirTran Airways at the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport. “Savannah has a very laidback, relaxed atmosphere,” she says. “When you walk down River Street on a Saturday afternoon, you’re almost in awe of what you see.”

Saxon suggests that visitors take in the natural beauty and architectural splendor of Savannah’s downtown—the largest historic district in the United States. With 24 public squares full of fl owering azaleas and live oaks entangled with Spanish moss, it’s the perfect place to explore on foot. To get your bearings, however, you may want to check out one of the city’s trolley or horse-drawn carriage tours.

For a more intimate overview of Savannah’s past, Saxon recommends a fun and informative historic home tour. One of her favorites is the Juliette Gordon Low House (www.girlscouts.org/who_ we_are/birthplace), the birthplace of the Girl Scouts’ founder. Built in 1881 and beautifully decorated with Low’s art, this stately residence was the city’s fi rst National Historic Landmark.

After an afternoon of exploring Savannah’s gracious old houses, you’ll want to sample the city’s diversity of culinary offerings. There are traditional Southern dishes like fried chicken and collard greens, of course, but also restaurants that specialize in Italian, Asian and contemporary cuisine.

And there are some good eats you won’t want to pass up, according to Saxon. “You can’t come to Savannah and not dine at The Lady and Sons,” she says. The restaurant (www.ladyandsons.com), which is owned by Savannah native and Food Network celebrity chef Paula Deen, is famed for its home-cooked delights, including fried lobster, crab-stuffed shrimp and chicken pot pie.

One of Saxon’s favorite scenes is just east of Savannah. Here, you’ll fi nd three miles of sandy beaches on Tybee Island, which attracts thousands of visitors each year. “Everyone wants to see the beach,” she says. “The pier there is awesome. You can sit and relax and have an ice cream while soaking in the sun.”

For fresh seafood while on Tybee Island, Saxon recommends The Crab Shack (www.thecrabshack.com), where you can enjoy a coastal marsh view while indulging in a low country boil. This extravaganza of shrimp, crawfi sh, mussels, sausage and potatoes is served on heaping platters for all to share.

From fi lling up on seafood to shopping in town, from relaxing on the beach to golfi ng on nearby Hilton Head… “We truly offer a variety of things to do,” Saxon says. No wonder Saxon and countless visitors call Savannah the jewel of the South.