Trip Introduction
In April 2016, we had a family wedding to attend near Jacksonville, FL. This was a wonderful excuse to fly down early and spend some time in and around the Savannah, GA area. We enjoyed relaxing in a VRBO in the historic city and seeing some of the historic sites in the area.
Sunday, 04/17/2016 – Heading East and Then North
We woke early on Sunday morning for our flights to Jacksonville, FL. We arrived without incident, claimed our bags and rental car before heading north toward Savannah. We stopped along the way to visit the Fort Frederica National Monument.
The outline of a long-vanished building amongst the trees
A plaque about the site
Remains of a stone fortification stand along a waterway with a British flag flying nearby
A brick hearth inside short retaining walls of coquina (concrete like mixture made with seashells)
Monday, 04/18/2016 – Around Historic Savannah
We spent Monday relaxing and exploring the Savannah Historic District and waterfront area. We enjoyed the squares with their shaded benches and buildings.
Light filters through the tree canopy in one of Savannah’s historic squares
A red lion fountain in front of the Savannah Cotton Exchange
A statue honoring General James Oglethorpe who founded Georgia in 1733
A model representing a typical house in historic Savannah
A house fronting one of the squares in the historic district
Tuesday, 04/19/2016 – Daytrip to Charleston
On Tuesday we took a day trip farther up the coast to see Charleston. We visited the Fort Sumter National Monument. After returning to the Savannah area, we walked around a different area of town looking at more beautiful buildings and parks.
Fort Sumter still stands looking over the entrance to Charleston Harbor
A display shows how large the guns were inside the fort
A dirt embankment gives visitors a view of the harbor
Dolphins escorted us on the return from the monument
A fountain in Savannah’s Forsyth Park
A small Victorian style house near Forsyth Park
A larger brick home also looking over Forsyth Park
Wednesday, 04/20/2016 – Visiting Sites around Savannah
On Wednesday we visited Fort Pulaski National Monument and the Tybee Island Lighthouse.
The moat around Fort Pulaski
Thick brick arches separate the bays for cannon
Earth mounds within the fort’s walls
The Tybee Island Lighthouse
Inside the Fresnel Lens in the lighthouse
Looking out into the Atlantic from the top of the lighthouse
Thursday, 04/21/2016 – South to Jacksonville
On Thursday we packed our things and headed south out of Savannah to meet up with family in Jacksonville. Along the way we stopped at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist and Savannah’s City Hall.
The entry wall to the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
The interior of the cathedral
A rose window above the cathedral’s pipe organ
Savannah’s City Hall
Friday-Sunday, 04/22-24/2016 – Family Events
Friday and Saturday were filled with activities associated with our family wedding. We enjoyed seeing family and celebrating a new chapter in a young couple’s lives. We flew home on Sunday without incident.