Steeped in history and haunted folklore, blessed with the natural beauty of azalea-filled parks, and graced by the southern charm and hospitality of its local residents, Savannah in the summer may be one of the best-kept travel secrets in America. Think about it: Where else can you be a history buff by day and a ghost hunter by night? And where else in the U.S. can hot summer nights be part of a city’s charm?
Many travelers say Savannah’s summertime sultriness is part of what makes them repeat visitors to the city. The warm summer air, they say, gives vacationers an excuse to spend the afternoon on the porch of an 1800s mansion, quenching their thirsts with an icy glass of sweet tea or a quintessential southern Mint Julep. The heat is what draws people to spend time at Johnson Square, the historic River Street, or Tybee Island where coastal breezes are legendary. And summertime is what gives a couple on a romantic getaway an excuse to take a long, leisurely stroll under 300-year-old towering, moss-covered ancient oak and magnolia trees that shade Savannah’s cobblestone streets. Some people even believe Savannah’s warm air slows time down, blanketing the city with a calmness that city-dwelling travelers come to appreciate.
While travelers enjoy Savannah’s summertime serenity, for those looking for a little more action, Savannah is also steeped in haunted tales that come to life during one of the city’s many ghost tours. As the tours explain, it is believed that Georgia’s oldest city is filled with ghosts from its past as battlegrounds for the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. And that might not be far from the truth. Savannah is literally built on its dead. Cemeteries were erected on the edges of the city, and as the city grew, houses and businesses were constructed on the former burial sites. Some of Savannah’s most iconic haunted places include the Marshall House, which served as a hospital during a yellow fever epidemic and during the Civil War, and the Mercer House, which gained notoriety in the film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and is said to be haunted by antique dealer Jim Williams.
Savannah is also a living history lesson. The city’s historic downtown area is one of the largest National Historic Districts in the U.S. and includes countless sightseeing opportunities such as the Savannah History Museum; Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum; Forsyth Park, which is one of Savannah’s oldest green spaces; and 1800s Gothic Revival architecture that frames Savannah’s sidewalks. Other historical highlights to see in quaint and quiet Savannah include the historic Savannah Theatre, which is considered to be the oldest continually operating theater in the U.S. with professional Broadway-style shows, and the Bonaventure Cemetery on a bluff overlooking the Wilmington River known for its giant oak trees and the artistic carvings in its marble headstones.
Savannah’s history lessons don’t end there. The Old South literally comes to life by overnighting in one of Savannah’s most elegant and fabled mansions. Luxury Living Savannah, a boutique hotelier that restores historic homes to their original design and charm, adding modern amenities and luxurious surroundings, offers vacationers the chance to experience Savannah’s past up close and personal in one of its five luxurious, antiques-filled mansion rentals. “Our collection caters to a particular brand of traveler,” says Tammy Jo Long, President of Luxury Living Savannah, “who desires an experience rather than a vacation. Our historic homes provide guests with exceptional respite singular to the mannerly South, and a porthole into its grand history.”
THE LUXURY LIVING SAVANNAH COLLECTION
Luxury Living Savannah showcases five historic mansions, which offer a variety of rental options to accommodate parties of all sizes, including girlfriend getaways, bridal parties, families, and romantic weekends for couples, as well as upscale beach house rentals on Tybee Island, roughly 18 miles from Savannah. The Luxury Living Savannah Collection includes:
The Wedding Cake Mansion: This 1869 2nd Empire Baroque home features a main house with four to five bedrooms, 5.5 lavish bathrooms, a formal living space and dining room a gourmet kitchen, and courtyard with fountain; a two-bedroom, two-bath garden suite; and a one-bedroom, one-bath carriage house. Accommodation options are available for up to 20 guests. http://www.luxurylivingsavannah.com/wedding-cake-collection.html
The Forsyth Park Mansion: This four-bedroom home also has five spectacular bathrooms, a formal living and dining room, a gourmet kitchen, rambling side porches, and a garden with fountain. There is also a two-bedroom, two-bath garden suite and a two-bedroom, one-bath carriage house. Accommodation options are available for up to 20 guests. (http://www.luxurylivingsavannah.com/forsyth-park-collection)
The Washington Square House: This award-winning home has four bedrooms and four, luxurious bathrooms, a formal living and dining room, a gourmet kitchen, sun room, and a courtyard with fountain. There is also a charming two-bedroom, two-bath Carriage House. Accommodation options are available for up to 16 guests. (http://www.luxurylivingsavannah.com/washington-square-collection)
The Jones Street Suites: Lovingly restored, each of these five unique suites within the home are adorned with modern kitchens and baths, and Persian rugs, antiques and art, side porches and a quaint courtyard with fountain. One-, two-, and three-bedroom suites can be rented separately or the property in its entirety. Accommodations options are available for up to 22 guests. (http://www.luxurylivingsavannah.com/accommodations_jones)
The Cathedral Inn: Beautifully decorated, each of the three suites that comprise the Cathedral Inn feature spacious living areas with flat screen TVs, working fireplaces and romantic views of the cathedral spires. One- and two-bedroom suites can be rented individually. Accommodation options are available for up to 14 guests. (http://www.luxurylivingsavannah.com/accommodations_lafayette)
The Luxury Living Tybee Collection: For those looking for a luxury beach vacation, Luxury Living Tybee offers upscale beachfront vacation house rentals 18 miles from Savannah on Tybee Island. Each house is fully furnished and is ideal for individuals, couples, families, wedding parties, groups, and corporate travelers. Past guests rave about Luxury Living Tybee’s attention to detail in each of its houses, including granite kitchen countertops, fine linens, spacious decks, Jacuzzi tubs, private beach access, and scenic ocean views. Three, four-, and six-bedroom houses can be rented individually. Accommodation options are available for up to 16 guests.
Luxury Living Savannah and Luxury Living Tybee are the perfect collections for girlfriend getaways, weddings, family reunions, corporate events, graduations, and short-term housing. Guests can rent the entire home, or choose from several, smaller rental options within an individual home of their choice. For more information, or to make a reservation, visit us online at http://www.luxurylivingsavannah.com or call (866) 886-0809.
PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
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