thanks, I think.

santamonica,

Enjoy, the scare

Tybee Island Museum

Our “Ghostmobile” arrives in “The Most Haunted City In America” while Count Dracula and a few of his friends are still taking their afternoon nap. Since we still have some time to kill before hopefully our next scare, we venture to the outskirts of town.

Not too far out of town we end up on Tybee Island. With a rich history tied to bootlegging and numerous wars, I am sure Tybee has some scary stories of its own.

Our first stop at Sundae Cafe turns out to be something we are not expecting.

Instead of ice cream and sundaes, a Southwest Chicken Salad and a Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Homemade Potato Salad has us kneeling over with culinary excitement.

We are almost dying with envy as we see the huge portions of other meals delivered to other patrons. It is killing me that I did not order the seafood platter that comes with freshly made hush puppies.

Although not expecting to find any goons or goblins, after a late lunch we visit the Tybee Island Museum to see what we can dig up.

With artifacts from the War of 1812 to a diving suit with a helmet that weighs 35lbs although the museum is small, it does often a chance to learn a bit of early Georgia history.

Climb a few set of stairs and you can get nice views of Tybee Island and our next destination, the historical Tybee Island Lighthouse.



Video:http://youtu.be/mQBOp1Goi-s

Tybee Island Lighthouse

For a $8 admission fee, we are about to climb a piece of Georgia history. Completed in 1736, the Tybee Island Lighthouse is not only the oldest lighthouse in Georgia but it is also one of the first public structures completed in the 4th state of the Union.

After 178 winding steps, we are taking in awesome views of Tybee Island. I watch as a few huge cargo ships head out to the Atlantic Ocean. I am surprised to learn that Savanna is the nation's second busiest shipping port behind the combined New York and New Jersey Port Authority.

Back from about 200 feet above sea level, we pay for parking and then head out to the beach area. I am drawn to an information sign near the beginning of the path to the beach. It is cool to discover that this part of Georgia is where Loggerhead Sea Turtles come to nest from May to October.

Did you know that the sex of baby turtles is determined by nest's temperature? Of course, girls are hot and boys are (very) cool. Out of the thousands that are born here, only a small percentage will survive their beach birth to make it back to the sea.

It is a beautiful afternoon along the shore with a gentle wind giving the waves their soothing sounds. Along the beach there are swings were you can just relax and take in the calming views as small flocks of birds fly overhead.

With a low tide it is easy to walk the wide beach area with just a few spots were pools of the cool ocean water remains. The low tide also provides an opportunity for beach fishing. A couple set up pair of rods and beach chairs in the sand. Lucky, them.

At the far end of the beach from us there is a rock breaker where just on the other side surfers are enjoying some wave action. It is not Hawaii but it still seems like a lot of fun along the shores of the Peach State.


Video:http://youtu.be/h4lIOAVIhNE

I love those turtles. When they hatch, they look up for coordinates. Then they return 20 years later to make nests of their own. *sniff* It gets me every time.

suewoo,

Did not know that, very interesting. I hope they come in at high tide as it looked like a long journey to the nesting areas at low tide.

Sweet And Musical Savanna

Besides its haunting reputation that has drawn us here, there is another side of Savanna that is literally sweet music to my ear and tummy.

For me, no visit to Savanna would be complete without a slice or two of Vinnie Van GoGo pizza. Probably, the best pizza in the city especially when it is savored on a beautiful evening listening to local musicians perform near City Market.

From City Market, we take a stroll down a set of steep stairs to the riverfront. Here a trip to River Street Sweet is a must. Just watching the fresh pralines being made, original and chocolate is at least 500 calories. A few free sample bites and your diet is busted for the day. Of course, you can always start your diet tomorrow.

With our liquid Spanish friend Calimocho, we sit outside of River Street Sweet and pass some time enjoying the riverfront. In about an hour or so we'll be going with Calimocho on a tour that we hope will take us into some of Savanna's haunting pass.


Video:http://youtu.be/k-KUjAPZ3nY

Savanna Walking Ghost Tour

With our Spanish friends Calimochos in hand, we leave the Savanna Riverfront headed somewhere across town for our “Walking Ghost Tour” rendezvous point. Although the street lights are dim, in the distance we can see a small gathering of people in the area of where we think we should be meeting.

From reviews online, for $30 per person we have chosen to do our tour with Sixth Sense Ghost Tour. At about 9:30pm there are about twenty of us gathered at Clary's Cafe at 404 Abercorn Street in search of discovering some of Savanna's deadly past.

Our first stop is at Jones and Bull street where we are told stories about a building facing us. Nothing particularly scary although some interesting stuff. We are shown some pictures of what are believed to be ghosts that appear in some of the building's windows. Even with the help of my friend Calimocho and drawing on my huge imagination, I see nothing.

Our tour continues criss crossing a small area of Savanna with story telling stops at places like the Mercer Williams house (Midnight In The Garden) and the famous Savanna Fountain. We are told that bridal parties pay about $1500 to have pictures taken at the Savanna Fountain which interestingly is placed on top of an old morgue in a tunnel just below it.

For me, our next to the last stop is the most interesting. An old hospital where we are told 666 patients died during a historical yellow fever out break in the city. Although situated in an area with plenty of room to expand, the city in recent years relocated the hospital outside of town because of its spooky past. Today, it is planned to be turned into a law school which indeed is very scary.

Although we took the tour for the thrill of it, I think the same effect could have been accomplished much cheaper especially if someone just followed us around in a "Scream" mask.

There are numerous Ghost Tour companies in Savanna with all types of price ranges which I think from a tour stand point would not make much difference.

I would add that once we got back to the hotel and spent more time with Calimocho, in looking at the pictures we took, we are convinced there was a ghost looking at us from a third floor window of the old hospital building.

Or maybe, it was just a future personal injury attorney.



Video:http://youtu.be/U9UNXjBQ5eU

Crystal Beer Parlor


Following a recommendation from a local tour guide, on our last day in Savanna, we head over to Crystal Beer Parlor for lunch. The Crystal Beer has its history deep in the prohibition era as it was an old “speakeasy”.

Today, it seems like it is doing as much business as it did back in the 1930's. However, today we can consume the once prohibited liquid legally. Although moonshine like “Bathtub Gin” is no longer available, you can still find some old time stuff here like Iron City Beer, Schlitz and Ballatine Ale.

Interestingly Ballantine Ale was the first beer that sponsored the New York Yankees on television. Under its cap you can also find something interesting, a puzzle.

Crystal Beer offers a few lunch specials and one grabs my attention. Fried chicken with red rice and sweet corn for $7.95. So delicious it should probably be illegal.

For sure sinful, their Savanna Mud Pie. A great way to finish any meal here. With leftovers from a way too huge homemade meatball sausage, we hit the road smiling and stuffed.

Our next stop, a haunted lighthouse in St. Augustine, Florida.


Video:http://youtu.be/X6Cmmxtl6Qg

A Not So Haunted Lighthouse

After about a three hour drive from Savannah, Georgia, we arrive in the nation's oldest city St. Augustine, Florida. We are not here to discover “The Fountain Of Youth”, at least not on this trip but we are hoping to spot a goblin or two at the reported haunted St. Augustine Lighthouse.

As we drive through town the weather is so nice that I am sure if there are any ghost that haunt the old lighthouse they are probably out and about enjoying a lovely afternoon.

Even with almost dashed hopes, we pay the US$9.75 and enjoy learning about the old fishing and shrimping industry in this part of Florida.

Although there is nothing scary happening at the lighthouse the views after climbing about two hundred winding steps is definitely worthwhile. I am just glad that I don't have to carry a 30lb bucket of oil up 219 steps in order to keep the lighthouse lamp burning.

Year round there is an After-Hours Paranormal Tour for US$25 person which allows you to climb the lighthouse at night. I am sure this tour would give you a better chance of a haunting experience than the one we did for US$9.75.

For now, maybe checking out “The Fountain Of Youth” is not a bad idea as I think I just saw a wrinkle.


Video:http://youtu.be/ReV-LOq7t8g