Jsut booked a last minute 4th of July weekend trip to Savannah. We are staying at the Hamilton Turner Inn historic district B&B. There were some good reviews her a while back onthis place and the website looks goo but I understand this place was bought out and under new management for 2006 with some "renovations/sprucing up" going on. Has anybody been in 2006 under the new management? Looking for input and wondering if the renovation identified by the website disturbed the stay (I am also wonderign if that is why we got such a good last minute deal!)

Also any recom for an itinerary for July 2nd,
3rd, and 4th appreciated. Does anyone know if there rae special 4th July activities?

When we lived there the Savannah Symphony Orchestra played on River St July 4 in the evening with fireworks display over the river following the symphony. They were unusually good...both the symphony and the fireworks display. Hope that tradition continues.

I can't comment on Hamilton Turner...the square is nice though and convenient to the rest of the district.

check this out:

http://www.riverstreetsavannah.com/i...hp?pages_id=50

scroll down to the July activity area. There will be some music. I don't know what kind as we no longer have a symphony (long ugly story) but we have a lot of small groups that turn out a lot of fine things. It may be Blue Grass, it may be Jazz, but it will be enjoyable.

The fireworks are always spectacular!

Have you checked out these reviews? there are several from 2006.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...h_Georgia.html

It's in a good location, just a few blocks from the River and good places to eat. I think you would enjoy your stay.

WHAT???? That symphony was rated higher than Atlanta's!!! What on earth happened? I can't conceive of the Landings (among other places) letting this happen. Unreal

Sunlover, excuse me while I fill Maleshebes on why we no longer have a symphony. I think a lot of it was that it was one of those cases where the Maestro wasn't about to give an inch on what expensive guest artists he wanted. He also insisted on putting on BIG productions that required many players coming in to beef up the core orchestra. It ended up with there not being enough money to meet the payroll. The members of the orchestra go the news when they showed up for a rehearsal. The Board of Directors had made the decision to just pack it all in and call it quits. There had been some hard feelings and personality problems too.

Savannah lost a great deal in this squabble. The Chorale is still together and giving several concerts a year. How much longer it will manage to hang on is anyone's guess.

Thank you all so much for the information. Unfortunately, we will e spending Sunday night and Monday night only in Savannah and will have to return home late Tuesday afternoon. (we only get Tuesday off work and I took an extra day on Monday but I have to work Wednesday morning for sure). As such we will miss the fireworks on the river if they are the night of the 4th. I hope things will be going on all weekend related to the 4th!

I have been to Savannah before as it is only a short drive from me in Jacksonville. However, I have never done one of the ghost tours if you can believe. Does any one have a recommendation for a good one? There appear to be walking ghost tours downtown in addition to carriage and trolley tours all nighttime ghost tours and even one specifically of Bonaventure Cemetery outside the district. This is on my to do list but I don't know which one.

Thanks also for the tripadvisor link, I had looked around at reviews but as always trust the fellow fodorites! I can't imagine even if there are some renovations ongoing that they would actually be working on a holiday weekend so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks again.

Topping, still looking for info on the ghost tours

I haven't heard any rave reviews on the ghost tours, but I would take one with one of the name companies. I reserved online with the guy who says he has the "original ghost tour" and was at the assigned meeting point (Clary's). He was a no-show. When I called the number, he was very nonchalant. He was giving another tour. I think what may have happened was a larger group contacted him and it sounded like he was on the tour itself when he answered his cell. But, he did not contact those who scheduled via his website. Not only did he leave us waiting for a tour that wasn't going to happen, he didn't sound at all concerned. Not a good way to run a business in my humble opinion.

I should have proofed.

I would NOT book a tour with the guy who advertises as the original ghost tour!

Thanks Aileen. Very disappointing to hear, as it was an aspect that made Savannah a terrific place to live--small town, but with some excellent big city amenities.

Re ghost tours: we booked one with Greyline tours for Halloween night for DH's managing committee as a fun outing. It was sort of hokey, IMHO, but then, I'm not a believer.