It was just about all planned. My 40th birthday
was coming up and J wanted to do it right. We were heading to the Big Apple.
For months we’d been making plans…what to do, where to go, what to see. I
wanted to go to the Met, ice skate at Rockefeller Center, try to get tickets to
the Daily Show, see my sweet friend CB who moved there last January, eat a
cupcake at Baby Cakes (the best GF baked goods I’ve ever had in my life…they
have only two bakeries--one in NYC, one in Orlando). J was excited to go to the
Stock Exchange, see a show on or near Broadway, stroll Central Park. We had the
kids covered for five.whole.days! thanks to my parents. We were ready.
We just had to get
our plane tickets. We’d been looking at Travelocity, trying to find some good
deals, when all of the sudden, SuperStorm Sandy appeared on the radar. We
watched CNN with such sadness for our fellow citizens up North as Sandy lashed
out. We cried and prayed and sent donations to help. And then we looked at each
other and said, “I guess it isn’t the best time to go to New York right now.”
So, we made alternate plans. We thought about going to
Charleston, which we love, but visit often.
We thought about Atlanta. We thought about Boone.
And then we decided on Savannah, Georgia. Google said it was
about 3.5 hours away and we had only ever driven through on our way back from
Florida when we were just engaged and barely knew each other (that’s a whole ‘nother
story for a different time).
We shortened the trip from five days to three (with hopes
that we would not burn all our chips with Dad & Step-Mom & will still
get to go to NYC at some point) and made reservations at a sweet, Victorian era
B&B house.
Well, to our surprise and delight, Savannah was just what we
needed. It was quiet and serene, full of
beautiful houses, gardens, public squares, architecture, and incredible iron
work. We found amazing food (gluten
free, vegetarian food abounds), local honey, great coffee and even gluten free
CHEESECAKE! (Do you hear the angels singing? I do.) We took a bus tour through
the historical district (and were joined at one stop by Forrest Gump), wandered
the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) campus, visited the Mercer House (of
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil fame), and ate and ate and ate some
more. We also walked our tootsies off all over town, not getting in the car
from Friday when we arrived until Sunday when we left, so we felt ok about all
that deelish food we were consuming.
We were absolutely smitten with this Georgia beauty.
It wasn’t NYC, but we don’t regret our change of plans one
little bit. We discovered a new favorite
place, just a few hours from home. If
only Baby Cakes would open up a shop there, it would be practically perfect. :)
 |
Spanish Moss on the trees |
 |
At the river front |
 |
I just like this photo |
 |
Amazing ironwork |
 |
I loved this house! |
 |
In our room at the B&B |
 |
Mercer House |
 |
Many pretty churches |
 |
My love at the coffee shop with GF CAKE! |