Hostess Savannah

Hostess Savannah Uncovering the history, the haunts, and the hospitality of America's Hostess City, Savannah, GA.

Hostess: A Savannah Podcast streaming now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Patreon!

Tucked into the northeastern corner of Savannah’s Historic District, Washington Square offers a quiet escape from the mo...
06/26/2026

Tucked into the northeastern corner of Savannah’s Historic District, Washington Square offers a quiet escape from the more touristy parts of the city. Laid out in 1790, it sits near the original site of the Trustees’ Garden, General Oglethorpe's early experimental botanical garden. In 1791, the square was named to honor George Washington during his famous presidential visit - only one of two squares in Savannah that was named after someone still alive at the time of its dedication.

​Rather than featuring a central fountain, this peaceful neighborhood square is defined by its shady trees and surrounding historic homes. You might also find a neighborhood cat or two sleeping in the sun here. Today, it remains one of Savannah’s more serene and charming residential spaces!

Learn more about Washington Square in its namesake episode of Hostess: A Savannah Podcast!

Here's a tale of two monuments...Wright Square is the spot of one of Savannah’s most complicated stories of historical r...
06/25/2026

Here's a tale of two monuments...

Wright Square is the spot of one of Savannah’s most complicated stories of historical real estate. ​Right in the center is a monument dedicated to William Washington Gordon, the founder of the Central of Georgia Railroad. But long before Gordon's monument went up in 1883, this spot belonged to Yamacraw Chief Tomochichi. When he passed away in 1739, General Oglethorpe had his dear friend buried in the middle of the square under a pile of stones to honor his role in standing up the colony.

Now, there was a little fiasco involving a water cistern that was placed under the ground in this square, but decades later, the city erected Gordon's grand tribute where Tomochichi was proportedly buried. Gordon’s own daughter-in-law, Nellie, felt the chief had been seriously snubbed. She rallied the Colonial Dames, and in 1899, they placed a massive granite boulder in the corner of the square to finally right the wrong. Today, the two monuments share the space, serving as a reminder of Savannah's layered history!

Learn more about these two monuments in the Wright Square episode of Hostess: A Savannah Podcast!

Located on North Beach, the Tybee Island Marine Science Center serves as a vital hub for environmental education and coa...
06/24/2026

Located on North Beach, the Tybee Island Marine Science Center serves as a vital hub for environmental education and coastal conservation.

​The center got its start back in 1988, albiet in a smaller building, and for over three decades, this organization introduced millions of students and tourists to the fragile ecosystems of the Atlantic coast. As the program outgrew its original home, the community rallied to expand its footprint.

​In 2021, the center celebrated a major milestone by opening a state-of-the-art, 5,000-square-foot facility. This modern building features hands-on exhibits, large gallery spaces dedicated to Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, and interactive touch tanks. Today, it's a testament to grassroots conservation, inspiring visitors to protect the diverse marine life of the region!

Learn more about the Tybee Island Marine Science Center on the most recent episode of Hostess: A Savannah Podcast!

Located at the corner of Broughton and Abercorn streets, the Municipal Grand Hotel offers a striking contrast to Savanna...
06/23/2026

Located at the corner of Broughton and Abercorn streets, the Municipal Grand Hotel offers a striking contrast to Savannah’s traditional antebellum architecture.

​The building first opened in 1961 as the First Federal Savings and Loan Association bank, standing out with a bold, American International Style structure characterized by its unique curved geometry, mid-century terrazzo floors, and blue-and-white mosaic tile accents. It later transitioned into a civic function as the Broughton Municipal Building. This is literally where Savannians would go to pay their water bills!

The hotel is about to celebrate their one year anniversary. ​The visionary hospitality group, Midnight Auteur, meticulously preserved and converted this gem into a 44-room luxury boutique hotel. Retaining its signature elements like original granite walls and aluminum railings, the design now fuses mid-century modernism with a lush, tropical flair. Today, it stands as a vibrant cultural hub, complete with the lively Municipal Bar, an underground speakeasy called The Hot Eye, and a stylish rooftop pool.

The Municipal Bar in the hotel lobby has quickly become one of my favorite spots in Savannah. Get the chocolate mousse and thank me later!

Municipal Grand

The Savannah Belles Ferry offers one of the best ways to experience the historic waterfront without spending a dime! Ope...
06/22/2026

The Savannah Belles Ferry offers one of the best ways to experience the historic waterfront without spending a dime!

Operated by the local transit authority, this completely free passenger ferry service connects downtown Savannah with Hutchinson Island. Stepping onto one of these vessels lets you escape the busy streets and view our famous River Street skyline from a completely fresh perspective out on the water.

The fleet itself is a tribute to local history, with each boat named after a notable woman from Savannah’s past. It operates daily with frequent trips, making it a convenient, budget-friendly option for both daily commuters and visitors who want a scenic river cruise experience entirely for free!

06/21/2026

If you're looking for an authentic, low-key coastal dining experience near Savannah, Bubba Gumbo's on Tybee Island is a must-visit spot!

Tucked away at the Marina on Lazaretto Creek, this hidden gem serves up some of the freshest wild Georgia shrimp and seafood you can find. It's the perfect place to unwind after a beach day, watch the boats come in, and catch a stunning lowcountry sunset. The vibe is completely laid-back, the staff is welcoming, and the food speaks for itself. I mean just look at how excited my Yankee dad is in this video! Stop by Bubba Gumbo's soon for casual marshside dining at its absolute best!

Bubba Gumbo's

If you’re strolling down Gaston Street just a few blocks from Forsyth Park, it's hard to miss the Amethyst Garden Inn. ...
06/20/2026

If you’re strolling down Gaston Street just a few blocks from Forsyth Park, it's hard to miss the Amethyst Garden Inn. This place is a textbook "Painted Lady" Victorian mansion built back in 1885. It has a signature, gorgeous purple exterior and intricate gingerbread trim that takes you back 150 years. Inside, it’s like a time capsule of Southern history with original heart pine floors, pocket doors, lovingly curated antique furniture, and a dozen fireplaces!

With 11 rooms and suites to choose from guests can stay in a quieter part of the Historic District that's within walking distance of all the sights. Plus, you can't go wrong with a homemade Southern-style breakfast each morning.

Book directly from their website for the best rates!

Amethyst Garden Inn Savannah

Today, Juneteenth isn't just a lesson found in history books. It's a vibrant, living tradition that has expanded across ...
06/19/2026

Today, Juneteenth isn't just a lesson found in history books. It's a vibrant, living tradition that has expanded across the country. Savannah honors this day with a great mix of education, artistic expressions, and community. If you're looking to participate, listen, and learn like me, here are some of the anchoring traditions that take place here in Savannah:

The Walk to the River - This is an annual procession. Community members (often led by the Mayor of Savannah) gather at Wells park and walk two miles together down Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd all the way to the Savannah River at the Plant Riverside District. The walk starts at 8:30am.

The Savannah Juneteenth Fine Arts Festival - Centered around Wells Park but also utilizing other venues throughout the city, this festival fills the air with live music, local vendors, and historical storytelling.

Jubilee Sky of Freedom Fireworks Show - This annual, family-friendly fireworks show takes place at Daffin Park and will start at dusk, although visitors usually start making their way to Daffin around 5pm to enjoy live music, food trucks, and local vendors.

The Tybee Island Wade-In - The Tybee MLK organization hosts an annual community wade-in at south beach neat the 16th Street Pier, uniting history with the struggle faced during the Civil Rights Movement to desegregate Tybee Beach. The official wade-in starts at 9am, but there will also be live music, guest speakers, and cultural storytelling. This event also kicks off a 3-day festival in Tybee, so there will be a lot to check out this weekend on the island if you head out that way!

Next time you’re walking past Savannah’s Colonial Park Cemetery on the Abercorn Street sidewalk, look down! Those unique...
06/18/2026

Next time you’re walking past Savannah’s Colonial Park Cemetery on the Abercorn Street sidewalk, look down! Those unique, geometrically patterned bricks under your feet have a pretty neat backstory.These are Fitzgerald bricks, manufactured in Durham, NC, by Richard Fitzgerald—a free-born Black entrepreneur who built an industrial empire after the Civil War. His brickyards mechanized production to output 30,000 bricks a day, making him Durham’s first Black millionaire. You can find these bricks in many southeast coastal cities- to include Charleston and St. Augustine, too!

Sometimes I pass ghost tours telling their guests the pattern is intentional to keep witches and evil spirits away from the cemetery, but the pattern is just Fitzgerals's signature. The grooves were actually an engineering feat at the time simply designed for traction.

Most people dread spending time at the airport, but flying out of Savannah is a different story. Our local airport keeps...
06/17/2026

Most people dread spending time at the airport, but flying out of Savannah is a different story. Our local airport keeps racking up major national awards, including being voted the number one airport in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler readers for six years in a row! It also consistently lands at or near the top of Travel and Leisure's best domestic airports list.

​It is easy to see why travelers love it so much. The entrance to the terminal is designed to look like a traditional Savannah town square, complete with rocking chairs where you can hang out and relax before your flight. Instead of the usual stressful airport chaos, the whole place feels calm, clean, and genuinely friendly. Plus, you can grab a scoop of Leopold's Ice Cream or a pint of Service Brewing beer before heading to your gate. It brings that classic southern hospitality to the travel experience, showcasing the Hostess City vibe from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave!

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