Savannah, Georgia is a magical city. It is steeped in history and has a rich sense of our country’s heritage. Yet it is more than that. It is a city of mystery and intrigue, of romance and beauty, of sadness and heartache. It beckoned to me like few places I’ve traveled. You are fortunate if you have a chance to walk the streets of historic Savannah, if you can take the time to listen to the people around you and walk past the old homes. I had that opportunity a few weeks ago and I could imagine the generations past and what it must have been like to ride a carriage through the dirt or cobbled streets. I felt the ghosts of yesteryear. I considered myself one of the lucky ones — I “got” Savannah.

Forsyth Park in Savannah GA. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

One of the best places to start your journey through Savannah is at the oft-photographed fountain in Forsyth Park, pictured above. I enjoyed this shot because it isn’t a stark picture of a fountain in a garden, but an image of everyday people going about their lives. I watched them walking dogs, going to and from work and milling about the park. I wondered to myself if they knew how very lucky they were to call such a mysterious and incredibly beautiful city home.

To find the perfect home-away-from-home in the heart of historic Savannah, check out the four distinctive Savannah Inns. During my stay at Zeigler House Inn, I let myself imagine, for a few days, that Savannah was my own magical city.

Tip: For a great way to start your visit in Savannah, contact Old Savannah Tours for one of their overview tours of the area.