Savannah - Day Three

On Tuesday, we ventured to a couple of places. One was the University of Georgia Marine Education Center and Aquarium. It featured exhibits on tidal creek, salt marsh, ocean environments and 14 tanks containing native species. There was also an exhibit showing fossils of sharks, giant armadillos, whales, mastodons and wooly mammoths dredged from the Skidaway River.

We also took a hike on trails through forest and along the marsh.







A three hundred year old tree.










Housed in the former passenger station of the Central Georgia Railroad are both the Savannah Visitor Center and the Savannah History Museum, which we also visited. The structure, designed by Augustus Schwaab in 1860, includes the original train shed at the rear. We enjoyed an eighteen-minute film about Savannah, narrated by founder James Oglelthorp. A bit light-hearted but still enjoyable.

We wandered through the varied exhibits in no particular order and at no particular pace. The park bench from the movie Forrest Gump is here (a prop like in the movie, but still interesting), as is a steam locomotive from the Central of Georgia Railroad. An Oscar won by Johnny Mercer and Juliette Gordon Low's family carriage. Also an exhibit on fashion and history with a display of women's evening gowns from the late 1800s to the 1960s.

Savannah - Day Two

On Monday June 22nd we visited the Tybee Lighthouse.

Tybee's Light Station, built in 1773, is Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse, and one of America’s most complete historic light stations. It has been guiding mariners safely into the Savannah River for more than 270 years, although it has been rebuilt several times. All of its original support buildings are still located on the five-acre site off US-80 at Fort Screven. Still a functioning navigational aid, the station's light, courtesy of a first order Fresnel lens, can be seen 18 miles out to sea.

And yes, we did climb the 178 steps to the top of the recently restored lighthouse an enjoyed a spectacular view of the entire island.

Views from atop the Lighthouse.

The Head Keepers cottage, built in 1881 and restored, is the oldest building on Tybee Island. It is full of artifacts and information about the history of the lighthouse and the Keepers' family.

We also went down to Tybee beach after the Lighthouse Tour. It was only about a 3 block walk from the house. That was nothing after climbing 178 stairs! The beach was laid back, peaceful and not crowded at all. Very clean and the waves were good.

Savannah - Day One

Our Girl Scout troop has worked a couple years to earn money for this trip to Savannah. Family members could go as well. Kelley had no desire to go (he went fishing in Michigan instead), but Dalton did go with us. We had 21 total people going, 17 staying in the house on Tybee Island.

We left at 6:23am on June 21. Madison, Dalton and I rode with fellow troop members and their mom. We stopped for lunch and dinner and several rest stops in between.

We arrived at our five bedroom house on Tybee Island around 8:00 pm.

Needless to say we were very tired after the drive. We didn't do much but get our things in order in the house and then go to sleep. I will create a post for each day...soon.

Warm enough to swim?

We opened the pool last weekend but the weather just recently cooperated enough for the kids to go swimming. Still too cold for Kelley and me. It's like 68 degrees. Brrrrr.

Always have to take a picture but this year played around with PhotoShop. Love, love, love Photoshop. But I have a great teacher, Madison. She will sit and play around and learn many techniques and then even has the patience to show me. This was my first attempt.

I like it!