Look for dolphins during Savannah scenic cruises.

Savannah sits on the Savannah River, not far off the Atlantic Ocean. As the largest port in the state of Georgia, it is intricately linked to the water. That’s why many guests of our Savannah Vacation Rentals find scenic cruises to be a good way to explore the area.

Scenic cruises won’t get you close to any of the 22 historic squares for which Savannah is renowned. They will, however, provide stellar views of the waterfront and historic waterways. Seen from afar, the beauty of Savannah shines. Historic architecture. Graceful, moss-draped trees. Lovely.

The following businesses offer scenic cruises in the Savannah area:

• Dolphin Magic Tours. Board the vessel at River Street and cruise out towards Tybee Island. Fort Jackson, Fort Pulaski, Cockspur Island, lighthouses…. you’ll see it all. This ship is in search of dolphins, and dolphin sightings are guaranteed.

• Savannah Riverboat Cruises. A variety of cruises are available, from Harbor Sightseeing Cruises to Weekend Moonlight Cruises. You can learn about the Civil War or you can dine and dance.

Getting out on the water is always fun, no matter where you are. Seeing Savannah from the Savannah River, circling Tybee Island, or heading to big water in search of dolphins can make your Savannah vacation that much more unforgettable. Give it a try the next time you stay at one of our Savannah Vacation Homes.

Savannah has the largest urban landmark historic district in the country, so it’s no surprise it is known for its many lovely, historic homes.

The Davenport House

It’s impossible to remain impervious to the architectural charm of this city. A morning stroll down Broughton Street or to one of Savannah’s historic squares brings you past dozens of beautifully maintained, historic homes, like our very own Savannah Vacation Homes. The more you see, the more you want to see.

Each spring, many private homes open their doors to the public during the Annual Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens. Some of these homes have been in the same families for generations, and are full of wonderful antiques. It’s never too early to make plans to attend the Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens, which will next occur March 21-24, 2013.

In the meantime, several historic homes are open to the public:

The Mercer Williams House

Davenport House. Isaiah Davenport was a master builder, and the home he built for his family is a beautiful example of 1820s Federal-style architecture. This home was also the first building saved by the Historic Savannah Foundation. Learn all about it, and more.

Juliette Gordon Low House. Birthplace to Juliette Gordon Low, this classic “Savannah box” is a style of home built throughout the city from the 1780s through the 1870s. This house is admired by architecture buffs for its style and by history buffs for its links to Juliette Gordon Low, the woman who brought the Girl Scouts to America.

Mercer Williams House Museum. New York architect John S. Norris designed this house for General Hugh W. Mercer. Construction was delayed by the Civil War and completed around 1868. The Mercer house was restored by Jim Williams, and today it is the primary residence of his sister, Dr. Kingery. Parts of the house are open to the public, and they are well worth visiting.

Owens-Thomas House. Considered by many architectural historians to be one of the best examples of English Regency architecture in the United States, the Owens-Thomas House is now a historic house museum. Visitors will admire the building as much as the American and European objects it houses, which date from 1750-1830.

All of our Savannah Vacation Homes are restored historic homes. Stay in one while you visit others, and immerse yourself in the history and architecture of this beautiful city.

Fort Pulaksi

Fort Pulaski National Monument is rich in history and contemporary outdoor recreation. It’s a wonderful place for guests of our Savannah Vacation Homes to visit.

Fort Pulaski has had many jobs over the years. It was originally constructed in the early 1830s to protect the Port of Savannah from foreign invasion. During the Civil War, Fort Pulaski was home to both Confederate and Union troops. It was the final stop on the Underground Railroad before emancipation on nearby Cockspur Island. Later, the fort served as a military and political prison.

Tours of Pulaski National Monument are given twice daily and last approximately an hour. Visitors learn about Civil War technology, life at the fort, and the Battle for Fort Pulaski of 1862.

Cockspur Island Lighthouse.

In addition to learning about the history of the place, visitors can spend many peaceful hours enjoying its natural setting. Trails lead along marshes, through the fort’s original construction village, and around Fort Pulaski. Views of the Cockspur Island Lighthouse, the Savannah River, and the fort itself are unparalleled.

There are also many interpretive programs at Fort Pulaski. Visitors may tour the lighthouse, learn about Musket Firing, and see a cannon fired. Special events, such as guided boat trips around the island, take place from time to time.

If time permits during your stay at our Savannah Vacation Rentals, visit Fort Pulaski National Monument.

Savannah’s Jepson Center is a work of art that houses an extraordinary collection of contemporary art. Stop by the next time you stay at one of our Savannah Vacation Homes.

See the Leo Villareal exhibit at Savannah's Jepson Center.

Leo Villareal’s work is on view through June 3, 2012. A pioneer in the use of LEDs and computer imagery, Villareal has garnered acclaim for his architectural, site-specific works and his light sculptures. The exhibit at the Jepson Center is his first major traveling exhibit.

Also on view at the Jepson Center is Fresh Focus: Contemporary Photography from the Permanent Collection (through July 8, 2012). Fresh Focus showcases some of the museum’s most impressive photographic holdings.

Whether your stay at our Savannah Vacation Rentals is due to business or pleasure, it’s worth making time to visit the Jepson Center.  Please see Jepson Center for additional information.

Come to Savannah for a luxurious Destination Spa getaway.

There is something sinfully luxurious about a spa. Put everything on hold for few hours in the middle of the day, simply in order to be massaged, buffed, soaked, and otherwise pampered? Preposterous! Sign me up!

If it’s been too long since your last spa day, treat yourself to a Spa Day in Savannah. Better yet, a few spa days. Call your closest girlfriends, your mother, your sisters, your daughters. Find a few days when you can all slip away to Savannah and pamper yourselves in peace.

Stay in one of our luxurious Savannah Vacation Homes in the Historic District. The Mary O’Connor House sleeps 6 -8 people. The Broughton Street House sleeps 6 and the Broughton Street Carriage House sleeps 4–they may be rented together or separately. If you have enough friends and relations, consider staying in the magnificent home at 109 West Liberty Street; with the Garden Suite and the Carriage House, it sleeps 26 people quite comfortably.

The Savannah Day Spa is a grand Destination Spa on Oglethorpe Avenue, just a few blocks from our Savannah Vacation Homes, in the heart of Savannah’s Historic District. Savannah Day Spa offers everything from massages to nail care, waxing, and facials. Spend a few hours or a full day there, being pampered from the top of your head to the tip of your toes.

A Destination Spa getaway in Savannah may be the perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day. Spend a few days at one of our luxurious Savannah Vacation Homes and the Savannah Day Spa. After all, moms deserve to be pampered.

Summer weddings in Savannah… so enchanting.

The courtyard of our Savannah Vacation Rental perfect for summer receptions.

Savannah draws brides and grooms from all over the country. It is a magnificent city for a Destination Wedding, thanks to it’s stately architecture and lovingly maintained historic squares. This is true any time of year, winter through summer.

Our Savannah Vacation Home at 109 West is an ideal choice for Destination Weddings that include family and close friends. The grand, historic home comfortably sleeps 26 people in ten bedrooms, two sleeper sofas, and one trundle bed. The property has large common areas and three separate lodging units–the Main House, the Garden Suite, and the Carriage House. In addition, the Main House features a Pent House that is very private, (it is accessed through the Main House). As a result, this Savannah Vacation Home provides an ample amount of both privacy and togetherness.

Many marriage ceremonies have been held at 109 West House, and even more rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions. Local caterers know the kitchens well (we will happily recommend caterers if you like). The property is elegantly and comfortably furnished. You may not want to leave.

If you’re thinking of getting married this summer, consider having a Destination Wedding in Savannah. Invite the closest members of your families and your dearest friends. Make it a special event for you all.

Find treasures from the Marche aux Puces at The Paris Market in Savannah.

If you were thinking of traveling to Paris this spring, think again. It may be better to travel to Savannah, Georgia instead. Unbeknownst to many, there is a touch of Paris in Savannah.

The Paris Market & Brocante is located at 36 West Broughton Street, within walking distance from all three of our Savannah Vacation Rentals. Once you open the antique front door, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Paris. Once you move away from the door, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to some of the most magnificent markets in the world.

Oweners Paula and Tara Danyluk scour the world for treasures. They comb the intoxicating bazaars of Cairo, Alexandria, and India. They visit London wharfs and the flea markets of Hungary and Holland. They don’t hesitate to explore unchartered territory. Yet they return, time and time again, to the place that started it all, the Marche aux Puces in Paris.

If ever you have free time during your stay in our Savannah Vacation Rental Homes, wander over to The Paris Market and Brocante. Look at their fabulous collection of lights and their colorful pillows and bedding. Admire the diverse assortment of jewelry that reflects where it was found. Check out the vintage treasures.

Never a dull moment in The Paris Market. See for yourself.

Discover the rich, and sometimes eerie, history of Savannah.

Savannah repeatedly makes the top ten list for the most haunted city in America. It’s easy to understand why. The city is filled with antebellum architecture and gothic mansions, cemeteries filled with funerary statues, and beautiful, eerie, hanging Spanish moss. Savannah also has a long, rich history. Ghost stories are bound to follow.

Several companies in Savannah offer ghost tours: Blue Orb Tours, Sixth Sense Savannah, Ghosts & Gravestones. Tours leave after dark, and explore some of the more “haunted” areas of the historic district. These tours tend to be entertaining and informative.

Our Savannah Vacation Homes are located in the historic district. Learn more about the area you’re staying in. Have fun, and remember to take everything you hear with a grain of salt.

See the Bounty in Savannah this May.

On Thursday, May 3, 2012, historic Tall Ships will sail into Savannah’s Riverfront. It will be a memorable experience for everyone fortunate enough to be there.

The Tall Ships will be open for viewing and touring Friday May 4 through Sunday, May 6. Many fun activities are planned, including the singing of Sea Shanties, Stilt Walkers, Story Telling, and Pirate Raids. A high point of the whole weekend (for those of us stuck on land) will come Monday, May 7, when the ships leave port in a fabulous Parade of Sail.

Several of the Tall Ships will motor up the Savannah River during their stay, taking some lucky passengers with them. These sailings are scheduled to take place several times a day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It is sure to be a thrilling experience.

As of now, 14 Tall Ships are scheduled to be in Savannah in early May. They were built in France, Nova Scotia, England, and the United States. Some were built to fight, some were built to be in the movies. All are beautiful to behold, especially when under sail.

Guests of our Savannah Vacation Homes will see the Tall Ships sail into Savannah. As of this writing, there is still availability for May 6 and 7, 2012. Take the opportunity, and come watch the Tall Ship Parade of Sail.

More information about the Tall Ships is available at Savannah Tall Ships. More information about our Savannah Vacation Rentals is available at Savannah Villas.

The SCAD Theater, in Savannah.

Each spring, thousands of high school juniors and their parents visit colleges and universities. They trek across their home states and voyage into neighboring states. Some will board planes and visit universities on opposite coasts. It is an exciting time.

Both the parents and their teenage children are doing research. Parents want to know if the schools are academically challenging and safe. Teens want to know lots of things. Does the school offer programs in what they want to study? What are the students like? And so on, and so on.

The Savannah College of Art and Design is not meant for every student. For some, however, it would be hard to find a better match. SCAD has outstanding programs in design, fashion, and digital media. Students can study architectural history or furniture design at the School of Building Arts. They can study writing, cinema, liberal arts and teaching at the School of Liberal Arts. And so much more.

While online research is valuable, there is nothing quite like a campus visit to get a feel for a place. SCAD offers tours to prospective students daily, except Sundays. Admissions counseling is available Monday through Friday. We suggest lodging at one of our Savannah Vacation Homes.