Travels in the 2nd half

  When I visit a city for the first time, I find that taking a hop-on/hop-off bus tour is a great way to orient myself. It allows me to identify the places I want to visit during my stay, along with some ideas about how best to get around. On the Bus Savannah, Georgia, has several choices for tours. I decided on Old Town Trolley tours. They are a national company, with a great reputation and a high rating on several different travel web-sites. They also offer free parking if you get there before their lot fills up. Their buses wind their way through Savannah’s Historic District, making fifteen stops along the way. One loop of the tour takes approximately one-and-a-half hours, and it passes by fourteen of Savannah’s twenty two shaded squares, and about a dozen of its historic homes. The Old town Trolley Tour also offers combination tickets with the Prohibition Museum, and other local attractions.  I arrived early, and scored a coveted indoor spot, really important on a day whe...

  It is hard to spend time among the Sea Islands of South Carolina without visiting Hilton Head Island . Hilton Head is about halfway between Beaufort SC and Savannah GA. It is one of South Carolina’s major vacation destinations. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Hilton Head Island was home to several plantations, mostly growing sea island cotton. During and after the Civil War, the area was part of the Port Royal Experiment, and became home to hundreds of freed African-Americans, who could buy land and send their children to schools. The area became on center of Gullah-Geechee society, and remained so for one hundred years as access was limited to private boat and ferry service. In 1956, a two lane bridge was built to the island, and so did the Sea Pine Resort, Hilton Head’s first tourist destination. Today, Hilton Head has numerous developments, both resorts and year-round residents. Stoney-Bayard House - via Wikicommons Development on Hilton Head has been done under the ecolog...

Bluffton marina Spending a full week visiting a city allows a person to explore its dining establishments.During my trip to Beaufort, South Carolina, I had the chance to eat at several excellent restaurants. Hearth Wood Fired Pizza:   From Hearth Wood Fire Pizza from https://hearthpizzabft.com/ I am a firm believer that New York City is home to the best pizza in the U.S. from top to bottom. Hearth Wood Fired Pizza would fit in with New York’s best. Located on Bay Street in historic Beaufort, Hearth has the feel of an upscale tavern, without the sports tvs. The pizza here is wonderful, with a crispy thin crust. I had the Meat Pizza, which was covered in sausage, pepperoni and ground beef. It was cooked perfectly, and the sauce was just right, not overly acidic. While not romantic, Hearth is a great place for families and groups to come and enjoy a great meal at a reasonable cost. Herban Market and Cafe:   photo from https://www.herbanmarketandcafe.com/ If you are looking for a ...