Visited Savannah and loved it; A few questions (Atlanta: 2015, hotel)

[smithgn]

Hey everyone, my girlfriend and I just got back from a hastily planned get-away to Savannah for the weekend. We just got back today and loved our time there. We both had never been to Savannah, despite it being less than 3 hours away from Columbia, so we decided to take a trip down and see what Savannah was about. We stayed at the Bohemian Marriott hotel right off of the river. Loved the nightlife and charm of the city but had little time to explore as much as we wanted, but we will for sure be back next time.


A lot of people like to draw similarities of Savannah to Charleston, which I can see most of them. It's proximity to the ocean, it's a historic city with southern charm and Gullah cultural vibe to it as well. But getting to my point, as I can go on and on about the charms of the city; what has held Savannah back? To clarify, why is Savannah not a major coastal city in Georgia? It has all the tools to be a great city like Charleston and then some. For one, Savannah seemed to have a more traditional and planned grid system of it's downtown. Not the confusion that ensues when you try to navigate Charleston on it's circus like roads. Also, you have the luxury of not only living near/on the ocean, but you have the scenic Savannah river as well. Not to mention, you have a major interstate that runs right by your city. Savannah seems to be growing at a good clip nonetheless. I could see plenty of development and the Tanger outlets for shopping, so I'm not insinuating that it's a dead in the water type of city, but with all that Savannah has to offer, why isn't it a bourgeoning coastal city of Georgia?

[gastech]

Perhaps it's because we, the residents, prefer Savannah to be a sleepy enclave of Southern Charm. Personally, if Savannah became another Charleston I would have to move....

[Mutiny77]

Being in the same state as Atlanta has something to do with it.

[SavannahLife]

Savannah has a Gullah vibe?

[gentlearts]

If anything is holding Savannah back, it is the do nothing governance. Charleston had the same mayor for 40 years, so they had a steady person at the helm, who I presume had a master plan, public support, and plenty of time to implement it.

[smithgn]

Mutiny77, I see what you mean, but Savannah is almost a completely different city than Atlanta. You'd think Savannah would attract more residents. Atlanta is a fine town I suppose but Savannah is such a pretty city, it's hard to believe more people aren't lured in. But then again, there has to be business opportunities and perhaps Atlanta scoops up all of the potential suitors.


SavannahLife- Geechee/Gullah, I tend to group them together lol but I meant Geechee.


gentlearts- That's interesting. Maybe some towns and cities don't want to grow at insane rates. But I've always thought that people would naturally be drawn to Savannah despite current residents and city leaders opposed to rapid growth.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by smithgn

Mutiny77, I see what you mean, but Savannah is almost a completely different city than Atlanta. You'd think Savannah would attract more residents. Atlanta is a fine town I suppose but Savannah is such a pretty city, it's hard to believe more people aren't lured in. But then again, there has to be business opportunities and perhaps Atlanta scoops up all of the potential suitors.

Bingo. There are tons of pretty small towns and small cities across the country that remain just that. At the end of the day, people move to where the jobs are (retirees excepted).

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by SavannahLife

Savannah has a Gullah vibe?

We are surrounded by sea islands. Go visit the museum at Pin Point.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by smithgn

Hey everyone, my girlfriend and I just got back from a hastily planned get-away to Savannah for the weekend. We just got back today and loved our time there. We both had never been to Savannah, despite it being less than 3 hours away from Columbia, so we decided to take a trip down and see what Savannah was about. We stayed at the Bohemian Marriott hotel right off of the river. Loved the nightlife and charm of the city but had little time to explore as much as we wanted, but we will for sure be back next time.


A lot of people like to draw similarities of Savannah to Charleston, which I can see most of them. It's proximity to the ocean, it's a historic city with southern charm and Gullah cultural vibe to it as well. But getting to my point, as I can go on and on about the charms of the city; what has held Savannah back? To clarify, why is Savannah not a major coastal city in Georgia? It has all the tools to be a great city like Charleston and then some. For one, Savannah seemed to have a more traditional and planned grid system of it's downtown. Not the confusion that ensues when you try to navigate Charleston on it's circus like roads. Also, you have the luxury of not only living near/on the ocean, but you have the scenic Savannah river as well. Not to mention, you have a major interstate that runs right by your city. Savannah seems to be growing at a good clip nonetheless. I could see plenty of development and the Tanger outlets for shopping, so I'm not insinuating that it's a dead in the water type of city, but with all that Savannah has to offer, why isn't it a bourgeoning coastal city of Georgia?

"Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil" by John Berendt. The BOOK not the movie (which sucks). GET IT AND READ IT! And all your questions will be answered. I swear!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midn..._Good_and_Evil

[Newsboy]

ALSO: This also has some background and will make you appreciate what Savannah is today ...

https://wdanielanderson.wordpress.co...y-1920s-1970s/

In fact, and I hate to be so blunt, but GOOGLE the subject. Savannah's history is no secret.

As to the Charleston thing ... I will say, they had a 60 year head start on us (founded 1670 vs 1732). And for much of its early history, Charleston was not only one of the BIGGEST cities in the United States, but one of the mos cosmopolitan and wealthy. It had some advantages we did not have in the early goings. That said, Charleston has also managed to REBUILD and THRIVE despite being largely destroyed multiple times by war, hurricanes, earthquakes and fires. You also have multiple state institutions (The Citadel, College of Charleston, Medical University) that we never had.

Savannah's wealth and influence were built on King Cotton, thanks to Eli Whitney (who invented the cotton gin here) and the Cotton Exchange, which set the prices for cotton worldwide, and the port, which shipped MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of bales to Europe and points beyond. At the time of the Civil War, it was one of the wealthiest and most beautiful cities in the South -- why Gen. Sherman spared it from ruin. Ironic that the decline of cotton and the loss of wealth and influence is the very thing that led Savannah to near ruin.