Savannah is a city rich in history, Southern charm and old-fashioned hospitality. Savannah traces its roots back to 1733, when British General James Oglethorpe first founded the city on a bluff above River Street. Today, Savannah offers world-class restaurants, Civil War forts, dozens of art galleries, fine antique shops, and much more. Savannah has one of the largest historic districts in the United States, with thousands of architecturally-significant buildings nestled under giant live oaks hung with Spanish moss. Known as The Hostess City of South, Savannah attracts visitors from across the country and around the
world.

The past, as William Faulkner told us, isn't really over, especially here in Savannah where it is inextricably entwined with the city's present and future. General James Oglethorpe still looks south from his statue in Chippewa Square, facing the Spanish threat he turned back in 1742. The square also has a far more recent claim to fame - it was the site of "Forrest Gump's" bench, an Academy Award-winning film that was largely filmed in Savannah. So was the Civil War epic "Glory" and, of course, "Midnight in the Garden
of Good and Evil."

General Oglethorpe also had the honor of laying out the city plan, organizing it into the now-famous arrangement of squares. Today 19 of the 24 original squares stand in restored glory. They are celebrated in brochures and visitor's memory alike as one of the most beautiful sights in Savannah.

And Savannah is indeed beautiful. It is blessed with ancient oak trees dripping with spanish moss, their long limbs reaching to block out the scorching midday sun. It is accented with historic homes and underlaid with cobblestones straight off the ships that, long ago, sailed into Savannah's port. It has azaleas in springtime and horse-drawn carriages to guide visitors around the Historic District.

And the city is alive with history. From Hannah's East, where Robert Louis Stevenson's book, "Treasure Island," was inspired, to monuments of Savannah's military history: of generals, Indian chiefs, and
statesmen, to the historic forts that dot the marshy landscape that surrounds the city.

March through May are the most picturesque months to visit Savannah. Not only are the azaleas and dogwoods blooming but spring lends its crisp, fresh quality to the air. Summer tends to be official tourist season, although temperatures do climb by the end of the day. Get outside early to beat the heat. Pleasant conditions prevail through the fall season which extends until around October or November. Be sure to plan either around or for Saint Patrick's Day, as our city puts together one heck of a party that lasts through the weekend closest to the holiday.