March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Weather in March can be unpredictable to say the least and this year was no exception. The first few weeks saw several snowstorms hit the East Coast and we even got a few snowflakes here in Virginia Beach on the first day of spring. As I write this post on the last day of March I can say it feels a bit different. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the buds on my hydrangeas are just starting to wake up. Spring is here to stay for a while.
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Now I normally don’t have to worry about planning trip for more than two people but this month I dipped my toe into family travel with a multigenerational spring break trip. Steve’s family lives in Tampa, FL and wanted to come north and are not huge fans of flying; Steve and I wanted to come south and visit someplace new. We had ages ranging from 12-60ish with a few people wanting a mountain trip and a few people wanting a city break. The answer was a spring break road trip to Georgia, starting with a few days near Tallulah Falls in north Georgia followed by a few days in Savannah.
Truth be told I picked Tallulah Falls based off of a Facebook video I’d seen just a few days before and the fact that it was smack dab in the middle of Tampa and Virginia Beach. I’ll be sharing more about my time here and in Savannah in upcoming posts but Tallulah Falls ended up being the surprise hit of the trip for everyone. The renovated lake house on Lake Rabun that I found on Airbnb was perfect for hanging out as a family. This charming cottage was originally built in 1935 and comes with its own boathouse and deck. You can bet your bippy I’ll be back here in the summer.
Despite rainy weather the first 2 days we were able to get out and explore a bit of north Georgia. A kitschy roadside attraction called Goats on the Roof was fun for both kids and kids at heart while nearby Tiger Mountain Vineyards was a welcome stop for the wine lovers in our group.
It was the natural beauty that initially drew us to this corner of north Georgia and it surely didn’t disappoint. In addition to a few days exploring Tallulah Gorge State Park we also took a short hike to Minnehaha Falls. While we barely touched the surface of hikes available the taste we did get was enough to know that the mountains of north Georgia are a very special place.
After a few days in the mountains we drove clear across the state to Savannah. The very definition of genteel, Savannah is a place where time hangs like Spanish moss from the trees and there is no better way to spend a long afternoon than with a good meal and cocktail. Our Airbnb was a historic townhome right next door to Clary’s Cafe, the historic diner where Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is said to have been written. Blocks aware from St. John’s Cathedral, this house was perfectly located for exploring the leafy squares of the historic district, Forsyth Park and the riverfront.
By far my favorite part of Savannah was my one-on-one afternoon with my niece. This is something I’ve done with her the past few years and I always look forward to our adventures. This time we dressed up and made our way to one of Savannah’s most iconic restaurants, The Olde Pink House. We completed our girls’ afternoon checking out some of the boutiques and shops near Broughton Street, Savannah Bee Company and Nourish were our favorite spots.
Things I Love
Check out local blog Wander North Georgia to discover hiking trails, small towns and everything that’s special in mountains of Georgia.
Most of the America’s foods didn’t originate here and we have an intrepid botanist to thank for favorites like avocados and oranges. Read about adventurous botanist David Fairchild in The Food Explorer: The True Adventures of a Globe-Trotting Botantist Who Transformed What America Eats.
Spring is dress season and I always love the easy style of Leota’s classic wrap dress in pretty floral prints.
Andi says
You had a great month! I’ve got to pick up that botantist book and I want to fly across the country to stay in that cabin on the lake!