Most snowbirds head to a warm and sunny Southern state, like Arizona, Southern California, the Texas Gulf coast or Florida. But there are other not as popular or well known options for snowbirds, like Southwest Georgia. The weather is not quite as warm as those destinations further south, but coastal Georgia’s average winter weather ranges between highs in the lower to mid 60s to lows in the middle 40s. Georgia is not just historic cotton plantations and Civil War forts, but boasts almost 500 years of American history. Its 112-mile coastline stretches from the Savannah River border with South Carolina to Florida.
Savannah tops the list of Georgia coastal destinations. Today, the 2.2 square mile historic district’s 1,500+ preserved buildings and 21 small squares, most with historic statues, make up the largest National Landmark Historic District in the nation. Here, you’ll find a mixture of restored Federal-, Regency-, Greek- Revival-, Gothic Revival-, Italianate-, Romanesque- and Victorian-style homes, many with ornate wrought iron gates and railings and colorful wisteria covered spacious verandahs.
Wormsloe Plantation, Savannah, Georgia
On the streets, you will see massive old Live Oaks draped with elegantly flowing Spanish moss, grassy lawns beneath flowering magnolias, and blooming azaleas – and not a fast food restaurant or muffler shop in sight. You can’t help but feel the charm of the Old South.
Centuries-old tombstones and gnarly old oaks draped with Spanish moss characterize Bonaventure Cemetery, one of the key locations in the best selling novel, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and a 1997 Clint Eastwood movie. And another thing (this said in a whisper), Savannah is considered to be the most haunted city in America, with a plethora of ghosts, haunted hotels, and unexplained apparitions.
Among the other highlights:
- Seven national wildlife refuges make up the Savannah Coastal Refuge Complex. At Harris Neck NWR, look for alligators basking in the sun, wading birds like white ibis, herons, and egrets, and wood storks on nesting platforms.
- Fort Pulaski, sitting on a barrier island consisting of uplands and marshes that support a variety of wildlife, protected Savannah during the Civil War.
- Skidaway Island State Park nature trails wind through maritime forest and salt marsh to a boardwalk and wildlife observation tower.
- Tybee island’s 3-mile long beach and lighthouse (178 steps to the top) was built in 1773.
- Three-quarters of all the species of birds found in Georgia – more than 300 species – have been seen at the 18 designated sites along the Colonial Coast Birding Trail.
- The Ogeechee River, part of the Intra-coastal Waterway, flows past Richmond Hill, providing both salt and freshwater fishing. Nearby Civil War Fort McAllister State Historic Park was the end of Sherman’s March to the Sea.
Good Sam Parks in the Savannah area.
You can find Bob Difley’s RVing ebooks on Amazon Kindle.