Southern Cities: A Sketchbook Series
Southern Cities: A Sketchbook Series
Sketches, Stories, and Recipes from Savannah, GA
I’ve lived in lots of wonderful places, but I’ve always felt most at home in the American Southeast. I credit much of my creative inspiration to growing up in the South, surrounded by great storytellers who cherished nature, food, family, and a good laugh above all else. This new sketchbook series is my little love letter to some of the beautiful places that helped shape me. One of those places is Savannah GA, a delightful city where I've spent a great deal of time, just two hours from my hometown of Charleston, SC.
My now-husband attended Savannah College of Art and Design. I’d drive down as often as I could, stowing away in the trunk of his car to sneak into his dorm.
My great-grandmother also lived in Savannah, thereby deeming her Nana in Savannah. She loved baseball, had an impeccably clean house, and baked the most incredible cakes that waited for us on her dining room table upon each visit.
When I was eight years old, visiting Nana, she took us on a stroll through one of the many squares. As we meandered, I stumbled upon a glistening pearl bracelet on the sidewalk. The pearls were warm from the sun, and the broken clasp brought to mind some elegant women with delicate wrists it had once adorned. No one was around to claim it, so finders keepers felt like the correct ruling. Despite being a full- on tomboy at this time, I loved this new treasure. And ever since then, I've thought of Savannah as a lucky place.
If you’d like to see life more romantically, Savannah is the city for you. It's filled with squares draped in Spanish moss and splashing fountains. The cobblestoned streets and well preserved, surely haunted historic buildings make it easy to feel as if you've traveled back in time. Here a few places to explore if you’re visiting soon!
DO
Pack a picnic and relax in one of the many squares- Chippewa Square for your Forrest Gump fans, Monterey Square, or Forsyth Park to name a few.
Take in the views along River Street.
Hop on the Georgia Queen and cruise down the Savanah River at sunset.
VISIT
EAT
The Pirate’s House *A childhood favorite of mine*
More Savannah travel guides here:
Feed the Malik: Savannah: Explore Black-Owned Restaurants and History
Oprah Daily: Why We Should All Be Traveling to Savannah Right Now, written by Kira von Eichel
“If you go to Atlanta, the first question people ask you is, "What's your business?" In Macon they ask, "Where do you go to church?" In Augusta they ask your grandmother's maiden name. But in Savannah the first question people ask you is "What would you like to drink?”
― John Berendt, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Who else out there loves thrifting old cookbooks? Recently, I found a great one called Savannah Style, A Cookbook from The Junior League of Savannah which contains some fascinating, very traditional Southern recipes. In true Savannah fashion, we'll be starting with a regional cocktail, the Chatham Artillery Punch. Dating back to the 1800’s, it’s known as one of the oldest American punch bowl recipes. Described as “a mortal enemy of despair” and “delightfully palatable and insidiously strong,” this cocktail is clearly meant for a partaaay (note the serving size of 200). If you’d like to try this potent punch, here’s David Wondrich’s more modernized recipe to serve at your next gathering. Cheers!
30 Days of Gratitude Drawings
In case you missed it, I’m sharing 30 Days of Thank-You Drawings in an effort to feel gratitude for life more deeply. Follow along on Instagram or Substack!
I hope y’all enjoyed exploring Savannah, GA for the first installment of this sketchbook series! Where should I head next? I’d love to hear about your favorite Southern spots!
Love,
Cait
This was lovely, Cait! I passed through Savannah 14-ish years ago and would love to visit soon. I’ve been thinking about putting together a little Atlanta guide. Next month will be 7 years since I moved here. I love it.