Savannah, Georgia.Getty Images/iStockphoto
QUESTION: I turn 60, in late April, and my spouse and I had been considering celebrating in Savannah, but I am concerned about the heat and humidity levels. Also, we have discovered we cannot fly there directly. Given my concerns, is this a good choice or could you suggest an alternative? We enjoy antiques, galleries, history, some shopping and great food.
TRAVEL CONCIERGE: Not so fast, birthday girl. You could travel to Santa Fe or San Francisco, but why rule out Savannah?
Ann Kirkland, founder of travel company Classical Pursuits ( classicalpursuits.com), has been there three times in April, and humidity was not a problem. "It was beautiful spring weather. The magnolias and azaleas were out. The gardens were beautiful."
And, as you suspected, this riverside city will appeal to your cultural leanings, says Kirkland, who was in Georgia exploring the childhood home of writer Flannery O'Connor. There are antique stores in the historic district pawning jewellery and furniture; the Savannah College of Art and Design ( scad.edu) has a terrific shop; and there are interesting walking tours, featuring gardens, homes and the bestselling novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil ( savannahwalks.com). Other highlights include the Bonaventure Cemetery ( visit-historic-savannah.com), dripping with moss-laden oak trees, where you can "just imagine all sorts of things happening there," and the Temple Mickve Israel, considered the only purely Gothic revival synagogue in the U.S. And on Sundays, the Christ Church Savannah has Gregorian chants at 9 p.m. "It's in the dark by candlelight," Kirkland says. "It's very peaceful and lovely."
Sure, it may not be a one-stop flight, but doesn't that sound worth it?
E-mail your travel questions to concierge@globeandmail.com.
Karan Smith is a former Globe Travel editor. Special to The Globe and Mail