Well, I highly recommend the Savannah Rambles tour. He is an architect who worked for the historical

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I made a quick trip to Savannah, mainly see some favorite Fodorites again at yesterday's GTG. It was mostly a working trip and I really didn't plan to do any "touristy" stuff. But, there was a display of brochures in the hotel lobby and I picked up the one for Savannah Rambles. vans warped tour schedule for It piqued my interest so I checked out the website and then called the number to see if there was a chance at joining a tour.
Dirk called back and we arranged vans warped tour schedule for a Saturday morning tour. He was very flexible in adjusting the start time to assure that I would be finished in time to meet up with other Fodorites. I arrived at Johnson Square at the appointed time and was impressed to learn that I was the only person on the tour. A lot of tour guides will not conduct a tour without a minimum number and years ago I had a negative experience when the originator of the ghost tour in Savannah blew two of us off for an alloted tour time because he didn't want to do a tour for only two people. In the years since I've not offered up specific vans warped tour schedule for recommendations for trolley, carriage or walking tours because I've not found a real reason vans warped tour schedule for to do so. Now I have.
He's an architect who was the Architectural Design Consultant for the Historic Savannah Foundation. He's a historian who brings history vans warped tour schedule for to life and demonstrates the changes and evolution over time in context using buildings and their features. I think I am somewhat well-traveled and well-read but in this few minutes I learned so much that I was literally shaking my head and grinning from ear to ear. All of it is delivered in a friendly and conversational style.
I was more than a bit surprised to see a few random snowflakes falling. vans warped tour schedule for I thought I'd left the snow and ice behind in Atlanta. It was a very cold morning but an extremely enjoyable one. I plan to sign up for another of Dirk's tours on upcoming trips to Savannah and highly recommend him to anyone who is interested in learning more about Savannah from someone who knows and loves it on a personal and professional basis.
A note for anyone reading this later on - if you are planning a trip to Savannah, the spring Savannah Tour of Homes Gardens is a highlight of the year. Dirk started giving his Preservation-in-Progress walking tour during that annual vans warped tour schedule for event. I try to make it every year to see private homes and gardens opened up for all of us to enjoy.
Thanks for the info. I will be in Savannah in March so will look this tour up. Also very interested in the Homes and Gardens tour as I love both homes and gardens so this is perfect timing for me. Could you tell me if the homes are in the Historic District (where vans warped tour schedule for I will be staying) or are the homes further afield? Just wondering about the logistics of touring some as I will not have a vehicle.
starrs, vans warped tour schedule for reading this thread, I realize I too will be in Savannah during the Home and Garden tour this year (as well as during the Music Festival...neither of which I knew about when I booked my trip and both of which explain why all the hotels are booked!). Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of the Music Festival and the Home and Gardens tours are already sold out but I did find a few tickets available for the self guided Home Gardens and Preservation in Progress tours. My question is, would you recommend the Home and Garden tour, the Preservation in Progress or the Savannah vans warped tour schedule for Rambler tour? I'm guessing vans warped tour schedule for I'll have to move quickly if I want to get anything. I'm a preservationist/architectural historian by training but my traveling companion vans warped tour schedule for is not though he is patient and easy going. Any advice you can give would be appreciated!
Well, I highly recommend the Savannah Rambles tour. He is an architect who worked for the historical association so knows Savannah architecture better than anyone giving tours. The tours aren't vans warped tour schedule for too "techy" and everyone should enjoy them. He just gives things a different twist from any other tour I've been on. I was amazed that I was standing there looking at a building I'd seen a gazillion times (example - the Kehoe house) and had not noticed what now seems obvious!. He's just a really good guide - whether he's talking about architectural features or history or Savannah in general.
The Home and Garden tour is organized vans warped tour schedule for with certain homes on tour during certain time frames. The tour is self-guided in that you walk to the houses on your own, in any order you want, and there are volunteers vans warped tour schedule for at the houses to tell you a little vans warped tour schedule for bit and answer questions. I love seeing homes that aren't open except for tour time.
Oh, that's Dirk's tour (Savannah Rambles). That's how he got started doing tours. So, definitely the PinP tour and/or the Savannah Rambles tour (given vans warped tour schedule for by the same person) and buy at least one timeframe for the Home and Garden tour.
I'm also going to be in Charleston during their Festival of Houses Gardens and I want to go to some of the plantations up there as well so I'm worried about house tour overload. It's so hard to choose when they all sound interesting! I guess that's a nice problem to have though. Thanks vans warped tour schedule for again for your helpful advice.
I really like Charleston's tour as well. In either Savannah or Charleston, pick a tour time frame that highlights gardens. One of my favorite tour experiences was a garden segment during the Charleston tour that highlighted the pocket/courtyard/hidden (from public view) gardens of Charleston.
Dirk's Savannah Rambles tour is not just "houses" and is very interesting. I think if you pick one of his tours, add in a house tour and a garden tour you'll have a really great experience. And truly, those tours are unlike the commercial tours offered by other vendors.
SlowWanderer, may I suggest you read "Mrs. Whaley and her Charleston Garden"? It can be purchased at the Charleston Historical Society or on line from Amazon. It is a wonderful introduction to the Charleston gardens.
I wish I had time to read both before my trip but I'm down to just a couple of days left and they'll be busy ones! I read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil when it first came out so my memory of it is a bit sketchy, but I remember the gist of it. I hadn't heard of Mrs. Whaley before, but I'll keep my eyes out for it...it sounds interesting. Thanks for the suggestions, starrs cmcfong!
starrs, I've returned from my trip to Savannah and just wanted to thank you for your great recommendation. vans warped tour schedule for We immensely enjoyed the Savannah Rambles tour with Dirk. He gave us a great overview of the city and a true understanding of its history. My friend and I were the only people on the tour so that made it even better. I understand why you went to the trouble vans warped tour schedule for of posting this thread for the tour, it was so good that one wants to encourage more people his way. I've just posted a review on Trip Advisor out of the same impulse (or will once it gets approved or whatever happens on there). The rest of our trip was wonderful as well but the Ramble was one of the highlights.
Did you ever have one of those days when everything seemed to go RIGHT, when the stars were aligned vans warped tour schedule for for an amazing and memorable travel experience? I has been three weeks since our Grand Ramble with Dirk Hardison of Savannah Rambles, and I am still mulling over just what it was that made the experience so wonderful. The weather was very nice, a bit of overcast kept the temperatures cool for our walk. Is Savannah that amazing, or did Dirk help us focus on the best of the best. I think the truth is that Savannah is amazing, and that Dirk has a gift for bringing it to life with history, insight, encyclopedic knowledge and boundless enthusiasm. We had a blast and learned so much. Dirk is a must for history vans warped tour schedule for and architecture enthusiasts. Hey, this is Savannah, need I say more? For the same price or less than a impersonal and non-interactive bus tour, Dirk crafted vans warped tour schedule for an unforgettable personalized Savannah experience for us. Thanks to Dirk and to Fodor's where he is rightfully listed as a must do in Savannah.
We are going to Savannah at the end of the month and have already booked a tour with Dirk based on your recommendation. (He had no idea he was so well reviewed). I can't wait for the weekend (April28-May 1) and will post when finished.
I contacted Dirk to see if he would do a Bonaventure Tour but he said he only does walking vans warped tour schedule for tours of Savannah. We had an excellent Bonaventure only tour with Savannah Heritage Tours , 912 224-8365. I highly recommend Angela if you want to see Bonaventure at a leisurely pace.