We walked towards the river, not knowing what to expect. It was Kim’s and my first time in Savannah. We had heard great things from friends about this Southern city. But you never know what a place is really like until you visit. We would soon learn that Savannah is one of the hidden gems in the Southeast—a unique city that is well worth visiting.
We chose this hidden gem to celebrate our birthdays.
Kim and I share the same birthday. The day and month are identical; the year is not. It was our first year together on this unique day, so we celebrated it in a big way. We visited Savannah, Georgia, in February of 2019. When I told a few friends who had been there about our travel, they said great things about Savannah. I was excited to see if this hidden gem lived up to the hype. It did. I was pleasantly surprised.
Why I wrote this billboard
I wrote this billboard as a reminder to see new places and to find hidden gems. My personality type tends to be boring. I enjoy doing the same things over and over and over. I find habits and routines helpful. For example, I start my day the same way. I put on a pot of coffee and make my bed. The next hour of my day is a predictable morning routine. I like it that way. Weekend mornings are not much different, except I watch soccer instead of going to work. On the other hand, I take a different approach to travel. I enjoy seeing new places and finding hidden gems.
Travel is one of my primary passions.
As both of you know, I like to travel. It is one of my passions/obsessions. Europe is my favorite place to explore. I probably have seen more of that continent than my own home country. I am doing my best to see more of the good old USA. Each year, I try to see a new place in America. New York City became my favorite place to visit a few years ago because there is so much to see and do. As I get older, I like heading South, where the weather is better, and the number of beaches increases exponentially.
Savannah is one of the South’s hidden gems.
Kim and I had a blast celebrating our birthdays in Savannah, Georgia. It was even better than either one of us expected. The city is full of beautiful parks, fascinating history, and great places to eat. We took a ghost tour one evening, which was entertaining. Our guide, Spooky Steve, was wonderful, weird, and whacky, all at the same time. He even took the time to sing a special spooky version of Happy Birthday to both of us. If you have not been to Savannah, I highly recommend it. We plan to return soon.
It is fun to find hidden gems.
One of my favorite things while traveling is finding hidden gems. You may be asking what a hidden gem is. It is a special place to visit that not too many people know about or get a chance to experience. For example, last year I visited Girona, Spain while traveling in Catalonia. I heard great things about this city but did not know what to expect. It was awesome. Centuries of history include a medieval wall and Game of Thrones sites. It was one of the highlights of my trip.
I hope to find more hidden gems in the future.
Now that I know what Savannah is like, it is time to find more hidden gems. There are many parts of Europe that we have not yet explored, and several cities in America have yet to be visited. Kim and I are trying to identify other places to celebrate our birthdays. Who knows what the future holds? Hopefully, a few hidden gems will be found.
What about you?
Are you out in the world exploring? Looking for hidden gems? Or are you stuck in a routine, revisiting places you already know well? Get out there and experience the world. Who knows. You may find a fantastic place like Savannah.
Be content with what you have and keep looking for hidden gems. You never know what you will discover.
Dad