Yeah. I did it. I went to a catfish restaurant and ordered…SHRIMP!
Who does that?
Here’s the deal. I’m a little scared of catfish. The whole catlike face just kind of freaks me out. And the whole bottom-feeder thing…let’s just not even go there.
For a minute I’m going to sound like a snob. I assumed, before my six month stint this year in Valdosta, Georgia, that it was merely a jerk-water southern Georgia town. You know, one of those I75 exits on your trip south to Disneyworld?
But no, no, no people! It’s cute! Really. It’s cute! Areas of Valdosta are really cute. Take the campus and surrounding neighborhoods of Valdosta State University for example or maybe the renovated downtown? They are really cute. If it’s mealtime and you want to see the real deal of a Southern town on your trip to Disneyworld, do stop in Valdosta.
And DO, most definitely DO, eat at The Bistro downtown. I had one of the best steaks there I think I’ve ever consumed in my life – a filet with a sweet bourbon reduction sauce on top. I think it melted in my mouth. I had a hard time picking from the menu, because all the food was elegant and enticing. The wine list was impressive as well.
The atmosphere of the bistro was very pleasant too. The restaurant had a modern loft sort of feel, as it’s housed in a renovated brick storefront downtown. Huge canvases of modern art covered the walls.
I’m sorry I don’t have pictures. I ate there before I was really in full blog-swing. Maybe if you’re in the area or planning a trip in the area, do check out the website here. The Bistro is Valdosta’s best-foot forward. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.
One evening during our visit to Savannah, Kenny and I drove to Tybee Island. I grew up near the Gulf of Mexico and nothing in the world makes me happier than a beach. All is right in the world when waves are crashing in front of me. I feel like I can conquer any dream when I can see all the way to the horizon. (Incidentally, driving country roads in Texas makes me feel this way too.)
That said, if you can help it, don’t plan a vacation to Tybee Island. Go to another beach. Which one? Any other one.
Why?
Do you know Paula Deen of Food Network fame? Her restaurant Lady and Sons is in Savannah.
We didn’t eat there.
Why?
Eating at Lady and Sons requires a bit of planning. You have to stand in line early in the morning to get a reservation to come back to the restaurant for lunch or dinner. Then you stand in line at the time of your reservation waiting to actually get in the restaurant.
Since we only had one full day in Savannah, we didn’t want to spend all our time in lines.
Instead, we opted to spend time in the line at Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room.
What do people do in Savannah? Why does it get attention as a tourist destination?
Well, honestly, I can’t answer those questions for the masses. I can only tell you why I liked Savannah.
SAVANNAH IS A HISTORICAL TOWN
Savannah was founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe. It has one of the largest historic districts in the country. Streets and streets are filled with gorgeous old row houses with wrought iron detailing. Towering beautiful trees shade everything.
I have a curious interest in bed and breakfasts, which I will lovingly refer to as B&B’s. For many years I had a reoccurring daydream that I owned one.
Several years ago after a particularly bad day at work I started reading a few dummy guides to owning a B&B. I realized it is a nonstop job of cleaning and cooking. I’d be tied down at home to boot. Funny how those little details didn’t factor into my daydreams!
I had an attitude adjustment toward my day job. And I kicked the whole owning-a-B&B-dream off my favorite daydream list. I filled in with a substitute dream – someday I wanted to stay at one.
Savannah, Georgia seemed like the perfect location for my maiden voyage in B&B patronage. I browsed my favorite B&B online directory, www.bbonline.com, to look at our options. Unfortunately, we did not plan ahead and things fill up quickly in Savannah. Our options were very limited. However, after reading reviews on www.tripadvisor.com, we decided on the Azalea Inn & Gardens.
If you haven’t been to Savannah, Georgia, don’t walk. Run! Go there now. It is a beautiful gem of a Southern city.
Since I became a Southern Living fan a few years ago, I’ve been hearing whispery rumors that Savannah is a city that should be on every United States traveler’s list. I added it to mine.
Check. Been there. Done that.
The camera is officially dead. After a week zipped up in a bag of silica gel, it refused to work yesterday. Kenny read online that silica gel is supposed to heal wet cameras. It performed no miracle for us.
However, he did recover this picture from his day of kayaking on Town Lake. The Colorado River is dammed up to create Town Lake right in the heart of Austin.
“What’re you looking at swan?”
The camera just wanted to have a little fun in the lake too I suppose. Way to go out with a splash.
Okay. Time for a little confession. I’m scared of alligators.
When I was a little girl I wouldn’t get out of my bed at night to go to the bathroom. I believed alligators lived in the sewer system in Louisville, Kentucky. I thought one might crawl through the toilet into our house and get me.
No, I’m not making this up. It’s true. If you ask my family, I’m not sure they will remember this phase in my life, because thankfully, I’m pretty sure it was short lived. However, that phase did exist. I was scared of gators.
I still don’t really like them. Something about the whole killing predator thing makes me shy away.
Noooooooooo…not Kenny. Not his mom. They’re apparently just fine with a few killing predators. Maybe 50 would be just about enough for them.
“Now I get it,” Josh said as he sank into our living room chair after a long Friday.
“Get what?” Kenny and I asked as we looked up from our laptops. (Yeah…we were probably blogging.)
“Why Texans are so proud.”
“Oh,” we said nodding our heads in understanding.
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