Savannah

A short drive south of Savannah lies the charming old town of Darien, established in 1736 on the banks of the Darien River as a military outpost.Today it is a favoured tourist attraction. Its historic shopping enclave specialises in unique gifts and antiques, and the picturesque waterfront is filled with shrimp boats. A series of walking and bike paths, lined with Spanish moss-draped oak trees, connect the downtown waterfront with Fort King George, which houses a museum and plays host to living history pageants.Other diversions include paddling the river and tidal creeks in kayaks or canoes, and dining on shrimp. The area around Darien in McIntosh county particularly scenic, dotted with quaint fishing villages like Valona and Shellman Bluff. Just offshore, accessible by ferry across Doboy Sound, is the pristine barrier island of Sapelo, which boasts one of Georgia's most beautiful beaches and a restored lighthouse.

Website : www.cityofdarienga.com

The characteristic pink homestead at the heart of Savannah's historic district was the first of the city's architectural treasures to be saved for posterity. Visitors to the house can tour the building both day and night, and partake in high tea at Mrs Davenport's.The house was built between 1815 and 1820 by Isaiah Davenport, a master builder. It features a semi-circular staircase with wrought-iron trim leading up to the recessed front door. Inside the polished hardwood floors gleam and the mansion is furnished befitting the period with Hepplewhite, Chippendale, and Sheraton pieces.

Address : 324 East State Street

Website : www.davenporthousemuseum.org

Telephone : (912) 236 8097

Opening times : Monday to Saturday 10am-4pm; Sunday 1pm-4pm. Guided tours run every 30 minutes.

Admission : Tours: $9 adults, $5 children 6-17. Other concessions available.

A short distance to the east of central Savannah stands Georgia's oldest standing fort, surrounded by a deep tidal moat. The fort was preceded by a mud battery, the brick fort having been built in 1808. It was the headquarters for the Confederate river defences during the Civil War, when it was enlarged and strengthened. The fort today contains numerous exhibits about the war. Live historical re-enactments and cannon firings are staged daily in spring and summer. The fort also offers picturesque views of Savannah's skyline, and the grounds are a good place for a walk on a pleasant day.

Address : 1 Fort Jackson Road

Website : www.chsgeorgia.org/home.cfm/page/OldFortJackson.htm

Telephone : (912) 232 3945

Opening times : Daily 9am-5pm.

Admission : $8 adults, $4 children 2-12. Other concessions available.

The Okefenokee Swamp comprises of 700 square miles (1,813 sq km) of marshy wilderness stretching across the southern part of coastal Georgia. The largest peat-producing bog in North America, Okefenokee provides a refuge for thousands of animals and plants that thrive in its lakes, islands, and wetlands.The park consists of different environments, from towering cypress stands in still waters to vast prairie grasslands in other areas. Visitors have four parks to choose from: three of the parks are on the east side of the swamp and one on the southwestern side. All three offer sightseeing, boating, and fishing opportunities. The southwestern park is Stephen C. Foster State Park, featuring cypress swamps, at the headwaters of the Suwannee River.South of Waycross Okefenokee Swamp Park contains alligators, snakes, and other swamp wildlife in easy-to-see captivity for a quick swamp experience. And the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area near Folkston provides access to the prairie environment of the swamp, offering nature boardwalks and historic sites.

Address : 2540 Memorial Drive

Website : www.swampgeorgia.com

Telephone : (912) 283 3744 (Waycross Tourism Bureau)

Opening times : $17 adults, $16 children.

The Savannah History Museum gives an excellent introduction to the city, its exhibits reflecting the city's history from its founding to the present day. The museum is housed in a restored railway station that dates from before the Civil War and is one of Georgia's 43 National Historic Landmarks. Visitors can enjoy an exhibit on Girl Scout founder Juliet Lowe, as well as sit on the bench used for the filming of 'Forest Gump'. Just across the street in the Battlefield Memorial Park, a memorial to the second bloodiest battle of the American Revolution.

Address : 303 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

Website : www.chsgeorgia.org

Telephone : (912) 651 6825

Opening times : Open daily 9am-5.30pm

Admission : $14 (adults), $4 (children) for an all-site pass, valid for three days.

The Telfair Museum of Art is the oldest public art museum in the South, fittingly housed in an important historic building, the Owens-Thomas House. The house, overlooking Oglethorpe Square, was designed by William Jay, a young English architect, who introduced the British Regency style to America.The art museum's permanent collection includes paintings, works on paper, sculpture, and decorative arts by both American and European artists. The museum encompasses the art gallery, restored rooms in the historic house, and the Jepson Center for the Arts. Guided tours are offered daily, included in the admission price.

Address : 207 W York Street.

Website : www.telfair.org

Telephone : (912) 790 8800

Opening times : Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday and Monday 12pm-5pm.

Admission : $20 adults, $15 students, concessions available. Individual tickets for the Jepson Center for the Arts, the Telfair Museum and the Owens-Thomas House are available.

The small barrier island of Tybee, 18 miles (29km) east of Savannah, is a popular seaside resort. The three-mile (5km) long beach has rolling sand-dunes,with a pier and pavilion at the south end of the island that offer a pleasant stroll, usually accompanied by live band music.The island also has sightseeing opportunities including Fort Screven, a historic Tybee lighthouse dating to 1773, and Fort Pulaski. There is a selection of restaurants, hotels, motels, inns, and cottages available.

Website : www.tybeeisland.com