Shellman Bluff and Saint Simons Island

Today we leave Savannah and head south. Our first destination is Shellman Bluff. We decide to purchase a South Georgia map, just in case the GPS gets lost again. Now I will have to say that a GPS is pretty incredible. It has led us down many roads successfully but when it comes to the Georgia coast, it is lacking. Of course, we were far from marked roads and many times the GPS showed no roads at all. But our trusty map was accurate. The roads were beautiful, many covered with the limbs of live oak trees.

Shellman Bluff is like stepping back into a different time. The sandy roads are canopied with trees and lead to the water front. The homes are simple, with screened porches and shaded by huge oak trees covered with Spanish moss . Drive down to the Shellman Fish Camp in "Downtown Shellman Bluff." Hunter's Cafe and Mud Bar is across from the docks. Unfortunately we missed meal time, but you can bet we will be back! The drive along the bluff is incredible, one of the best views you can see from a car of the bluffs along the Georgia coast.

Saint Simons is our stop for the night. The weather is cold, just right for a bowl of She Crab Soup from Barbara Jean's. The soup was thick with lump crab meat and had a slight kick to it. Kenny had the clam chowder and we shared a 7-ounce crab cake. One thing for sure, Barbara Jean knows how to cook crab!

Our home for the night is the Saint Simons Inn at the Lighthouse. At sunset it's off to the pier to capture some great shots. What a great way to end a wonderful day!

Exploring the Georgia Coast

Tybee Island

Day two of our road trip takes us to the marsh land along the Georgia coast. We leave Savannah in search of seafood and interesting landscapes. Our first stop is the Sunbury Crab Company. With the aid of our GPS, we were there with no problem, traveling down a myriad of country roads, until we hit water. Unfortunately, the Crab Company is only open for dinner during the week. No problem, we just searched the GPS for other restaurants in the area. Jeff's Crab House was the pick. This time we were not as successful. Along the way, the GPS took us down a private road that ended in at a locked gate with no trespassing signs. Twenty minutes, 10 miles and a lot of country roads, we gave up and decided to try Holton's Seafood. The parking lot was full of local cars, a good sign when looking for food. Inside the dining room the lunch crowd was lively, eating and visiting with neighbors and coworkers. Kenny and I decided to split the fried shrimp. Everything, including the french fries, were coated in a light, cripsy batter and fried to perfection. The shrimp were crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, just like I like them!

Now to one of my favorite places, Tybee Island. My first trip to Tybee was in 1979 as a county Extension agent, our 4-H camp assignment for the summer. During the day, we supervised the 4-Hers in the ocean, the marsh and at various classes. At night, the adults took turns leaving the camp for a dinner at Williams Seafood and a quick tour of Savannah. It was during my first visit that I became a fan of the area. Tybee is a wonderful old beach town with no high rise condos and lots of views of the ocean. In the winter, the water is a beautiful blue color and the winds are strong and cool.

After Tybee, we head back to Savannah to shop at Kitchens on the Square. Our treasures include 8 ramekins, 10 napkin rings, salad tongs and a knife sleeve. The ramekins will be used for my Taste and Create entry for February. The napkin rings will be a great addition to my February table setting.

Dinner tonight is at the Savannah Chart House, located in a 1790 warehouse overlooking the river. Even though the Chart House is a chain, local fare is served from a special menu. Tonight's choices include Fried Green Tomatoes and Caramelized Catfish. Both dishes were delicious. The fried green tomatoes were crisp and surprisingly full of flavor, considering this is February. The catfish was coated with brown sugar and cajun seasonings, lightly sauteed, served on a bed of grits seasoned with ham, topped with collard greens, lump crabmeat and a roasted red pepper sauce. Kenny had the prime rib and it was cooked perfectly. What a meal! With full stomachs and happy hearts we say "goodnight!"

Savannah

Savannah is one of my favorite towns. It has it all - beautiful homes, great shopping and delicious food. After checking in the Hyatt, Kenny and I hit the streets. Our first stop was at the Lady and Sons Restaurant. After making dinner reservations, we made our way to the Starbucks on Broad. As we waited in line, we realized this was our first trip since Italy. With that in mind, we ordered cappuccinos. Starbucks cappuccinos are good but they don't come close to the rich taste of the Italian version.

With coffee in hand, we make our way to The Paris Market, a unique shop with lots of home furnishings and accessories. The next stop is Kitchens on the Square to see what goodies we must have for our kitchen. I love this shop. It is packed with everything you might possibly need to plan, prepare, and serve food. The shop has changed since our last visit, adding a demonstration kitchen and on-site classes. They have a great "Lunch + Learn" class offered every Tuesday and Thursday. Before leaving we made our list of "must have" items.

Our next destination is River Street. The tugboats are busy today, leading the enormous container ships down the river. After a drink and steamed oysters at Huey's we take a quick rest in our room.

Tonight we had dinner at Paula Deen's The Lady and Sons restaurant. Paula is best known as Food Network's southern diva. This is not our first time at TL&S. In the past, I have always opted for the buffet but tonight I decided to order from the menu. Our waitress was most accommodating, allowing me to substitute the Corn and Asparagus Salad for my side dish to the Crab Stuffed Shrimp. The bacon-wrapped shrimp were cooked perfectly with the bacon crispy and the shrimp tender and succulent. The salad was crunchy and somewhat sweet. The shrimp was drizzled with a lemon basil cream sauce, but I honestly didn't taste the sauce at all. Kenny choose the bufffet and was not disappointed by the fried chicken. If you are planning a trip to Savannah, be sure and put TL&S on your list.