When I first decided to write about my past travels, I thought that it would be quite interesting. I have traveled all over the world, from Germany to Egypt and Russia to Turkey. So it's a little odd that my favorite vacation place took place in the United States: Savannah, Georgia. For my 16th birthday, I asked my parents if we could go on a trip down South. Seeing as how I have been around the world and yet have only traveled to a few states in the U.S., I thought it would be neat to see what there is to offer in my own backyard. So after some persuasion on my half, my parents and I ended up on a plane to Atlanta, Georgia this past Labor Day weekend, a few days after I turned 16. I wasn't sure what to expect in the South, considering that my dad went to college in South Carolina and said that I would not like it down there. However, after staying in Georgia for only three days, I knew the South was where I belonged. For some reason, when my plane landed and we drove from Atlanta to Savannah, I felt like I had come home. I had heard of "Southern hospitality," but I had never experienced it until arriving in Georgia. As I stepped into the warm Southern air, I took a deep breath and looked around. I could faintly smell something sweet, which I later found was pecan pralines, mixed with the fresh smell of Carolina jasmine. I could see rows of Spanish moss trees swaying in the breeze like fresh laundry hung outside in the summer. I could hear faint talk and laughter coming from a restaurant down the street, even at midnight. I smiled as we went inside of our hotel and fell asleep. When I woke up the next morning, I walked outside and a beautiful, gliding monarch butterfly landed on my shoulder. An on-looking lady said to me, "Y'all know what that means? Today is your lucky day!" Little did I know how right she would be. The best way I can describe my stay in Georgia is in one word: magical. I had lunch at a typical Southern boarding house, Mrs. Wilke's Dining Room, where every inch of the table was covered with bowl after bowl of delicious Southern cuisine. I walked through the quaint squares of Savannah and saw the spot where one of my favorite movies, Forrest Gump, was filmed (it's at Chippewa Square, by the way). I sampled fresh pecan pralines at Savannah's Candy Kitchen that were so warm, gooey, and delicious, I felt like dancing. To top it all off, my family and I travelled to Tybee Island, just outside Savannah, after dinner. As I watched the sun go down with my toes in the gentle waves, I knew that this was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
I'm not sure if it was the lucky butterfly or fate that brought me down South. But I do know that it is unlike any place I've been before. I hope to go to college somewhere down South, and I am literally counting down the days until I can travel to Georgia to look at colleges this summer. After my experience, I have learned that you do not have to travel all around the world to have an amazing vacation. I stayed in the United States and yet those three days I spent there have changed my life and future.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
