LIFE LIST: EAT AT PAULA DEAN'S RESTAURANT

When: August 3rd, 2013

Where: Lady and Sons in Savannah Georgia 

Cost: We each got the buffet, it was $15/pp which was very reasonable and it included a desert.

Why this was on my list? While doing my travel research for the area, this was obviously a very popular attraction and so, it obviously went right on my LIST!

Something I'd recommend? It's a must when in Savannah! But let me tell you, YOU MUST MAKE A RESERVATION as far in advance as possible. What was a little aggravating was that even though I had made a reservation 6 weeks in advance we still had to wait about 30 minutes. I guess it wouldn't have been that big of a deal but our daughter was starving and she could see the buffet but naturally her 2 year old self did not understand why we just weren't feeding her 'there's the food, just put it in my mouth!'. Her distress quickly becomes our stress.
 The atmosphere in the restaurant was actually fairly simple and the exterior was also unassuming but nice looking. What I really enjoyed was the gift shop. I thought all the Paula Dean themed cutting boards and beer cozies were kitschy. I bought a few small things, but I'm not gonna lie-I would love a cooking apron and matching coffee mug with Paula Deans face on it. I do recommend having your picture taken with her cardboard cutout! It was funny to watch several couples engaging in the same conversation we were having about how do it quickly and discretely without looking ridiculous...it was totally embarrassing in a room filled with people but I had do it!
 In light of recent events involving Paula Dean I feel like it would be odd if I didn't mention it, so here are some of my brief thoughts-I don't support what she said and did though I am certainly empathetic towards Paula Dean. I cannot imagine if every terrible thing I've said and done was broadcast across the nation. I don't think it's our job to kick people when they're already down. It was a mistake, it's in the past and she's apologetic. There are a lot of really sick and evil people in the world, I prefer to focus my negative attention and thoughts towards them.

Will I do it again? I'm glad I ate there though I am not a fan of waiting for a table, again this is very much related to having a toddler so in my opinion I'd just rather eat somewhere else. If it wasn't for the wait I'd absolutely eat there again, the food was terrific, which I don't often say about buffet style dining. I guess I would go again because I didn't get a chance to try her 'fried green tomatoes' appetizer which have always intrigued me and there would be no better place than at Miss Paula Dean's in Savannah.

My daughter and Paula Dean share something in common...they both love butter, so it was very comical to watch my little one munching on a stick of butter in lieu of putting on her biscuit. 

"Life is too short to wonder where you hid your waffle maker" –Paula Dean

Related posts:
1. I'm back...I went...on a fabulous trip
2. visiting the most lovely city in America
3. the most unique ride I've taken
4. the best Inn in the world

LIFE LIST: TAKE A PEDICAB RIDE

When: August 2013, we stopped in Savannah on our way to Disney World.

Where: Savannah Pedicab

Cost: I forget what the cost was for a timed rides of 30 minutes or 1 hour rides. We just wanted something short, I had nowhere in particular in mind so our sweet driver Joe was just going to take us around town. At first it didn't even look like the 3 of us would fit in that tiny cart, and I didn't think he could pull our combined weight of 450 lbs...let me tell you-those pedals were SQUEEKIN!
 My daughter started to seem like she was really not feeling well. The heat was much more intense than her little Michigander body is used to, I knew we had to get her some water and out of the heat asap. The risk of dehydration and heat stroke are very serious, particularly to such a little body. So I asked Joe if we happened to be anywhere close to the historic Leopold's Ice Cream parlor. It was nearby and the best place to take her to cool off. When we arrived Joel asked how much we owed...Joe said "it's trips for tips, whatever you want" our ride in the pedicab was probably not more than 5 minutes and Joel gave him $20. I really liked this 'pay what you think it was worth' methodology. He certainly deserved it, pulling the three of us around in a 200 pound cart, but mostly we were so impressed with this young college student who was incredibly attentive to the urgency concerning our daughter, he was genuinely concerned with her well being and tender when he spoke to her.
In most cases I hate tipping...because I typically receive crappy service, but when there is someone I like, who is actually a hard worker, makes my experience truly enjoyable and someone who treats my daughter like a princess then I LOVE TO TIP GOOD PEOPLE WHO DESERVE IT. If we had had more cash on us, we probably would've given him more! This guy was so sweet in fact, he saw my husband a few hours later around town and went up to him and asked how our daughter was feeling...we were so touched by this thoughtful gesture.
 -Disclaimer and sidenote; I don't want you to think I'm a jerk, I admittedly don't like the obligatory art of tipping THUS I typically avoid places where there is an expectation to tip whether or not you've received adequate service. I think tipping should be a bonus, for people who deserve it. And by that I mean that I will forever be stunned that it is a legal and acceptable practice to pay people in the restaurant business 1/4 of the already pathetically low minimum wage. Like most, I've held several positions in my life in the service industry where I depended on tips....and it changes you....to the very core. 

Why this is on my list: I actually found this on one of my favorite life list blogs I read, My Bucket List Journey, the author Annette had also recently traveled to Savannah and this was on her list, as soon as I saw that we had a pedicab ride here in the US I added it to the LIST!

Will I do it again? I would only go for another pedicab ride again in Savannah if I we found our driver Joe again as we liked him so much though I suspect at sometime in my life I will enjoy another one of these slow rides...though I imagine it'll be somewhere exotic.

Something I'd recommend? Surely! It's always fun to try new things and if you find yourself in Savannah wanting to take a Pedicab be sure to ask for Joe!

Related Posts:
I'm back I went: Savannah & Disney World
LIFE LIST: VISIT SAVANNAH
LIFE LIST: STAY IN A B&B

LIFE LIST: STAY IN A BED AND BREAKFAST

Where: The Inn At 909 Lincoln in Savannah Georgia. 

When: August 2013 on our drive to Disney World.

Cost: We had booked the Ginger Mercer room for Saturday night at $180...then Elaine, the owner, offered us a discount for Friday night after an email exchange where I mentioned that we would be in Savannah a day early. It was a steal at $99, even at the full price, it was a steal. It is worth every penny for an incredible room, exceptional personalized service, gourmet breakfast, cocktails, music, flowers and an overall unique experience.

Why this was on my list:  I have always wanted to stay in a Bed & Breakfast and wanted to do so in an area where it was fitting. When I was looking on TripAdvisor this Inn appeared to be the nicest one I saw. There were several Inns and Hotels that were more expensive-so you'd expect more- but the Inn at 909 Lincoln looked more beautiful than all of them and included more.

Will I stay there again? Oh my YES. I will return to Savannah and when I do, I wouldn't dream of staying elsewhere. The whole time we were there we talked about how much our families would love this Inn and agreed to plan a trip with some of our family members. There are 3 rooms in the house and it would be a blast to have it filled with the company of our loved ones. We both agreed that we would not have enjoyed our time in Savannah had we stayed elsewhere, the Inn at 909 Lincoln made our trip extraordinarily special.

Something I'd recommend? Most of the B & B's in Savannah are adorable, well kept and each one unique, though I would emphatically recommend 909 Lincoln...because, well... it was stunning. From the loveliest parking 'lot' I've ever seen to the fancy toilette handle around, this place was pristine and all the little touches made us feel like royalty. The innkeeper Elaine was truly the hostess with the mostess, I would like to have talked to her more but my daughter only allows me to have 15 second conversations.

 I guess it'll just be easiest to share photos of all the reasons you should stay here.

 Our private balcony complete with outside fan

 Fancy gourmet breakfast prepared by the owner herself

Beautiful bathroom

Clawfoot bathtub 

The best looking 'flusher' I've seen

 Ginger Mercer room-absolute perfection

Antique furnishings and window treatments  

Fireplaces and oil paintings

Chandeliers in every room

Claw foot antiques

Not a stone left unturned

Dining room

Stairway to the the bedrooms

Gated parking area

                 

Fountain inside parking courtyard

Help yourself cocktails

Related posts:1. I'm back I went: Savannah and Disney World
2. LIFE LIST: VISIT SAVANNAH 

LIFE LIST: VISIT SAVANNAH GEORGIA

The hostess city of the south is a place unlike any other. Sweet Savannah you have cast your spell over me...

Where: Savannah Georgia

When: August 2013, we stayed 2 nights in Savannah on our drive down to Disney World. I will just briefly say that I wasn't too keen on flying to Florida, so after I made my case I knew I couldn't drive from the top of the country to the bottom without crossing something else off my LIFE LIST! When I saw that one route took us through Savannah, I knew that would be the one! I quickly got to work, this mini trip was only added about 1 month before we left.

Why this is on my list: I remember when I put this on my LIFE LIST years ago, every other destination has something (or many things) I want to do there; hold a panda bear in China, see the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Ride a camel in Egypt. There was nothing in particular I was dying to do in Savannah, except see the city itself. I thought this would be one of those things I would probably do later on in life...you know, after I did all the really exciting things. I'm glad I didn't wait too long, where our activities in Savannah did not conjure up any adrenaline rushes there were several sights that actually took my breath away.

Will I go again? Not a doubt in my mind. I hope this is a place I continue to visit for the rest of my life.

Something I'd recommend? Gentility, charm, and grace were my first and lasting impressions of this lovely city. Savannah is hauntingly beautiful, rich with history, and is draped not only with Spanish moss but an enchanting essence that will leave my heart mesmerized.

This city is so enchanting in fact it's hard to believe it's real, it almost seems like you're on a movie set.
The streets are kept remarkably clean.
The organic landscape mixed with these stunning architecture that housed many famous people who attributed so much to our culture and history.
And that sweet southern drawl is as captivating as you would hope.

I cannot say that Savannah is a great destination for children, though I am glad we went. Even though certain things were not ideal for our energetic toddler, it was perfect and I will keep forever the feeling Savannah embodies.

I'm back I went: Savannah & Disney World

After 1 year of planning, 2500 miles, 4 hotels and 9 states we had such a terrific trip, so terrific in fact that we are already planning a return trip within the next year. Some of my favorite memories of my life were made on this trip....the charm of Savannah and the magic of Disney World will leave a smile on my face for a long time.

I have so many great pics I want to share of the stunning scenery and fabulous B & B we stayed in in Savannah. I cannot say that Savannah is an ideal destination for toddlers, in fact it is one of the least 'kid friendly' places I've ever been to but nonetheless I am so glad we went. Admittedly the trip within a trip to Savannah Georgia was mostly for me

It was funny to go from a very old, quiet, mellow, fancy location to Disney World-a place designed for children. It wasn't exactly what I expected, Disney is MUCH larger and MUCH MUCH busier than I could have ever imagined. The heat and expense was expected, but I have never in my life seen so many people...and this is the slow season.

 Even though I had this trip planned for so long we ended up having a lot of problems with our reservation...which was just fine with me because Disney World went above and beyond to MORE THAN MAKE UP FOR THE INCONVENIENCES.

I have a long list of restaurants, hotels, experiences and LIFE LIST items to write about from this trip. I still have to finish up all my 'reviews' from Chicago, St Louis, Kansas City and I still have a few more posts I want to write about Hawaii! This year alone I've already done close to 100 LIFE LIST items!

I am one lucky girl to be living a life rich with so many blessings.

LIFE LIST: SEE THE GATEWAY ARCH

Where: Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is the actual name but most just know it as the 'Gateway
Arch' in St Louis Missouri. It is called this as it is a 'memorial' to Thomas Jefferson who made westward expansion possible by acquiring Louisiana through the Louisiana Purchase.

When: June 13th 2013

Cost: You can see the arch from all over the city and the 92 acre park below the structure is totally free, there is also a museum under the arch to which admission is also free. There is a fee to go to the top of the arch.

She wasn't the only one enamored by this city, this river and this one of a kind structure.

Why this is on my list? It has been on my list since the first time I came across it a few years ago doing travel research, though it wasn't until very recently that I learned that you can go inside it to the top-this was a whole other experience on its own. It's funny that I wanted to do see this arch for years though I had no idea of its significance, symbolism nor the architectural marvel that it is. What shocked me the most was that it was built in 1965! Even today it is such a modern piece of art as well a modern engineering feat to be able to build elevators in a curved, or rather catenary shape, functional to travel 630 feet. I am dumbfounded that this massive freestanding monument, second only to the Eiffel Tower, only cost $13 million to build when Cloudgate which is minuscule in comparison cost $23 million and all you can do is look at it. Granted that $13 million would be about $100 million in today's dollars.

Will I do it again? I gotta say I LOOOOOVE ST LOUIS!!! I could easily spend a lot more time there, I have already composed a list of things I would like to do if I ever get a chance to go back so if my husband gets called back to Missouri on business I'd go along with him in a heartbeat! For instance a free yoga class is held every Saturday underneath the arch-how fun would that be!?
 One day I'd like to drive out west to see the Grand Canyon, I would make it a point to spend a night or two in St Loui. It's a long drive and when  I plan actual 'vacations' I try to pick places I've never been before but I think one way or another I'll see that 17,000 ton stainless steel beauty again one day!

Something I'd recommend? Oh yes, I think these iconic structures across the US (Mt Rushmore, Statue of Liberty, Cloudgate) are a must for all Americans to see and for those visiting the USA they are great destination locations. Not to mention St Louis is a remarkable city with no shortage of things to do and see.

Seeing the arch itself was exciting as I pulled into St Louis, it was exhilarating to see something new. I travel a lot around the USA but it's often to the same locations. By the time I was 18 I had already been in 39 of the 50 states, it was fun to see 2 more states, one with such a famous landmark. I feel like it's been a while since I've seen something new!

As far as the park goes, it is quite lovely and very well kept. Our hotel was directly across the street so in the 2 short days we were in the city there was several time that we went over to the park and ran around. It was so much fun to chase my daughter around in such an awe inspiring setting. The evening that Joel met us in St Louis we went over to the park at around 10h at night and we played, we ran around, took pictures and layed in the grass underneath the arch looking at the moon and the stars. It was my favorite moment the 3 of us have shared together. And it was so great for Z, she could run, be as loud as she wanted, there was nothing to worry about even though it is sandwiched between the Mississippi River and a major highway the park is so large that we really didn't have to worry about her getting to close to either.

You can find lots of information about the history of the arch in this article.


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