By Madison McManus
Everyone loves the weekend. Even if you have nothing planned, it provides a time for relaxation and renewal; two blissful, school-free days that can be spent doing whatever your heart desires. Despite the freedom that weekends provide, Ballantyne can become rather dull, especially with the constantly fluctuating weather and days that are still relatively short. As a result, your Saturdays are spent sitting in your room, mindlessly refreshing Pinterest and wistfully glancing out your window. So what is the solution? It’s actually rather simple: weekend trips. Charlotte is only a few hours away from some of the Southeast’s most vibrant and charming locales, all of which contain enough activities to significantly enrich your weekends.
Located roughly 4 hours away from Charlotte, Savannah is a coastal city known for its historic architecture and picturesque cobblestone streets. With its strong ties to artistic institutions and a wide array of options for traditional Southern cuisine, Savannah is the perfect weekend destination for a listless Charlottean.
Art and Culture
For art enthusiasts, the Jepson Center for the Arts and Telfair Museums offer unparalleled experiences with every imaginable medium. And due to the presence of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), the city hosts the SCAD Film Festival every fall and the deFINE ART exhibit every February. In addition to museums, Savannah also contains the City Market, a conglomeration of shops, restaurants, and artwork displays that has been operating since the 1700s.
Coffee Shops and Café
As for those looking for a comfortable coffee shop conducive to reviewing your APES notes, the Maté Factor boasts cozy armchairs and a wide array of pastries, whereas the Foxy Loxy Café offers a quaint courtyard and broad selection of lattes. And if coffeehouses aren’t your forte, Savannah boasts dozens of picturesque parks filled with shady trees and ornate monuments that are sure to make your academic endeavors much more bearable.
Sightseeing
For history buffs, there are multiple services that allow you to tour the city in a horse-drawn carriage as well as an abundance of historical museums, such as the Owens-Thomas House and Juliette Gordon Lowe House. The American Prohibition Museum is also located in Savannah, as well as the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Savannah is also known for its infamous ghost tours, which guide visitors to some of the most ‘haunted’ destinations in the southeast. Even if you’re not interested in visiting a museum or taking a tour, simply taking a walk down Savannah’s cobblestone streets transports you to a different era.
Restaurants
After a long day of exploring museums and cafe-hopping, sitting down to a nice meal is the cherry on top of a well-spent weekend. If you’re interested in enjoying a traditional Southern dish, Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room serves staples like fried chicken, mac and cheese, and creamed corn in addition to quiches and foie gras. For fans of French cuisine, Circa 1875 provides an ambiance similar to that of a Parisian bistro and serves dishes ranging from shrimp crepes to roasted Mediterranean sea bass. Of course, there are hundreds of restaurants in Savannah, many being iconic destinations for foodies and fine cuisine novices alike.
Although Savannah may not be as well known as other southern cities like Charleston or New Orleans, its incredible cultural scene, rich history, and phenomenal dining options make Savannah the perfect destination for an impromptu weekend trip. Bon voyage!
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