SAVANNAH

Timeless Destination

Savannah is Georgia's historic port city, one of the South's most popular vacation destinations and a top-ranked "Best Place to Retire," according to several recent surveys. For visitors and residents alike, it's among the most walkable cities in America, with a network of 24 downtown garden parks that include Chippewa Square and its iconic Forest Gump bench. Between the moss-draped oaks in the 100-acre Bonaventure Cemetery and the open-air City Market with fresh local produce and unique crafts, there are sidewalk art shows, historic sites, flowery gardens, and specialty shops to browse. After a tour of the three signature Telfair Museums or a new exhibition at the Savannah College of Art & Design, fine-dining options include dozens of downtown restaurants that feature eclectic menus and fresh seafood specialties. Residents in upscale communities on nearby Skidaway Island and along the Savannah River also enjoy top-rated health care at Memorial Health University Medical Center and the Candler/St. Joseph's Hospital network.

ST. MARYS Riverside Gateway

The Town of St. Marys is the ferry port "Gateway to Cumberland Island," the southernmost of the Georgia Sea Islands and an early 20th-century playground of the rich and famous. In addition to historic mansions and gardens, visitors can explore Cumberland's 17 miles of pristine oceanfront. Back in town, the St. Marys Historic District covers the entire revitalized downtown area, which features historic sites, riverfront parks, bed-and-breakfast inns, daily-catch seafood restaurants, and attractions that include the St. Marys Submarine Museum. Kayaking and sport fishing on the local waters are two of the favorite year-round outdoor recreations that draw visitors and new residents to the St. Marys area.