Ever since American Spirit ran an article about Savannah, Ga., in the Spirited Adventures section of the November/December 2008 issue, I've been dying to visit. And to my delight, I finally had my chance to get away to this historic city during the 4th of July holiday weekend. While I would have been perfectly happy to spend the entire weekend soaking up the sun at nearby Tybee Island, there were a few quintessential Savannah sites I didn't want to miss. Here are a few of my favorites:

Savannah College of Art and Design: Yes, the entire college. Thanks to renovation projects throughout Savannah, the city has become a bastion for local arts and culture. You can find a number of galleries throughout the city displaying work by SCAD students, including my favorite, shopSCAD. Pictured here is the Trustees Theatre, which was built as the Weiss Theater in 1946 amid the post World War II construction Boom. In 1980 the theatre was abandoned and stood empty until SCAD acquired it and renamed it the Trustees Theater. Today it hosts a wide variety of performances, concerts and lectures for the community.

The Mercer-Williams House Museum: If you're up for a hair-raising experience, check out this spooky 19th-century house, the site where owner Jim Williams' assistant, Danny Hansford, was shot to death in 1981. The story is widely known thanks to John Berendt's 1994 novel, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The house features 18th- and 19th-century furniture, art and architecture, which was more than enough to keep me occupied. Interesting fact: Before Hansford's death, the house was home to two other deaths. In 1913, a previous owner tripped over the 2nd floor banister and died 3 days later, and in 1964, a boy chasing pigeons on the roof fell to his death.

Forsyth Park Fountain: When I picture Savannah, the first image that comes to mind is walking the path through Forsyth Park to the fountain. Shaded by centuries-old trees and Spanish moss, the benches in Forsyth Park are the perfect place to sit and relax with friends after a long day of sightseeing and gallery hopping.

Oh, and if you ever take a trip of your own to Savannah, I highly recommend the pizza at Vinnie Van Go-Go's. I could go for a slice of that right now...