Introduction

“The most beautiful city in North America,” is the way Paris’s famed Le Monde newspaper describes Savannah. Visitors in growing numbers flock to experience the city’s mild climate, old world charm and atmosphere, moderately priced accommodations, and unique historic downtown district. Savannah is attracting retirees, too, who are looking for alternatives to an increasingly crowded Florida. Savannah consistently appears on “Top 10” lists for assets such as its attractiveness as a tourist destination and its walkability. The Toronto Sunday Sun says of this alluring city: “Savannah wears her past like a fine old cape, draped in Southern graciousness, pockets filled with treasures of a rich, proud history.”