Savannah, Georgia is one of the prettiest, most fun cities around, but is typically over shadowed by the Atlanta and Charlotte type cities. But Savannah is the true hidden gem of the South, and I’ll tell you why.

1. The People

First off, the people here are some of the kindest people you will ever meet. We’re more than just a population in a city, we’re a friendly community here for one another. Want an example? Back in October, Hurricane Matthew hit and many people suffered a lot of damage, and neighbors and friends would all rally to help. There wasn’t a person left alone to clean or repair.

2. The Scenery

If you were to argue with me on whether or not Savannah is the prettiest city in the South, you’d lose every time because it definitely is. From midtown to downtown, to Wilmington Island, to the Landings, Savannah has some amazing views and scenery like no other city.

3. The Food

Savannah has so many different cuisine options, from stellar Japanese to awesome tex-mex, but the best food to describe Savannah? Good, heartwarming soul food. Having many restaurants started in Savannah like Lady & Sons and Mrs.Wilkes Boarding House, there are many southern style places to eat, and every one of them is delicious.

4. The Sunsets

Most people would say, “don’t sunsets fall under scenery?” For most places, yes, but in Savannah the sunsets deserve their own category. They’re beautiful, breath-taking, and an amazing way to end a day.

5. The History

There is quite a lot of history behind Savannah, but a personal favorite archive in history is when General Sherman had his “March to the Sea” in 1864 during the Civil War in which he burned down every city in existence in Georgia, except one. The general claimed Savannah was too pretty of a city to burn down and instead offered it as a Christmas present to at the time President Lincoln. Pretty neat, huh?

6. The Architecture

I don’t mean to go all nerd here, but the buildings in downtown Savannah are beautiful. They’re all historic, and the way they’re built honestly takes my breath away. My favorite building downtown is obviously the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, but there are many other beautiful buildings such as the Juliette Gordon Low house, the Telfair Museum, Fort James Jackson, St. Vincent’s Academy, the Trustee’s Theater, and more.

7. Downtown in General

Downtown Savannah is always buzzing, whether it’s 1:00 AM or 1:00 PM. There’s always something to do whether it’s a concert, a play or show, or simply sight-seeing. The atmosphere and vibe of downtown all together is just fun. From small coffee shops where the baristas know your name, to River Street sweets (where they’re always handing out free samples), to Forsyth park where you can just hang out and have a good time with friends, downtown is just a great place to be.

8. Tybee

Usually, a beach vacation is a two or three-hour drive away, but for the Savannah population, it’s a 15-30 minute drive depending on where you live. Most every day of the summer is spent at Tybee tanning, playing cornhole, swimming, and going to Seaweeds to get some ice-cream.

9. St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah is the best day of the year because it is basically a city-wide party. We host the second-largest parade in the US, and it is just tons of fun to see everyone all decked out in their best green and smiling and laughing. I personally walk in the parade every year and have a blast. Don't believe me? Just give a listen to the song "It's Saint Patrick's Day in Savannah".

10. Paranormal Activities

Savannah is one of the most haunted cities in the country, from the stories behind the hotel 1790 to the yellow fever patient legends behind the Chandler Hospital. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, taking a walk through some of those places will definitely give you a spook.

11. Celebrity Sightings

Movie producers obviously see the beauty that is Savannah, proven by the amount of films made in Savannah. In the past couple of years there have been celebrities such as Zac Efron, Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Channing Tatum, Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson, Kristen Stewart, and Miles Teller spotted on the Savannah streets.

12. Forest Gump

Speaking of movies, Forest Gump (a.k.a the best movie ever made) was filmed in Savannah, so do I really need to go on about why Savannah is the best city in the south?

Savannah, GA is without a doubt one of the prettiest cities in the South, and I hopefully proved that to you. If not, it's your loss because my city is the bomb. There won’t be anything like my first home in this pretty little city, and for that, I will be forever grateful.