We want to spend the night on a plantation......

Looking to visit Savannah this spring or summer. We are trying to find an ';authentic'; plantation style home that provides overnight accomodations. We are trying to find a home that looks like the ones you see in movies: the white house with the wrap around porch, an upper balcony, beautiful gardens, etc. Close to Savannah so that we can drive into town every day for dinner and sight-seeing. Any ideas? Thanks!

We want to spend the night on a plantation......

Sorry to disappoint you but there are no ';Gone With the Wind'; type plantations you describe. Heck, not even the lesser styled ';big houses';.

We have General William Tecumseh Sherman to thank for destroying much of Georgia%26#39;s antebellum architecture during his infamous March to the Sea during the War of Northern Agression (1861-65). After Sherman departed Savannah in 1865 he went into South Carolina and did pretty much the same on his path into Columbia, which he burned to the ground, save for four buildings.

What you%26#39;re dreaming about is Hollywood%26#39;s fictionalized version, a la GWTW.

There are a handful of surviving plantation homes in private hands, near Savannah, but they are not open to the public for tours or sleep-overs. They were lucky enough to have escaped Sherman%26#39;s wrath because they were far removed from his main lines.

Close to Savannah is Wormsloe Historic Site,a state park which features a mile and a half long alley of Live Oaks, which lead past the original family mansion (closed to the public, family still lives there). Wormsloe is noted for its natural beauty %26amp; history and you can only get s quick glimpse of the mansion when driving down the alley, but no admittance. There is a small museum and miles of hiking trails. Closed Mondays. It%26#39;s worth seeing when you%26#39;re in Savannah just for the photo ops.

You can take a daily tour of plantation houses near Charleston, SC. Middleton Place, west of Charleston along the Ashley River, is a working farm...the Middleton mansion is open to the public for tours. There is a bed-and-breakfast inn on the Middleton property but it%26#39;s not an old plantation house. You can also tour Drayton Hall near Charleston.

If you%26#39;re up to a lengthier trip, make the drive to Louisiana and Mississippi for some old plantations, esp. along the Miss. River out of New Orleans. Along its River Road are stunning authentic plantation homes open for tours.

Hope this gives you a start...I wish we had some antebellum mansions left, but those Yankees ruined it.

We want to spend the night on a plantation......

There are several B%26amp;Bs downtown in very old, historic buildings. It is a different history but it is history and it allows you to walk to see the sites, instead of driving.

Tramichele,

I%26#39;m sure Savannah is on your list for other reasons but if you do happen to go to New Orleans....check out the Nottoway!! I never stayed...just toured but I think this plantation would give you that feel you are looking for. You should put it on the list for a future trip (or...this one).

http://www.nottoway.com/index.cfm

Nottoway is an hour and 1/2 from NO.

We stayed at a place in Charleston that was exactly as you described. Grounds large enough not to see any other structures for the most, right on the Ashely River, large plantation style house. We loved it.

hey.

you might want to consider visiting Washington, Ga...nowhere near Savannah, but home to several large ante-bellum style homes like you described...large white homes with wrap-around porches and columns surrounding them.

There are at least seven bed and breakfasts there too. One ideal choice might be the one called ';Washington Plantation Bed and Breakfast';.

So, if the dream of this type of accomodation is more important than the city you visit, give it a thought.

www.washingtonwilkes.org