“Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever.” – Unknown
“Learn to appreciate what you have, before time makes you appreciate what you had.” – Unknown
Hey everyone, this month’s travel blog is a sentimental one for sure. These two quotes are ones I truly wish more than ever that I knew the authors. They spoke to my entire spirit and go so well with how I feel writing this blog post this month.
As we all know, we all have grandmothers, whether you are on speaking terms or not…you have one. Growing up, I was the child that cried when I had to leave my grandmother’s house.
I mean…no chores, always got to do arts projects and crafts…it was a dream being with grandma.
Something happened…
Somewhere between crazy teenage years and adulthood, I lost that close relationship with my grandma. I honestly could not even begin to tell you how or why…but it happened. I am sure some of you can relate. I am also sure some of you can also relate to the fact that 2020 was a MESS for most people. Some just because of finances, but for others it was a mess because they lost loved ones…friends or family. Losing people that we care about is unimaginable and I won’t even begin to touch on that…just know…it is OK to ask for help dealing with grief of any kind. I am not currently dealing with grief, but yet, I see my own therapist regularly because I truly believe in the healing capabilities that come with talking about my feelings…big or small, it doesn’t matter…talking is important to keep me going strong mentally and physically.
Now…
My grandma is thankfully still here with me, so this blog is dedicated to her ☺
As you all know, I have been a travel junkie for YEARS!!! I love all things travel and planning trips. You will be able to read about all of my trips this year in my blogs…lucky you!!
This year for Easter, I decided to go to Savannah, GA. It was one of my last-minute planned trips for Tre’s Travel Experiences, so not much detailed prepared ahead of time. My TTE trips are normally planned out a year in advanced. However, I decided to take my grandma so that we could celebrate Easter Sunday together, rather than just telling her about it.
Now…my grandma is 73 years young, and has some health concerns. She did see her doctor prior to travel, which I would definitely recommend if you want to take your grandparent on any trip no matter the length. You ask me…how did you plan this trip to Savannah that is elderly friendly?…I GOT YOU!!!
Related Post: FINDING THE RIGHT TRAVEL BUDDIES
4 tips for planning a great and quick Granny friendly weekend trip:
- Select a location that is far…but close to home in case of an emergency
- Savannah is only 2 hours from her home town in GA, so it was the perfect starter trip to get her away from home, but close enough of a drive if we needed to cut the trip short for any reason.
- Choose hotels/resorts that are friendly and convenient for elderly and ADA accessible
- Even if you have to pay a little extra, if it is within your budget of course, select a hotel that is close to the city views. Views and being able to see the attractions and sights, are ALWAYS a plus
- I also called ahead a week prior to make sure the hotel had a wheelchair that I could use if needed, and that her room was ADA accessible.
- The bathroom is a must because I wanted to ensure my grandma was able to feel comfortable taking a shower and being in her room without assistance.
- Select restaurants that you are able to make reservations and that are convenient for you to drop off so she doesn’t have to walk far…same with activities
- At each restaurant, I dropped my grandma off in the front, and then she was able to wait for me (some were closed without entry for a few minutes when we arrived) or go inside and wait for me. I would go park the car around the block and then walk the 5 or 10 minutes to the restaurant.
- When we finished eating, I would go get the car while she waited inside, then text her when I was outside.
- Make it FUN!!
- Self-explanatory
- You don’t have to miss out on tours and seeing new things…just choose wisely and bring your comfy shoes so YOU can do the extra walking to ensure they don’t have to
- We did tours, stopped in Hilton Head Island on the way, ate at multiple AMAZING restaurants…all in 24 hours ☺ if we can do it, you can too!!!
Now for the DETAILS!!!! I know y’all have been waiting for this with all the build up above.
Where did we go and what did we do and where did we stay???????? … as always
I GOT YOU!!!
Detailed itinerary with my reviews:
- We drove from Augusta directly to Hilton Head Island. My grandma had never been there, so you know I just HAD TO take her since we were so close. It was an amazing view and very scenic drive. I always love the drive…I am a sucker for scenery!! So, after we stopped at Starbucks…because let’s be real…there aren’t too many places open with a clean public restroom, so Starbucks is my go-to place to stop to potty on any road trip. She had never been to a Starbucks before…so DEFINITELY got that picture for the memory books ☺ a local was kind enough to take it for us too!! We for sure thanked him and then broke out the hand sanitizer when we got be inside the car…stay safe people!!!
- Kilwins…MY FAVORITE!!
- THEEEEEEEEENNNNNN I took her to my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE go-to ice cream shop Kilwins Hilton Head-Shelter Cove IG: @kilwinshhisheltercove…got my favorite Cookies and Cream, she got the Butter Pecan. The staff at this location is truly AMAZING!! They are always so nice and helpful. The ice cream is always divine as well. I loved it!!
- My First Westin stay…did not disappoint!!
- Our next stop was Savannah….we checked into our hotel The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa IG: @westinsavannah. IT WAS PERFECTION!!! The drive up to the entrance was grass land, just before crossing the bridge into downtown Savannah. It was a great location because we could literally see downtown lights across the river from the hotel. The hotel also has a boat that is free of charge residents that will take you down the river to multiple stops in downtown. The pool is heated!!! We definitely got some great pictures of us during our stay. The staff were super helpful and had no qualms about me parking to unload, or load our bags. They even let park just to grab breakfast in the hotel, even though there was a long line. One of the cleaning staff even took a couple pictures of myself and my granny together on Easter Sunday in the beautiful courtyard facing the river! I truly appreciated them and I will definitely be staying there again when I return to Savannah in a couple weeks ☺
- Activities
- I booked us a trolley tour. It was the Narrated Historic Savannah Trolley Tour. You can book online like I did, but you can also just show up and get tickets there. We caught the bus at the Savannah Welcome Center, the one on the right that is a white building. There are a couple right next to each other. The tour allowed you to hop on and off at your leisure, but took you back to the starting point at the welcome center in the end.
- Definitely ADA friendly.
- Our tour conductor was Robin and when I tell you she was AMAZING….SHE WAS AMAZING!!!! She was friendly, funny, and really knew the history of every single building she drove us by. I truly enjoyed it, my grandma did as well. We learned history of Savannah we wouldn’t have know by just simply walking by the buildings. It was truly an amazing tour!
- Restaurants
- I know y’all have been waiting for these ☺
- The Chart House
- This is such a great steakhouse. If you enter from the top level, you can drive up and drop off, then use the parking garage a couple blocks away to park.
- They were closed when we arrived, but were gracious enough to allow my grandma to sit and wait for them to open since I had to go back and park my car.
- I had the steak…DIVINE…spinach dip…DIVINE…My grandma had the shrimp and scallops…She loved it!!
- Highly recommend!!! The atmosphere was a bit upscale, but we had on sweat suit and t-shirt and jeans, and we still felt completely comfortable.
- Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse IG: @ruthschrissavannah
- Our waiter was Hunt and he was AMAAAAAAAZZZZZING!!!!
- Y’all….y’all….YAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL lol
- Sweet potatoes were like candy…my grandma loved them. They are like dessert for dinner. Too sweet for my taste but still very good. I could only handle a spoon full but we got her an order to go because she loved it so much!
- Lobster mac&cheese…self-explanatory.
- OK I will tell you…I don’t know what cheese they put in there but it was PERFECT!! So very flavor FILLED. It was a hefty portion as well, so I would say don’t be shy to ask for the to go bag like I did
- I also had the steak…it did not need a drop of steak sauce…SO GOOD!! Cooked very well and very juicy and flavor filled…even with my well-done request.
- Lastly, the BBQ shrimp:
- Now, I will tell you it is NOT the BBQ you are thinking of. It was a white sauce and I was hesitant when it did not look like what I had in my head…but it was well worth it!!! SO GOOD!!!
I like to choose restaurants that I have never been to before. I go off of pictures to decide if I want to make a reservation or not. I DO NOT want to get there, spend money, and still be hungry afterwards. Portion sizes MATTER!!! I also really love to just order a few items I have never had, just so I can get a good sample of the menu. Trying new foods is one of the BEST things I enjoy about traveling.
Think about it…
I want you all to think about your elderly loved ones, especially if you love to travel. Sometimes, it doesn’t take much effort on your part to plan a small trip that accommodates them. Showing people that have touched our lives and helped us to become who we are today, a little appreciation is always going to be worth it. I am sure they would love a trip to a place they have never been to or aren’t able to travel to on their own now.
We have to remember that we are all getting older. We don’t know how old we will reach, so taking time out of our schedules to learn something new about our loved ones is necessary. During this trip, I learned that my grandma hadn’t been to Savannah since the 70’s. The Savannah that she knew back then, is not the same as what she saw Easter weekend. It touched my heart to be able to plan a trip where she could take part of and benefit from as well.
I didn’t mind the extra exercise that I did to ensure she felt comfortable. If 2020, taught me anything is that I need to appreciate the time that I have with my grandma. The years that I lost, I can never get back. I don’t know that I want them either. That time has helped me to realize how special my relationship with my grandma is, and how thankful I am that I have the time that I have with her now.
Living in the now, in the time now, and appreciating the life that we are still very fortunate to live. Showing her into my world of travel and making unforgettable memories is something I am passionate about continuing to do for as long as I am capable. Our next trip is Mother’s day Sunday, in Atlanta, GA…you all will love it ☺
Life Is not about getting what you lost back, it is about seeing you have now, and making the most out of it – Chantre’ S.
As always, thank you for living in this moment with me. Until next time..stay safe and be happy!
Your travel friend,
Tre’
My name is Chantre’ (Tre’ for short). I am a military brat and soon to be a military wife. I have two fur babies; a Rottweiler named Duke and a German Shepperd named Aurora. I am a travel agent that specializes in EVERYTHING!…mostly fun quick trips or international trip for me personally, but I love researching for every client as if I am traveling with them.
Traveling is where my passion lies. Being in school my whole life, I am at the point where I am now settled and ready to begin my journey to explore the WORLD as much as possible. I have a yearning to see new things and cities, and experience other beliefs and cultures. As a young woman, it can be difficult to find other women that are in the same mindset as I am, and who are ready to take this journey with me in this season of my life…this is why I started my @tres_travelexperiences business and blog. I want to be able to share my experiences with others who share my passion for travel, but are being held back. Experience traveling through my journey.
I am passionate about being able to connect with other women no matter age or background, that are seeking travel experiences as I am, and just need someone to travel with like me. Prior to meeting my love, I was fully prepared and had literally booked a 15 days trip to Europe…SOLO. The amount of courage it took, I cannot even describe but I am thankful to God that He settled my mind, heart, and soul to take the leap. I know every woman may not want to do the same, so I am more than happy to plan a trip for others, whether big or small, solo or group.
If you have an urge to travel, but no one to travel with …come join me on one of my upcoming trips! On my Facebook page, you will find events where you can register for upcoming trips that I have planned which are open for you to join us. You will also find travel deals that I have created, but can be customized for your specific needs. Some of my trips will be very kid-friendly due to my current auntie role, so please reach out and connect with me in the links below. Feel free to contact me for a chat about what your specific needs are and I will be more than happy to have a chat with you!
Links
