Recreational Savannah
Recreational Savannah includes just about everything a
person can do for exercise and/or physical competition. These supplemental
links contain up-to-date information and represent a good assortment of Savannah’s activity. Check back with us as we discover YOUR favorite physical activity.
(entries and updates listed by sport)
Baseball players looking to earn scholarships and improve
their skills can contact ChainBaseballAcademy,
owned and founded by Buddy Meyer. The organization is managed by Armstrong Atlantic State University graduate and former NY Mets player, Stacy Bennett. The
web site has a full list of gentlemen who have received scholarships and been
drafted by Pros. Located at 5501 Abercorn St., they can be reached at 912-352-8466.
Bowling fans can join an Xtreme league at Victory Lanes,
located at 2055 East Victory Dr. (912-354-6710)
Campers have the option of heading to Skidaway Island State Park.
If it’s too humid for the trails, dive into the pool. There is a $2.00 parking
fee and an additional charge for swimming. With 88 camp sites, laundry
facilities, and a bathhouse, you may decide to stay and camp for $24.00 a
night.
Cheerleaders can improve their skills at Cheer Savannah. Here you will find competitive
cheerleading programs and news. According to Cheer Savannah’s website, they
are listed by American Cheerleader Magazine as one of the top twenty
cheerleading programs in the country. Contact gym owner, head coach and
director, Stephanie Britt. The gym is located at 1871-B Grove Point Rd.
(912-927-4646)
Dance lessons from noteworthy ballet instructor Veronica
Moretti Niebuhr are offered at The
Studio. You can also follow student work and read more about Niebuhr’s
interesting career at thewinger.com. Call
Niebuhr at 912-695-9149 to join The Studio at 2805-B Roger Lacy Avenue. (Visit
our Arts page for calendar info about upcoming holiday performance Swingin’ At
Club Sweets.)
Diving
Locker and Ski Chalet, located at 74 W Montgomery CrossRd., offers an
amazing assortment of diving and scuba classes. Their specialty courses
include medic first aid, navigation, photography and video. (912-927-6603) An indoor
heated pool is available.
Dogs keep people moving at The Savannah Dog Park. Located on 41st
and Drayton, this area is designed specifically with your dog’s best interest
in mind. Here dog doters can mingle their best friends with other playful pups
without the burden of a leash. This is also good news for those folks who like
to bring their dog(s) along on vacation.
Exercise rooms can be found at all YMCA locations. Click on branch
links at the YMCA homepage for details.
Golf enthusiasts enjoy teeing off at Henderson Golf Club, located at 1 Al Henderson Drive. In business since 1995, Henderson Golf Club has been the location for many Georgia PGA events. If you sign up for their eclub online, you will
receive a free greens fee on your birthday. (912-920-4653)
Hikers and cyclists will love McQueen’s Island Trail. Six
miles of scenic road make this a great nature walk as well. Parking is located
off U.S. Highway 80. Railroad enthusiasts can get extensive information from railga.com.
Horseback riding and horse boarding is available at Triple Y Stables in Clyo, GA. Located at 709 Green Morgan School Road, this family run business offers lessons, camps, stud services, and more.
Martial Arts Classes are available at Savannah Martial Arts Academy,
located at 5203 Waters Avenue. Course descriptions and class information are
available at their website. According to the site, “This is a mixed martial arts school
which teaches a mixture of Boxing, Kickboxing, Karate, Jui-jitsu, and Sambo. As
a mixed-martial arts school, we appreciate the benefits of learning for
competition, but also see the realistic need for self-defense for men, women,
and children. Therefore, we present our techniques in a realistic and
easy-to-learn method.” They can also be reached by calling Sensei Abe Stem at
912-412-4653. More at www.myspace.com/savannahmartialarts
Runners in the Savannah area can locate great races at SavvyStrider.com. Register online now for the Hilton Head Shamrock run, March 15 at 9:00 a.m.
Sailing lessons are obtainable though Savannah Sailing Center, a
volunteer organization that promotes the sport. Summer camp registration is
also available at their website. (912-231-9996)
Soccer, hockey and lacrosse are handled by Supergoose Sports,
now holding a temporary office at 37 W. Fairmont.
Spring inline hockey (played at Lake
Mayer) registration has
begun, and the season play runs from March 22—May 17, 2008.
For more info, stop by their new location or call 912-704-9470. You can also locate registration forms for
men’s and women’s spring outdoor leagues online at www.supergoosesports.com or email Helen@supergoosesports.com.
Swimmers can enjoy full operating hours (6:00am to 8:00pm) at The Chatham County Aquatic Center. There is a 50 meter competition pool, as well as another 25 yard recreation pool here. It’s also open year round at 7240 Sallie Mood Drive, Savannah, GA, (912) 351-6556. The cost is small--$3.00-$5.00. The
pools were recently drained and repainted.
Tennis lovers might enjoy Tennisw.com,
an online community that allows you to converse with other players and arrange meets. Bacon Park Tennis Courts, at 6262 Skidaway Rd., are free and open to
the public. (912-351-3850)
Yoga students are encouraged to “just walk in” The Savannah Yoga Center, now located at 1321 Bull Street. You can also register for Ashtanga Yoga, retreats, and even find classes for kids. (912-232-2994)
 
Please help Coastal Pet Rescue
Lisa from Coastal Pet Rescue recently got a litter of puppies who had the Parvo virus. She took care of the rescued pups but wracked up a $2400 bill to save them. To help pay for this they are doing a fund raiser night with the San Gnats. You can bring your own dogs to the game and a real dog will catch the first pitch!
The tickets are very reasonable so please help her out if you can. You must buy the ticket from CPR in order for them to get the donation, so please read the information below.
The Coastal Pet Rescue Night with the Savannah Sand Gnats is next Thursday. Tickets must be purchased in advance for us to receive the 50% proceeds. You can purchase tickets online through store.coastalpetrescue.org or email: seaglas002@bellsouth.net to make a purchase in person. We'll also showcase a few of our adoptable pets and have a donation bucket out front. Gates open at 6 pm, game time is 7:05 pm. This is also their Thirsty Thursday night.
Line Drives and Lattes
Whenever I visit a new and interesting city for the first time, I generally tend to overextend my reach. In doing so, I tend to miss out on its living history and the stories as yet to be written. Take a day to ignore the itinerary. The museums and monuments will be there when you get back.
When, for example, was the last time you went to a ball game? The Savannah Sand Gnats are now a Single-A affiliate of the New York Mets. Join local fans for seasonal play at the new and improved Grayson Stadium (located on the corner of Bee Rd. and Victory Drive). Check out the new sound system and enjoy fireworks every Friday night following the game. Half priced beer and pizza are also available on “Thirsty Thursdays.” (Remember: never slurp and slide)
Birthday parties also score big at the stadium. For $20.00 per child, they provide admission, food, a free round of speed pitch and unlimited action in the Party Pavilion. The birthday child gets his or her name on the message board, birthday party invitations, a personalized ceremony on the field, and much more. For more information, call their office at 912-351-9150. You can also pick up game tickets at Sandgnats.com
General admission $6.00, reserved $7.50, box seats $9.50.
Another “underrated” thing to do when you’re not feeling rushed is to create a memorable coffee experience. I don’t recommend overloading on caffeine, just exploring the scene and local flavor. By now, almost everyone is hip to the Sentient Bean, but that doesn’t make it any less interesting. Where else can you find a bimonthly Psychotropic Film series? The Bean is everything a college town coffee shop should be: politically aware, organic, literary, musical, reasonably priced, and right across the street from a beautiful park. (Forsyth) Bring a newspaper or your laptop for an “extended stay,” or stroll in from the park for a cool beverage.
While I prefer experimenting with Savannah's local coffee beaneries, Starbucks is dependable. The Downtown Starbucks is on the corner of Broughton and Bull Streets, and there are two Southside locations: In Oglethrope Mall and on Abercorn at Montgomery Crossroads. I enjoy personalizing my order for the barista. Try a grande toffee nut soy latte with an extra shot of espresso, no whip. (please) I wonder if there is a Starbucks coffee drink generator available online. Mixing makes it fun. Enjoy the moment.
Find Some Water!
When the heat and humidity soars in Savannah, even walking
in the shade requires reservoirs of zen acceptance. For those who can’t be
shut in by the heat, swimming is a sensible option. There are at least six YMCA locations available for fitness
and fun. Click on branch links at the YMCA homepage for details.
You can also cool down at the Chatham County
Aquatic Center. There is a 50 meter competition pool, as well as another
25 yard recreation pool here. It’s also open year round at 7240 Sallie Mood Drive, Savannah, GA, (912) 351-6556. The cost is small--$3.00-$5.00.
Nature lovers also have the option of heading to Skidaway Island State Park.
If it’s too humid for the trails, there is also a pool here. There is a $2.00
parking fee and an additional charge for swimming. With 88 camp sites, laundry
facilities, and a bathhouse, you may decide to stay and camp for $24.00 a
night.
Also open year-round, the River's End Campground and RV
Park, Polk Street, Tybee Island (912/786-5518, offers 128 sites featuring full hookups and a beach nearby. Tent sites cost $27
to $30 per day and RV sites $34 per day. A swimming pool and screened pavilion
are also available.
The
Bellaire Woods Campground, 805 Fort Argyle Rd. (912/748-4000,
is 2 1/2 miles west of I-95, 4 1/2 miles west of U.S. 17, and 12 miles from the
Savannah Historic District on the banks of the Ogeechee River. Facilities
include full hookups, LP gas service, a store, self-service gas and diesel
fuel, a dump station, hot showers, laundry facilities, and a pool. Rates are
$30 to $35 for tents or RV hookups.
 
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Savannah Sand Gnats
