Bone-chilling winds whistled through the scarcely-populated Historic District streets of Savannah, Georgia as members of our group huddled closely together around a hauntingly-pale yet well-informed tour guide while searching for protection and reassurance. We had willingly subjected ourselves to an eerie, full-moon lit evening of street walking throughout what is widely considered to be one of the most haunted cities in North America. Why were we putting ourselves through this tortuous experience? Distant shrieks could be heard as we carefully navigated several city blocks while cautiously searching for elusive yet ever-present spiritual orbs; small spheres of light considered by many to be an energy-generated presence given off by a dead person’s soul.

Okay, wait a minute…in all actuality, the winds were fairly calm that particular evening and the Savannah streets were a hubbub of activity. The tour group I was a part of, as I now more vividly recall, huddled somewhat closely together in an effort to stay warm and to more clearly hear the stories being shared by the soft-spoken tour guide.

I will go to my grave, however, insisting that his skin hue was, in fact, a tad on the pale side. Maybe the moon wasn’t really “full,” after all and perhaps the “shrieks” we heard were actually moments of vibrant laughter echoing through the well-lit city streets. There is no denying that I was indeed part of a very informative and enjoyable “Ghost Tour and Pub Crawl” that night which certainly provided numerous opportunities for the potential observance of “orbs” through the advancements of digital camera technology.

I must also admit, however, that most of the mysterious glowing objects captured with my own digital camera proved to be nothing more than street lights, window reflections and the occasional glare off a distant bald man’s head.

By day, as well as by night, I was more so captivated by Savannah’s elegance, charm and delicate beauty than by the prospect of possibly encountering the spiritual remains of one of the Atlantic-coast areas former residents.

Savannah was established in 1733 and is quite appropriately comprised of countless park-like squares, historic Colonial-themed homes, intriguing churches and a plentiful supply of shops. The city’s Historic District is bordered to the north by the Savannah River and Savannah Harbor where numerous eateries and boutiques can be found.

My time in the area was brief but well-spent and though I can’t necessarily say I personally experienced anything that could be categorized as “supernatural,” I did gain a newfound appreciation for deep-south American history, comfortable walking shoes and the occasional well-told ghost story.

A variety of other hair-raising excursions are available throughout Savannah’s Historic District including the Ghost Talk Ghost Walk tour, the Old Town Trolley’s Ghosts & Gravestones tour, the Savannah Walks Ghost tour and the Creepy Crawl Haunted Pub Tour.