This year some 700,000 folks will wear the green as they enjoy concerts, runs, art shows, children's events, and, of course, a fair share of imbibing. Here's hoping a little luck of the Irish comes your way!

As a resident of the historic area, let me share with you what I think you need to do to make your visit with us one you will long remember.

Take an actual tour: Yes, you can walk around on your own and need to do so (discussed below), but first you need to actually get a decent overview of the historic district so you can focus on the areas you really want to get to know. There are driving tours, horse-drawn buggy tours, and even walking tours. Pick one, you can't go wrong, and take it your first day, hopefully the first morning you are here.

Visit one of the historic homes open for tours: It is one thing to see them from the outside, but visiting the inside is worth every penny. Take your time. As you peruse the house, its furnishings and its gardens, imagine what it must have been like to live there, entertain there, and maybe most importantly what it might have been like (the good and the bad) to be a part of the gentile class that inhabited such a structure.

Spend a morning or afternoon shopping:  Savannah is nothing if not eclectic in her tastes. There are very distinctive shopping areas in here with a wide range of offerings, plan a morning or an afternoon in one or two of them.  Home to the largest art college in the US (Savannah College of Art and Design-SCAD), there are galleries on nearly every corner. The home furnishings and accessories here are the best in the southeast.

Walk around, sit around, and take it all in: Savannah is the largest historic district in the US; you need to walk around and enjoy it. The unique design of the city-the grid pattern of streets punctuated with charming small green parks called squares-allows you to walk, sit, and enjoy like few other cities I know. Stroll for a while, slide into a nice place to eat, walk some more, cool off in a quaint watering hole, and then head back to the hotel to rest up before dinner.

Eat, drink, and be merry: There are any number of great dinning options here, from the extremely modestly priced (we are a college town you know) to the extremely extravagant. Also, you might have heard Savannah has a liberal open-container law. You can walk the streets with your drink as long as you meet certain restrictions (size, type container, public behavior). In addition, Savannah has a very lively and robust music and club scene. You can find exceptional live music opportunities almost every night of the week.

Combined, these activities add up to a city where you can really relax and enjoy your vacation. So park your car, put on your favorite walking shoes and immerse yourself in all that Savannah has to offer.

- Gerald's: Corner of W. Bolton and Montgomery. Gerald, who is renowned for his BBQ, opened this new diner several months ago to help spur on this transitional neighborhood. The breakfast is exceptional and typically a custom-order production. Ask and you shall receive. All the traditional southern fare plus a few "Yankee" favorites.

*J. Christopher's: 122 East Liberty. Housed in a converted garage, this talented kitchen serves traditional breakfast items plus some deliciously inventive fare: skillets of hash browns, sun-dried tomatoes, gorgonzola cheese, and spinach topped by two eggs your way. Outstanding service and good coffee.

- Clary's Cafe: Corner of Abercorn and Jones. A Savannah institution. Outdoor seating, fast service, and, while no frills, certainly fare you can count on. Great waffles.

* Baker's Pride: 840 E DeRenne Ave. Okay, I confess, this is not in the Historic District, HOWEVER, if these aren't the best traditional doughnuts you have ever eaten, I want you to show me better ones. If you have a car, drive out here-early, or else you will be SOL-and bring back a bakers dozen for your tribe. Absolutely awesome.

* Express Cafe & Bakery: 39 Barnard Street. Exceptional pastries, quiche and short order breakfast. If you are a European-style breakfast eater--good coffee, hot croissant with butter and jam--head here. Pain au chocolate and eggs benedict are memorable. 

- Firefly Cafe (Sat-Sun Brunch only): 321 Habersham. The sad part is they only serve brunch on Sat and Sun. The same inspired approach used for their lunch and dinner offerings is applied to the brunch. Some outside seating available. Try anything, especially the daily special. Blueberry pancakes and all the omelets are exceptional. Bloody Marys are superb.

The 72nd Annual Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens runs March 22-25. Presented by the Women of Christ Church and Historic Savannah Foundation, the Tour is a charity that will take you behind the locked gates of many amazing homes.

The details:

The 72nd Annual Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens

What: Self-guided walking tours of notable private homes and gardens, seminars, guided driving and walking tours, a welcome reception, luncheons, weekend brunch, concerts, and  afternoon teas with fashion shows.

Dates: Thursday, March 22 to Sunday, March 25

Times: Events occur at various times during the day. The self-guided home and garden tours are normally available in both the morning and afternoon.

Where: Locations vary. The tour homes are not handicap accessible.

Tickets: Each event requires a separate ticket; prices range from free to $75 with most in the $20 to $35 range. Tickets are available online at www.savannahtourofhomes.org and at the Tour Headquarters located at 18 Abercorn Street, Savannah.

For more information: Visit the tour website at d www.savannahtourofhomes.org or contact them at (912) 234-8054.

The second event kicks off the following weekend and includes an open-air market. The Annual Savannah Garden & Antiques Expo-referred to as the "Expo"-mixes self-guided walking tours with notable speakers and competition gardens. This is a great, kid-friendly event you need to add to your Savannah itinerary.

The details:

The 7th Annual Savannah Garden & Antiques Exposition

What: Garden-related information and demonstrations, competition gardens, open air market, children's activities, a Garden Jazz Brunch, and self-guided and guided walking tours in the Historic District.

Dates: Friday, March 30 to Sunday, April 1.

Times: The Expo is open 10 am to 6 pm (rain or shine). Tour times vary by event.

Where: The Expo is located at the Roundhouse Railroad Museum, 601 West Harris Street, Savannah (just south of the Savannah Visitor's Center on MLK Boulevard).

Tickets: $10 for admission to the Expo. Lectures, tours and Garden Jazz Brunch require a separate ticket. Children under 12 are admitted free to the Expo with a paying adult.

For more information: Visit the Savannah Garden & Antiques Exposition website at http://www.savannahgardenexpo.com/ or via phone at (912) 236-4795.

* Sapphire Grill, 110 W Congress St, (912) 443-9962: In a word, INCREDIBLE! Intimate setting, inspired food, brilliant bar and wine list. It offers a causal setting on the first floor in the bar and a modern, hip atmosphere upstairs. Try the Benne encrusted local Black Grouper. Choose for a birthday celebration or team-building dinner; you will carry the day. www.sapphiregrill.com/index.asp  

* 700 Drayton, 700 Drayton St. (912) 721-5002. Housed in the decidedly upscale hotel, Mansion on Forsyth Park, 700 Drayton is a left-right knockout punch of jaw-dropping visuals and luscious dining. The scale of the old house it occupies is tamed by an inviting design that makes your dining nook simultaneously extravagant and cozy. Pick anything on the menu; you will not be disappointed! A MUST for a special anniversary or birthday; combine it with a surprise sleep over in the hotel for an evening neither of you will forget. http://www.700drayton.com/

Il Pasticcio, 2 East Broughton Street, (912) 231-8888. If you are seeking great food and a lively, hip crowd go here later in the evening and you will find a group looking to party. The pastas and pork tenderloin are memorable. This is the place to go on your second date or to dine during girl's night out. http://www.ilpasticciosavannah.com/

* The Olde Pink House, 23 Abercorn Street, (912) 232-4286. Yes it is old, and yes, it gets the tourist vote, but you know what, I like it. I eat downstairs in the tavern where it is decidedly more relaxed if a bit crowded at times. The scored, whole flounder is a signature dish that lives up to the billing. Sofas, a piano, two fireplaces, great drinks--this is a "lets relax and enjoy each other's company kind of place." No website.

The Chart House, 202 West Bay Street, (921) 234-6686. Part of the noted chain, Savannah's Chart House commands a great view of the river and offers reliable and delectable fare. Very handy to the Hyatt and other Bay and River Street hotels. Love their chowder and prime rib. Great choice for a business meal or that first meeting with the new in-laws.  http://www.chart-house.com/