6
The Gardens of Coastal New England Featuring the Newport Flower Show! Thursday, June 18 – Tuesday, June 23, 2020 6 Days/5 Nights Put on your rose-colored glasses for a look at New England’s history through the fascinating world of gardens, art and architecture! This one-of-a-kind garden tour winds you along the dramatic and rugged coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, through centuries of New England cultural history. You will explore historic gardens and estates from colonial homes to Gilded Age mansions. Expert local guides will enhance your experiences every step along the way. Day One: Begin your Gardens of Coastal New England vacation when you will arrive at your full- service, South Kingston, Rhode Island hotel by 5:00 pm. There will be time to refresh and relax before dinner. (Holiday Inn South Kingston or similar) Gather in the hotel’s Hilltop Grille for an included dinner. Dine on American fare served buffet style. Day Two: After breakfast in the hotel, board the coach and travel into Newport. Your tour begins to blossom when you board a private trolley at the Newport Welcome Center that will transport you to your first destination, The Blue Garden. This recently restored Gilded Age masterpiece opens only on rare occasions for garden groups. Director, Sarah Vance,

The Gardens of Coastal New England Featuring the Newport ... · Begin your Gardens of Coastal New England vacation when you will arrive at your full-service, South Kingston, Rhode

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    3

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: The Gardens of Coastal New England Featuring the Newport ... · Begin your Gardens of Coastal New England vacation when you will arrive at your full-service, South Kingston, Rhode

The Gardens of Coastal New England Featuring the Newport Flower Show!

Thursday, June 18 – Tuesday, June 23, 2020

6 Days/5 Nights

Put on your rose-colored glasses for a look at New England’s history through the fascinating world of gardens, art and architecture!

This one-of-a-kind garden tour winds you along the dramatic and rugged coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, through centuries of New England cultural history. You will explore historic gardens and estates from colonial homes to Gilded Age mansions. Expert local guides will enhance your experiences every step along the way. Day One: Begin your Gardens of Coastal New England vacation when you will arrive at your full-service, South Kingston, Rhode Island hotel by 5:00 pm. There will be time to refresh and relax before dinner. (Holiday Inn South Kingston or similar) Gather in the hotel’s Hilltop Grille for an included dinner. Dine on American fare served buffet style. Day Two: After breakfast in the hotel, board the coach and travel into Newport. Your tour begins to blossom when you board a private trolley at the Newport Welcome Center that will transport you to your first destination, The Blue Garden. This recently restored Gilded Age masterpiece opens only on rare occasions for garden groups. Director, Sarah Vance,

Page 2: The Gardens of Coastal New England Featuring the Newport ... · Begin your Gardens of Coastal New England vacation when you will arrive at your full-service, South Kingston, Rhode

will share the captivating history of the creation of this garden and its superb restoration as you follow her through a palate of blue and white flowering shrubs, perennials, annuals and vines. Depart the Blue Garden and travel back to the Welcome Center where “Mrs. Astor” herself will be waiting for you. Board your coach along with Mrs. Astor and set out on a windshield tour that will offer an insider’s look at the colorful, and often scandalous, history of Newport, as you view spectacular coastal scenery along the famed Ocean Drive. From the Welcome Center, drive a short distance to Bowen’s Wharf. There will be time to discover your new favorite restaurant for lunch on your own and to visit the unique shops and galleries. Mid afternoon, explore the grandest of Newport’s summer “cottages,” The Breakers. This mansion is a symbol of the Vanderbilt family’s social and financial preeminence in turn of the century America. The 16th century palaces of Genoa and Turin inspired this 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo. By this time you will be ready for some liquid refreshment. Arrive at Newport Vineyards for a tour and taste of their award-winning wines. Leave with a souvenir wine glass. Dinner is included and served in a casual restaurant, once the Newport Casino. This exceptional building, one of the finest examples in the country of Shingle Style Architecture, is a National Historic Landmark. (NOTE: The schedule on Friday is subject to change pending the trolley’s availability.) Day Three: After breakfast in the hotel, board the coach and travel to the beloved Newport Flower Show, positioned on the grounds of the elegant Bellevue Avenue mansion, Rosecliff. This premier flower show presents garden, horticultural and floral exhibitions and it also offers displays, free lectures, workshops and demonstrations by noted experts. The shopping experiences are amazing! During your time at the show, have lunch, on your own, at the onsite Oceanside Café. You will also have the opportunity to explore the Rosecliff Mansion. This afternoon, explore Marble House, built between 1888 and 1892 for Mr. and Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt. It was a summerhouse, or "cottage,” as Newporters called them in remembrance of the modest houses of the early 19th century. But Marble House was much more; it was a social and architectural landmark that set the pace for Newport's subsequent transformation from a quiet summer colony of wooden houses to the legendary resort of opulent stone palaces.

Page 3: The Gardens of Coastal New England Featuring the Newport ... · Begin your Gardens of Coastal New England vacation when you will arrive at your full-service, South Kingston, Rhode

Next, visit The Elms, a 1901 mansion modeled after a mid-eighteenth century French chateau. A stroll through the elaborate and recently restored Classical Revival gardens will transport you back to the Gilded Age when the wealthy elite competed not only to build the most magnificent summer “cottage” but also to create the most beautiful grounds. You will explore terraces decorated with brass and marble sculpture, park-like woodland of specimen trees and lush gardens dotted with marble pavilions and fountains. Depart The Elm’s and travel a short distance into the “downtown” area. Gather for an early included dinner served in the warm, inviting and casual atmosphere of another Newport institution. Traditional, hearty Italian fare has earned this restaurant recognition as the best Italian restaurant in Rhode Island. A magical evening awaits, as you board a nineteenth century-style schooner for a Sunset Sail, your final adventure in the “City by the Sea.” Sip a glass of champagne as you glide by coves and inlets and through the open waters of beautiful and historic Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. Day Four: After breakfast in the hotel, pack your bags, check out of your rooms and board the motor coach for more Gilded Age sites in Coastal Rhode Island. Your first stop is the Green Animals Topiary Garden, where more than 80 pieces of topiary, along with vegetable and herb gardens and orchards, share the grounds of a whimsical estate overlooking Narragansett Bay. Cross over the bay to the mainland and arrive in Bristol. Visit Blithewold, Old English for “happy woodland,” a grand English Manor-style mansion situated on a dramatic waterfront site. Developed in the early 20th Century on 33 landscaped acres, the estate is emblematic of the “Country Place” era. The stunning grounds feature a unique combination of Colonial Revival, Arts and Crafts and contemporary gardens. You will enjoy a special guided tour that includes the house, the magnificent Great Lawn and all of the surrounding gardens. At the end of your visit, gather for tea on the Breakfast Porch. Depart Blithewold and travel a short distance to the quaint waterfront commercial district in Bristol. Have lunch on your own at one of the charming, local eateries. Bid farewell to Rhode Island as you cross into Massachusetts on your way to historic Sandwich and the Heritage Museums and Gardens. The magnificent grounds, covering100 acres on the banks of Shawme Pond, constitute the largest public garden in Southern New England. Three gallery buildings display American art, automobiles and special exhibitions. Embark on a garden tour led by an expert staff member followed by free time to explore the extensive grounds on your own. You will overnight in the heart of historic Plymouth, at a hotel located a short walk from the breathtaking waterfront. (John Carver Inn or similar). Experience Colonial charm and hospitality as you dine in one of the Inn’s warm and inviting taverns.

Page 4: The Gardens of Coastal New England Featuring the Newport ... · Begin your Gardens of Coastal New England vacation when you will arrive at your full-service, South Kingston, Rhode

Day Five: After breakfast at the Inn, pack your bags and check out of your rooms. Today, your travels will take you to the North Shore of Massachusetts towards Cape Ann and Gloucester. Drive to Eastern Point and the southern peninsula of Cape Ann where you will visit Beauport, the Sleeper McCann House. This Arts and Crafts-style home, begun in 1907, became a major showcase for owner, Henry Sleeper's, interior design business. Isabella Stewart Gardner, Henry Francis du Pont and Joan Crawford were among his celebrity clients. Eventually expanding to fifty rooms, Sleeper designed each room in the house based on a literary or historical theme. The gardens are also typical of the Arts and Crafts tradition, progressing from naturalistic landscaping to more formal garden rooms. Hear the story of this fascinating home, with its stunning harbor views, on a guided house and landscape tour. Next, is a stroll in Rocky Neck, home to one of the first art colonies in the United States and known for its coastal beauty, unique light and rich cultural history. Legions of artists, including Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Childe Hassam and Mark Rothko, have been drawn to this modest little fishing community and inspired by the charms of the sea. Visit the Rocky Neck Art Colony and explore the galleries and museums in the Cultural District where contemporary artists, photographers, potters, textile designers and jewelry makers display their work. Depart Rocky Neck and travel a short distance to Gloucester. Have lunch on your own followed by time to explore the shops in America’s oldest working seaport. The vibrant restaurant scene included ultra-fresh seafood, farm-to-table offerings, brewpubs and waterfront dining. Make time to notice the Crow’s Nest Restaurant, the bar that was used in the movie “The Perfect Storm.” Before you depart, pay your respects to those lost at sea at the Gloucester Fishermen’s Memorial, the iconic statue of a fisherman guiding the wheel of his ship while gazing stoically out to the Atlantic. A small plaque on the north or street-facing side of the base reads, “MEMORIAL TO THE GLOUCESTER FISHERMAN, August 23, 1923.” A larger recessed panel on the front or harbor-facing side of the base holds an inscription of bronze letters taken from the 107th Psalm, which reads: “THEY THAT GO DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS 1623 – 1923.” Time-travel over two hundred years from the modest simplicity of the late 17th Century Colonial world to the grandeur of the early 20th Century Country Place Era, as you follow the scent and sound of the ocean to Castle Hill on the Crane Estate. A magnificent broad lawn undulating down to the sea, a beautifully designed landscape and meticulously manicured gardens complement this lavish 59-room Stuart-style

Page 5: The Gardens of Coastal New England Featuring the Newport ... · Begin your Gardens of Coastal New England vacation when you will arrive at your full-service, South Kingston, Rhode

mansion dramatically sited overlooking the ocean. During your visit, you will have a special tour of the house and grounds. Your last visit will be a brief stop at the gardens of 1677 Whipple House, one of the finest examples of early Colonial architecture. This impressive “townhouse” near the center of Ipswich, is fronted by gardens typical of the years of its habitation. The 17th Century Housewife’s Garden contains medicinal, housekeeping and culinary herbs of the era and the Old Rose Garden contains pre-1864 rose varieties. Depart Ipswich late afternoon and travel north to your full-service Hampton Beach waterfront hotel. There will be time to refresh and relax before dinner. Enjoy a dip in their heated indoor pool, sip a beverage in the on-site lounge or look for seashells on the beach. (Ashworth By The Sea or similar) Gather for an included dinner in the hotel’s lovely dining room. Savor the flavors of New England fare served in a relaxing and charming atmosphere overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. After dinner, walk across the street and enjoy an evening stroll along the beach. Listen to the sounds of the waves as you explore the magnificent sand sculptures that were created by world-class Master Sand Sculptures. Day Six: After breakfast in the hotel, pack your bags and checkout. With memories of brilliant blossoms and gilded grandeur, begin your travels home.

• 5 Nights accommodations • 5 Breakfasts • 5 Dinners • Trolley Ride to the Blue Garden • Private tour of the Blue Garden • Newport Tour led by “Mrs. Astor” • Time to explore Bowen's Wharf • Tour of the Breakers • Tour and taste at the Newport Vineyards • Admission to the Newport Flower Show • Tour of the Marble House • Tour of the Elms • Sunset Sail aboard a 19th Century-Style Schooner • Admission to the Green Animals Topiary Garden • Guided tour of the House and Great Lawn at Blithewold • Tea on the Breakfast Porch at Blithewold • Admission to the Heritage Museum Gardens with Guided Tour • Guided landscape and house tour at Beauport, the Sleeper McCann House • Free time to explore the Rocky Neck Art Colony

Page 6: The Gardens of Coastal New England Featuring the Newport ... · Begin your Gardens of Coastal New England vacation when you will arrive at your full-service, South Kingston, Rhode

• Time in Gloucester, America’s oldest working seaport • Visit to Castle Hill on the Crane Estate with tour of the house and grounds • Garden photo op at the 1677 Whipple House • Souvenir Gift • Full-time tour manager • Baggage service for one piece of luggage per traveler • Accommodations, admissions, group meals and baggage service for the coach

driver • Taxes and gratuities (NOTE: Gratuities for the tour manager, local guides and

coach driver are not included and are at your discretion based on service.) Pricing Information: Call for custom pricing.

824 West Lakeshore Drive, Suite 3, Colchester, VT 05446 802-881-0661 Copyright2019NotchAboveTours, Inc.