Philadelphia Hospitality presents

Philadelphia In Full Bloom
featuring the
2010 Philadelphia Flower Show
February 26-March 1, 2010

Program Itinerary

DAY 1 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26
Check into The Inn at the Union League, a distinguished private club conveniently located on Philadelphia’s dynamic Avenue of the Arts. Truly in a class by itself, The Inn offers an incomparable mix of distinctive history and old-world hospitality.
Join your group of garden enthusiasts for a welcome reception before departing for the Convention Center where you will you will have the opportunity to view from the Sky Box the setting up of the famed Philadelphia Flower Show. The designer of the Flower Show will be on hand to discuss the planning, inspiration and implementation of this year’s theme Passport to the World.
Return to your hotel for dinner on your own.

DAY 2 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27
Accompanied by your Philadelphia Hospitality Guide, stroll through Independence National Historical Park and learn about the fascinating history of important historic sites such as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Congress Hall, Carpenters’ Hall, The Second Bank of the United States and Franklin Court. During your tour you will also visit: Free Quaker Meeting House, although pacifists, various Quakers thought the Revolution was too important to ignore and were inspired to assist in the conflict, even though they knew they would be expelled from the main community of Quakers. The group of approximately 200 called themselves Free Quakers and founded a meeting house of their own in 1783. Christ Church, the birthplace of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States and a fine example of Georgian Colonial architecture. It is also a celebrated gem of harmonious architecture in the graceful tradition of Christopher Wren's great London churches. Fifteen signers of the Declaration of Independence attended Christ Church, including George Washington and Ben Franklin. and Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the nation. The thirty houses lining the Alley were built between 1728 and 1836 and were occupied by craftsmen and shopkeepers. Today, these charming early 18th-century houses remain private residences.
Enjoy lunch at historic City Tavern, a reconstructed 18th-century tavern featuring colonial fare, served by authentically costumed waiters. "City Tavern comes as close as possible in taste and spirit to the original 1773 tavern where the signing of the U.S. Constitution was celebrated." - Esquire Magazine
After lunch the rest of the day is at your leisure. You may choose to: Remain in the area to explore on your own Independence National Historical Park, where so much American colonial, revolutionary, and federal-period history is preserved. Join the optional tour to the Barnes Foundation Visit the many galleries, shops and museums located near your hotel.

DAY 3 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28
Depart for a full day’s excursion in the beautiful Brandywine Valley, a region renowned for its fine gardens and museums. Two famous names - Wyeth and du Pont - have left their mark on this charming region.
Visit Hagley is a 230-acre estate along the banks of the Brandywine River. Located on the site of the gunpowder works founded by E. I. du Pont in 1802, Hagley includes restored mills and a workers' community. The site provides a unique glimpse into 19th-century industrial American life.
You will also visit Eleutherian Mills the beautiful ancestral home and gardens of the du Pont family.
Enjoy lunch at the delightful Simon Pearce restaurant, overlooking the Brandywine River and named for the noted Irish designer, potter and glass blower. You will not only have the opportunity to enjoy superb American cuisine with Irish accents, but can learn about the art of glassblowing at the on-site workshop and browse for original glass and pottery in the retail store.
Spend the remainder of the afternoon a Longwood Gardens, regarded as one of the world’s great gardens. Once the private estate of Pierre S. du Pont, today’s Longwood Gardens is a magnificent horticultural showplace. There are more than 1,000 acres of formal gardens, woodlands, and meadows, including 20 outdoor gardens and 20 indoor gardens housed in 4 acres of greenhouses. More than 11,000 different plant species can be found at Longwood. The Peirce-du Pont House, located on the grounds, features a fascinating exhibition addressing various stages in the estate’s history.
Return to your hotel. Dinner this evening will be on your own.

DAY 4 MONDAY, MARCH 1
This morning you will be able to compare your view of the Flower Show as it was taking shape to its full bloom splendor during a special early-morning tour, before the doors open to the public.
Return to your hotel for individual departures.

Optional Tours
Barnes Foundation, Friday, February 26, 1:00-4:30 p.m. Join an excursion to Philadelphia’s fabled Main Line for a visit to the Barnes Foundations, one of the finest private collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early-modern art in the world. The Barnes’ collection includes 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 46 Picassos and 59 Matisses, in addition to African, American and decorative arts. (limited space available)
Philadelphia Orchestra, Saturday, February 27, 8:00 p.m. You may wish to enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your choice before attending a performance of the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Art. This evening Charles Dutoit will conduct a Brahm’s Viloin Concerto and Shastakovic Symphony No. 11.

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