The Gardens Getaway Travel Program

We’ve received rave reviews for the well-planned exclusive and customized trips and tours we present, both in the U.S. and abroad. We have two new travel opportunities for you – both planned by Patsy West, director of Valerie Wilson Travel. All tours benefit Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

By Popular Demand! The Gardens will offer a third trip in 2010.  Join us for a trip to the Big Apple – New York City – this November. Details coming in February.

MARCH 18-22, 2010     SOLD OUT
“Charleston, South Carolina: Historic Charleston Foundation’s Festival of Houses & Gardens and 2010 Charleston International Antique Show.”

Travel with us to Charleston and vicinity for gardens, mansions, and antiques – a wonderful way to usher in the warm weather there long before it arrives here. The timing is perfect to take in two of the biggest and best events in Charleston’s year – the Festival of Houses & Gardens and the International Antiques Show, which are part of the tour. There are many other highlights, as well.

The group’s five-star hotel will be the 1763 John Rutledge House Inn, an elegant antebellum home in the heart of historic Charleston.

SEPTEMBER 14-23, 2010
“Gardens & Castles of the National Trust for Scotland.”

Participation in this wonderful trip to Scotland will be limited to 22 due to the exclusive choice of accommodations: a stately  Edwardian townhouse in Edinburgh, the fabulous Castle Kincardine outside Aberdeen, and Blair Castle outside Glasgow.

We’ll visit spectacular gardens, , including the Duke of Hamilton’s Lennoxlove, Greywalls with a Gertrude Jekyll garden, Newhailes, Malleny Gardens, House of Dun, the gardens of Mrs. Baxter and Miss McKechnie, Pitmedden Garden, Castle Fraser, Stirling Castle, Culzean Castle, the Royal Botanical Gardens and Logan Botanical Gardens.

Exclusive features include the Castle Kennedy Gardens followed by luncheon with Lord & Lady Stair at their home at Lochinch Castle, a luncheon talk and tour with Lady Cindy Shaw-Stewart at Ardgowan, and dinner at the National Trust headquarters with Ian Gow – the chief curator.

For its farewell dinner, the group will enjoy a traditional Scottish banquet at Blair Castle, complete with a piper and the Gaelic toasts of poet Robert Burns (hold the haggis?).

A refundable advance deposit of $100 per person will secure you a space on this fabulous trip to Scotland.  Make your check payable to Valerie Wilson Travel and mail it Patricia West’s attention at PO Box 299, Southport ME 04576. For more information, call Patsy at 207-633-4883 or e-mail her.