Breakfast:
In the hotel restaurant, Aqimera.
Morning:
En route to Delaware in our private bus, our educator will point out local landmarks along the way. Designed in the spirit of 18th- and 19th-century European country estates, Winterthur (pronounced “winter-tour”) was the childhood home of collector and horticulturist Henry Francis du Pont and is now one of the most extraordinary museums in the country — premier showcase of American decorative arts — with an unparalleled collection of nearly 90,000 objects made or used in America between about 1640 and 1860. The collection is displayed in the magnificent 175-room mansion, much as it was when the du Pont family lived here, as well as in permanent and changing exhibition galleries. We will be divided into small groups of 10 as we enjoy our private exploration through holiday decorated rooms. During our private exploration, we will see exquisitely decorated trees, beautiful rooms that are only open during this season, and traditions such as the evolution of holiday meals from the colonial period to the early national period. Depending on weather, we may also meander through a recreated woodland path offering vistas of the lovely Winterthur Garden. Yuletide at Winterthur is a feast for the spirit.
Lunch:
At Winterthur. Boxed lunches will be provided.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will depart for Longwood Gardens. The legacy of Pierre S. DuPont is one of the great gardens of the world, with a four-acre conservatory and outdoor gardens spanning 1,077 acres. As it is winter, you may wonder what you will see. The illuminated displays of plants, ornaments, and fountains — indoors and outdoors — are extraordinary. We will marvel at banks of poinsettias and other blooming plants, magnificent Christmas trees, and half a million twinkling lights that come on at 3:30 p.m. each day. We’ll time our visit so that we can enjoy the full magnificence of the illuminated outdoor winter landscape and the indoor display of holiday plant rooms inside the conservatory.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. There is so much to see and do in Philadelphia during the holidays, so we have set this time aside for your personal enjoyment.