The Private Gardens of Charleston & Savannah

March 24th to April 1st, 2009

The 2008 Southern Garden Tour to Charleston and Savannah was such a hit, that we’ve decided to offer it again for 2009. Marty Wingate and her husband Leighton are hosting this tour, which will include every garden tour and historical tour we provided in 2008, and we’ve added a few events to the schedule.

The dates are March 24th to April 1st, 2009. Once again, we are limiting the group size of this tour to 22 guests.

We arrive in Charleston the evening of Tuesday March 24th and meet later that evening for a welcome cocktail in the lounge.

The next four days will be spent touring the private homes and gardens of Charleston, a visit to the Drayton Hall and Middleton Place Plantations, visiting Fort Sumter and other historic sites of the city, and enjoying the cuisine and ambience of this beautiful city.

On March 28th we journey south to Beaufort South Carolina for a private tour of two very different garden styles. Along the route, we will make a stop at America’s only tea plantation for a tour. That evening we wind up in Savannah for four nights and a tour of the city, a civil war walking tour, private homes and gardens tour, and much more. Guests will have the opportunity to opt in for a group dinner in Savannah at Lady and Son’s, the restaurant opened by Paula Deen and her sons.

This tour includes

• Eight nights accommodation in hotels located in the historic districts of Charleston and Savannah
• Ground transportation while on tour
• Admission to private garden tours in Charleston, Savannah, and Beaufort
• Admission and private tour of Drayton Hall and Middleton Place
• Breakfast each morning
• One dinner in Charleston and Savannah
• Irish pub and music night in Savannah
• Boat trip and admission to Fort Sumter
• Historic tour of Charleston
• Civil War Walking tour of Savannah
• Admission and tour of the Bigelow Tea Plantation

This tour does not include airfare, but assistance will be provided to those requiring help in coordinating air transportation. Fares for 2008 were in the $400-$450 range.

The cost is $1960 per person, based on double occupancy. The single rate is $2750. If you’re interested in sharing, we will try to match you with another single traveler. You may also take a discount by paying by cash for this trip in lieu of credit card payments. The savings is $55 per person for double occupancy, or $80 for single. A deposit of $500 per person is required to hold your reservation. The balance is due January 15, 2009.

If you would like to view a few photos of the tour group which recently visited the Southern Gems, follow this link to my Picasaweb photo page.

Updated: Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008