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SIUE Alumni Association presents:
Gardens of American History
Day 1: Friday, September 20, 2013 New York City, New York - Tour Begins
Explore America’s heritage, history and scenic gardens on this in-depth tour of the eastern United States.

Day 2: Saturday, September 21, 2013 New York City
Start your trip with exclusive early access to the New York Botanical Garden. Board a private tram and enjoy a narrated tour through the 250 acre grounds. Stops include a visit to the Nolen Greenhouses, not open to the public, and the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory for a guided “ecotour” of this Victorian-style glasshouse. Then, take in some of the landmarks of Manhattan as you journey to the High Line garden. Learn more about the fascinating history, design and horticultural elements during your visit. The High Line is a non-profit conservancy built on a historic raised freight rail line which was slated for demolition, saved, and turned into a spectacular public space. This evening, enjoy dinner with your fellow passengers. (B, D)

Day 3: Sunday, September 22, 2013 New York City - Wayne, Pennsylvania - Philadelphia
Depart New York and travel to Wayne to visit Chanticleer Gardens, also known as the Pleasure Garden. Here, explore the house and grounds at your own pace. Take in the tropical plants at the Teacup Garden, the hardy perennials of the Pond Garden, or enjoy the shady areas of the Asian Woods or Bell’s Woodland. Next, travel to “the Birthplace of a New Nation,” Philadelphia. Embark on a tour of the city, known for its art and culture. See what gardens this city has to offer. In addition, take in the outdoor sculptures and murals, the most within any American city. (B, D)

Day 4: Monday, September 23, 2013 Philadelphia - Brandywine Valley
Your day begins in the beautiful Brandywine Valley and the impressive Longwood Gardens, an internationally-renowned center of horticultural excellence covering 1,050 colorful acres. Enjoy a privately-guided tour of their greenhouse and gain an insider’s perspective on their research and production facility. Return to Philadelphia and spend your afternoon at leisure. (B)

Day 5: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 Philadelphia - Monkton, Maryland - Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Journey to Monkton and the Ladew Topiary Gardens to see Harvey S. Ladew’s 15 thematic “garden rooms” on this 250 acre property. Enjoy a tour of the Manor House guided by a local expert as well as a tour of the extraordinary topiary gardens with Ladew’s Head of Gardens. This afternoon, travel to Shenandoah National Park via the Skyline Drive. This famous roadway runs along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains where scenic expanses of the Shenandoah Valley wilderness extend in all directions. Tonight you will overnight inside the park. (B, D)

Day 6: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 Shenandoah Valley - Charlottesville - Williamsburg
Visit Monticello, the beautiful home and gardens of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was not only the third U.S. President and author of the Declaration of Independence…he also had a lifelong interest in gardening and botany. As a result, Jefferson turned Monticello into a botanic showpiece. Enjoy a guided tour of Jefferson’s home and explore the gardens with a Master Gardener. This afternoon, arrive in the historic town of Williamsburg. Tonight, travel back to Revolutionary-age America as you dine in a Colonial Williamsburg tavern specializing in Colonial fare. (B, D)

Day 7: Thursday, September 26, 2013 Colonial Williamsburg
Spend the day exploring Colonial Williamsburg, one of the largest and best living history museums in the world. Costumed actors populate the streets and buildings, bringing the customs and sentiments of 1770 to life. A horticultural expert member of staff from Colonial Williamsburg guides you through their gardens of gentility, a great illustration of how gardens reflected the lifestyles and ideals of people living in this 18th-century town. As afternoon arrives, enjoy time to independently wander the cobblestone streets and explore some of the eighty-eight historic buildings. (B)

Day 8: Friday, September 27, 2013 Williamsburg - Washington, D.C.
Travel to Washington, D.C. and visit the United States Botanic Garden. This garden was established by the U.S. Congress in 1820 and is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America. Enjoy a guided tour of the Conservatory and outdoor gardens. This afternoon, explore the sights of Washington, D.C. on a guided tour. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 9: Saturday, September 28, 2013 Washington, D.C.
Begin your day by exploring Hillwood Estate and Gardens before the grounds are open to the public. A local expert will guide you through Marjorie Post’s Georgian-style mansion. Don’t forget the “outdoor rooms.” Hillwood’s senior staff leads you through these beautifully designed rooms - grand extensions of the house’s terraces and porches! This afternoon, journey to the historic estate of Dumbarton Oaks*. A local expert will lead you through a tour of the 26 acre estate – including the Ondine Garden and the Dell areas not open to the public. Toast the end of a wonderful trip this evening at a farewell dinner. (B, D)

Day 10: Sunday, September 29, 2013 Washington, D.C. - Tour Ends
Your tour ends in Washington, D.C. this morning. (B)




September 20 - September 29, 2013
10 Days • 14 Meals
9 Breakfasts • 5 Dinners
Highlights: New York City, New York Botanical Garden, High Line Garden, Chanticleer Gardens, Philadelphia, Brandywine Valley, Longwood Gardens, Ladew Topiary Gardens, Shenandoah Valley, Monticello, Colonial Williamsburg, Washington, D.C., United States Botanic Garden, Hillwood Estate & Gardens, Dumbarton Oaks
Rates Per Person
Double: $3549, Single: $4649,
Triple: $3499
*Included in Price: Round Trip Air from Lambert St Louis Intl,Air Taxes and Fees/Surcharges,Hotel Transfers.
*Not Included in Price: Cancellation Waiver and Insurance of $165 per person.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1 - 2 Sheraton New York, New York,New York
Day 3 - 4 Sonesta Hotel Philadelphia, Philadelphia,Pennsylvania
Day 5 Skyland Lodge, Luray, Virginia
Day 6 - 7 Woodlands Hotel, Williamsburg, Virginia
Day 8 - 9 Marriott Hotel Washington, D.C., Washington D.C.
On some dates alternate hotels may be used.
Essential Experiences
  • Exclusive early admission to both the New York Botanical Garden and Hillwood Estate and Gardens.
  • Visit the New York Botanical Garden’s Nolen Greenhouses – not open to the public!
  • Tour the Ondine Garden and other outdoor spaces not available to the public at Dumbarton Oaks.
  • The Head of Gardens at Ladew Topiary Gardens guides you through this extraordinary piece of history.
For more information call
 Steve Jankowski
SIUE Alumni Association
(618) 650-2346
Included Meals Key
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

AVAILABLE OPTIONS:
No options exist for this tour.
CANCELLATION WAIVER:

Worry-Free Cancellation
Our industry-leading cancellation waiver offers travelers a full cash refund for the price of the tour, right up to the day prior to departure, minus the small cost of the waiver. Travel worry-free knowing if anything changes, you're protected.

Plus, you're covered on tour.
Our cancellation waiver and insurance plan covers you on tour. If you have to stop your trip or return home early, need medical assistance or evacuation, suffer a baggage loss or delay; or are delayed on tour for 12 hours or more, you're covered.

Cancellation Waiver and Insurance is just $165 per person.

Click here for complete details.

TRAVEL TIPS:
Gardens of American History
Listed below is important information to assist you in preparing for your upcoming trip. This information provided will help you have a more enjoyable experience while you are on your tour.
Accommodations
On some programs, there are a limited number of single and triple rooms. Double rooms usually consist of 2 beds. Triple rooms are normally a standard double room with 2 beds. A cot or rollaway bed may be added to the double room at some hotels, based on room size and fire codes. When triples are not available, appropriate charges for single and twin accommodations will be assessed. We make every effort to accommodate your specific requests and forward them to the hotels. These requests cannot be guaranteed as hotels may not always be able to honor them. Check-in times are set by individual hotel properties and vary by hotel. Depending on your arrival time, there may be a delay in gaining access to your room as most hotels offer afternoon check-in. We ask guests to observe check-out times at all properties as designated by the hotel. Some hotels require a credit card imprint or your passport information upon check-in in order to activate telephones in the rooms and for potential incidental charges. Most hotels charge an access fee for using phones in hotel rooms. Please check with the front desk personnel at each hotel for specific policies. Hotel membership programs are not applicable.
Arrival Day Suggestions
Due to varied flight schedules and different arrival times of our tour guests, your tour will not have any scheduled activities prior to dinner on Day 1. Should your flight schedule allow for an earlier arrival time that day, enjoy the great opportunity for some independent exploration.
Clothing & Packing Tips
If you are taking prescription medication, please be sure to take an adequate supply for your tour and a few additional days, in original prescription containers. Medication should be packed in your carry-on baggage. Do not place it in your checked luggage. You may want to carry an extra prescription in a separate bag in case medication is lost.
Currency
Your personal bank card may work at local ATM machines in the destination you are traveling to. Please contact your bank to determine if this option is available, that your PIN number will be accepted and to inform them that you are traveling. We recommend carrying only a few major credit cards. Credit card purchases often provide an extra guarantee on your purchase (check with your specific credit card company for details and fees). It is advisable to contact any credit card company you intend utilizing while on tour before you depart to notify them where you will be traveling, to avoid any rejection of services. If optional tours are made available to purchase, please note that credit cards must have an expiration date of greater than 30 days from the start of the tour.
Electricity
An adaptor (which changes the physical plug) and/or converter (which changes the electric current) are necessary if you plan to use an appliance with voltage different from the standard within the country you are visiting. Please note, if your appliance has dual voltage you may still need an adaptor for the plug. When packing your electronic items for travel, please review the converter electric current level to make sure it is the same or greater than the items you are planning on using. If you plan on utilizing or transporting a sleep apnea machine, please remember to pack an extension cord and adapter plug to ensure proper function.
Elevation
Highest Elevation on this tour is 3,680 feet in Shenandoah National Park. All other sites at or near sea level.
Helpful Hints
Bring a camera, memory cards, film, and batteries and be sure to bring enough photography supplies for your entire trip. If you have a video camera, bring an extra battery, plus proper recharging equipment. Due to security screening, we recommend storing your equipment in your carry-on luggage. Bring a travel alarm clock, travel sewing kit and an alcohol based gel hand sanitizer when soap and water is not accessible. Pack items that may leak in plastic bags. Do not pack any articles of value in your checked luggage. As a precaution, we suggest that you divide the contents of your suitcase with your traveling companion. Avoid over packing and leave room for souvenirs that you plan to take back home.
Bring a copy of your passport/identification and pack it separately from the original. Leave a copy of your tour itinerary at home with your emergency contact and a copy of your passport. Remember when flying you can only take one quart size bag with no more than 3 ounces of any one liquid. Liquids that do not fit in the one quart size bag and are larger than 3 ounces will be discarded by security. Remember to hydrate and get up and stretch while flying. If you are considering using your cell phone while traveling internationally, you should check with your cell provider concerning their access and charges for overseas calls, texting and emailing for the specific destination you are traveling to.
Included Features
The following are included in your tour package: transportation via motorcoach, accommodations, hotel luggage handling, meals, sightseeing, admission charges (as outlined in your itinerary), and applicable gratuities for bellmen, doormen and dining room wait staff. Customary gratuities for hotel housekeeping staff, local sightseeing guides, drivers and tour managers have not been included.
Luggage
Please consult with your scheduled airline as luggage fees and restrictions vary by carrier and destination. Due to the limited motorcoach capacity, one checked luggage (62 inches in length, height and width; weight not to exceed 23kg/50lbs) is allowed on tour. We also encourage just one carry-on bag per individual (for carrying items that might be needed during the day’s sightseeing excursions or camera/video equipment). Dimensions for carry-ons should not exceed 17" x 12" x 10", allowing it to fit under the seat or in the overhead rack of most motor coaches. If you exceed the limit of 2 bags, we cannot guarantee that your additional luggage will be able to fit in the touring vehicle. Storage or shipment of additional luggage will be at your own expense. If we are able to accommodate your additional luggage, we will assess a fee of 4 USD per bag per hotel. Please remember to label your luggage and important items with your name, home address and telephone number. We recommend labeling your luggage on both the outside and inside of the bag. Please attach only the plastic luggage tag included in this mailing to your checked luggage before checking in for your flight. Your paper luggage tag is to be attached at the first hotel. We cannot assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft or normal wear and tear that results from hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is in your best interest to have adequate insurance (such as our comprehensive “No Worries Travel Protection”) to cover these eventualities.
Reading List
Interested in reading about your destination before you depart? We have pre-selected travel guides, novels and books on history, nature and art to help enhance your total vacation experience. You can access the complete list by typing the following into your web browser. Select the region of the world to find your tour: http://www.longitudebooks.com/find/d/23797/r/CV/mcms.html
Smoking
Smoking Restrictions: Our tours are non-smoking throughout. If you require a smoking room, please alert your agent upon tour booking. Please be mindful of locations where smoking is prohibited: the motorcoach, at dining venues and other restricted areas on tour including most hotels. Customers are responsible for any fines incurred for failure to comply with smoking restrictions.
Time Zone
Eastern Standard Time
Tour Manager
We pride ourselves on having the best-trained and most experienced tour managers in the industry. Gratuities should be extended on a voluntary basis and should be in direct proportion to the level of professionalism and personal service extended to you throughout the tour. Past experience has shown that a guideline of 4-6 USD per person for each traveling day is a customary amount for the tour manager. A customary amount of 3-5 USD per person per day is suggested for the driver.
Transportation
Flight Information, Departure Taxes & Fees Land Only Vacations: If you chose to purchase a land only vacation, pay particular attention to flight segments that occur during the tour which are not included in your land only rate. You must purchase these internal flight segments and the schedule must match the flights that we utilize on the group tour. Please provide us with your flight schedules for the entire tour six weeks prior to departure so we may secure services if you purchased transfers from us, as well as maintain emergency contact. Air Inclusive Vacations Air inclusive vacations cover air transport to and from your origin gateway as well as all internal air segments on tour. In order to comply with Homeland Security’s “Secure Flight” mandate, all passengers must provide full name, date of birth and gender at time of reservation. Your airline ticket must match the name on your valid, non-expired, government issued photo ID to be shown at the airport (including middle name, first or middle initial). If you are a member of a participating frequent flyer program, provide the number upon booking and retain the passenger copy of your ticket and boarding pass to ensure that you receive proper credit of your mileage. Some air tickets are not eligible for mileage accrual. Whenever possible, we will add charges for air departure taxes to your invoice. Some international arrival and departure fees are not included in your air ticket and must be paid by you on tour in local currency.
Transfers We are pleased to provide you with complimentary airport to hotel, and hotel to airport transfers at the beginning and end of an escorted tour when you purchase an air-inclusive vacation. Land-only clients who have purchased round trip transfers will be accommodated at the same times as air inclusive clients. Arrival meeting locations and transfer departure times are provided on your document booklets. On some programs there may be a waiting period at the airport due to varying flight schedules of other arriving passengers. If you have secured your own transfer, you may meet your tour manager at the hotel. Motorcoach Information: We do not own or operate vehicles. We charter quality coaches that are temperature controlled vehicles. Coach size may vary based upon the number of tour patrons. In certain countries, lavatory equipped motorcoaches are not available or the lavatory is for emergency use only. Frequent stops will be made en route for comfort and convenience. Seat Rotation: Seats are rotated for the benefit of our tour guests. This fosters communication and enables our guests to enjoy a variety of vantage points on the motorcoach. Guests will rotate seats at least once a day, as directed by the tour manager. In fairness to all, there will be no exceptions to this policy.