Cape Cod Hydrangea Society - Gardens of Maine

Gardens of Maine with the Cape Cod Hydrangea Society

Sunday, August 30 - Tuesday, September 1

Spend two nights in beautiful Boothbay Harbor, and visit the largest botanical garden in New England!

Day One - Start your getaway with a visit to Strawberry Banke. Unique among outdoor living history museums - they showcase a seaside neighborhood’s evolution over 300+ years. 37 historic buildings on their original foundations form the neighborhood and tells the story of the people who lived there & the evolution of the Portsmouth waterfront. Costumed role players and traditional craftspeople recreate the lives and challenges of the families in the community. Nearly four centuries of historical gardens are featured, including a Colonial kitchen garden, a Colonial Revival garden and hemlock grove, and a 1943 Victory Garden and chicken coop. Expert guides will take you on a journey through time on a one-hour guided tour of the historic gardens and landscapes and teach about the careful stewardship and maintenance that goes into preserving the living collection. Gain insights into traditional gardening techniques and how they have evolved, blending seamlessly with modern practices to ensure the gardens' continued vitality and their ability to share the stories of the people who lived within them. You'll have time, after the tour, to explore the rest of the museum on your own. Enjoy free time for lunch and shopping in Portsmouth, NH's coastal downtown before departing for Boothbay Harbor. Your hotel, the Boothbay Harbor Inn, is located directly on the waterfront, and offers picturesque views of the harbor combined with a convenient location next to the famous wooden footbridge. Just a short walk will take you downtown to the harbor’s many shops, galleries and restaurants. Tonight, you'll enjoy a delicious lobster dinner at the hotel (alternatives are available).

Day Two - After a relaxing morning and breakfast at the hotel, you'll visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, New Englands largest botanical garden. Learn about the history and founding of the gardens on a one-hour guided tour through the central gardens. You'll also have time to explore the stunning ornamental gardens, waterfalls, incomparable stonework and sculptures, and grab lunch on your own at their cafe before we return to the hotel.  You have the remainder of the day to explore the shops downtown, relax by the water, and enjoy dinner at one of the many delicious restaurants.

Day Three - After breakfast, you'll depart the hotel for South Berwick, ME to visit historic Hamilton House. In a picturesque setting overlooking the Salmon Falls River, this striking Georgian mansion, a National Landmark c. 1785, and its landscape share a history that mirrors that of its Southern Maine region. In the early twentieth century Emily Tyson and her stepdaughter Elise used this as their Colonial Revival summer retreat. They created a lavish garden, commissioned whimsical murals in the dining room and parlor, and filled the house with the antique furnishings, handcrafted items, and decorative objects on view today. Explore the beautiful grounds surrounding Hamilton House and discover the diverse history it has to offer. On your ninety-minute tour, after touring the house, visit the garden to learn about its design and plantings, and how the landscape has influenced its inhabitants for centuries. From Wabanaki fishing grounds to a lavish summer retreat, this landscape has been used for a variety of purposes including farmlands, a bustling wharf, a Colonial Revival Garden, and more. Enjoy time after for lunch & shopping in the quaint fishing village of Ogunquit and its scenic Perkins Cove.

$ 840 per person, double occupancy

$ 1,060 single occupancy

Package Includes:

Deluxe Motorcoach Transportation from Cape Cod

Funtastic Getaways Tour Escort

Two Nights at the Boothbay Harbor Inn

Two Breakfasts, One Lobster Dinner

Strawbery Banke Museum guided tour

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens guided tour

Hamilton House & Gardens guided tour

Free time in Portsmouth, Boothbay Harbor, and Ogunquit

Taxes & Gratuities for Bus Driver, Tour Escort, and Wait Staff

Deposit and Cancellation:

$75 per person deposit due upon booking.

Balance due 60 days prior to tour.

Refundable up to 60 days prior to tour.

Travel Insurance is available for this trip through Travel Insured