| Portland, Oregon Living the Good Life June 20-25, 2012 Celebrity Host Mike Darcy Tour Leader: Cheryl Hedgpeth Nichols Tour Limited to 24, reservations now open Online booking available: Click Here Watch Welcome VIdeo Weds. June 20 Welcome to Portland Travel independently to Portland and check into the Inn at Northrup Station for a five-night stay. The all-suite hotel, located on the Portland Streetcar line, is surrounded by restaurants & boutiques. Meet the other guests at 6pm for an informal rooftop reception at the hotel, then we will walk to nearby Wildwood restaurant, known for serving the finest fresh and seasonal cuisine, for our welcome dinner including Oregon wine. Reception, Dinner Thurs June 21 East of the River After breakfast, we head out across the Willamette River to visit the charming gardens and neighborhoods east of the river. Our first stop is the garden of Tom Vetter, known as “Portland’s Picasso of Plant Combinations.” His personal garden is beautifully planted to shine in every season as plants show off their textures and shapes. We continue to the gardens of neighbors Linda Ernst and Joanne Fuller (Joanne is president of the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon). We then arrive at Mississippi Ave just before lunch. The hottest new restaurants and the hippest shops are only a part of the allure. Steeped in tradition and history, this neighborhood and community has a culturally diverse spirit, a sentiment you can feel as you stroll the street. Lunch and shopping time is on your own so you can fully explore this delightful neighborhood, although we are planning a special tour and demonstration at The Meadow, a truly unique establishment offering salt, chocolate, and so much more. After lunch & shopping, we'll walk over to the garden of Peter Eastman, featuring lots of tropicals and sub-tropicals. It is composed of garden rooms with an eye for design. Next stop is Garden Fever Nursery, featuring a stylish and eclectic blend of tools, books, plants, art, and more. After a full day of touring, we have certainly earned a visit to the Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House, where we will have a taste or two and some nibblies while learning about Portland's world-famous microbrew and pub scene. Stay on as long as you like, perhaps even for dinner, or stroll to nearby shops and restaurants, then catch the Portland Streetcar back to our hotel. Dinner is on your own to sample the many dining choices in this Pearl District neighborhood. Breakfast, Beer/Snacks. Fri June 22 A Day in the Country After breakfast, we will head west and south of downtown, stopping first at the Quirk/Neill garden. Next we have an exclusive invitation to enter an estate garden that is rarely open to visitors Our host Mike Darcy secured access to this garden, which is so private that we must keep the owner's name a secret. Finishing with garden visits for the day, we head to Red Ridge Farms where you can taste Oregon-produced olive oils, sip wine produced on the property or tour the nursery & gift shop to browse their selection of aromatic herbs, specialty vinegars, gourmet salts, tea, books and other distinctive gifts. We are planning a picnic lunch at Red Ridge and a tour of the olive mill. We continue to a nearby vineyard for a tour and tasting which is sure to include one of Oregon's famous Pinot Noirs. Return to the hotel late afternoon, the evening is free to explore the many nearby dining options Breakfast, Lunch, Wine Tasting Sat. June 23 Tale of Two Countries Today we enter the Lan Su Chinese Garden before it opens to the public for a private tour of this authentically built cultural heritage garden and living museum of Chinese trees and flora. Within this authentic Ming Dynasty scholar’s garden, serpentine mosaic pathways lead to harmonious landscapes of plants, water, stones, pavilions, and poetry. We will experience a private traditional tea demonstration within the garden at the Tower of Cosmic Reflections teahouse. Built in 2000, it's a national landmark serving visitors from all over the world. A collaborative project between the City of Portland and its sister city in China - Suzhou, the teahouse was named for the view one obtains of the 'cosmos' reflected in 'Zither' lake in front of the teahouse. The teahouse was built by a team of over 80 artisans, many of them coming from China over the year-long construction project. It is furnished with antique Chinese furniture in the Ming and Sung dynasty styles. Our tea-tasting will be accompanied by light Chinese-style food. We will then continue to Washington Park -- our destination is the Portland Japanese Garden, considered one of the most authentic and beautiful Japanese gardens outside of Japan. It features five traditional gardens, a pavilion, and many plants imported from Japan. We'll have time to contemplate the garden on our own before heading downhill for a quick look at the International Rose Test Garden. Our coach will then continue to 23rd Avenue, a Portland neighborhood full of boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Guests may disembark there or continue to the hotel. Balance of the day and evening at leisure to explore and enjoy Portland, the City of Roses. Breakfast, Chinese Tea. Sunday June 24 Today we have a special treat, the private garden of Ted Mahar. A creation of the late Dulcy Mahar, longtime garden columnist for Oregonian Homes and Gardens NW, the garden's lush perennial borders are now under the care of Dulcy's longtime friend and associate, Doug the Wonder Guy. Our next stop is the garden of Susan Bates, known for her colorful plant combinations. We next head to Lake Oswego where our local host Mike Darcy, will give us a personal tour of his own garden including lunch alfresco. Mike is always trying new plants and pushing the zone. His personal haven is a plant person’s garden, with many large ceramic pots and lots of container gardening, with garden art scattered about. After lunch we will enjoy a visit to Mike’s neighbors, Bob and Mignon Ervin’s urban farm on a hillside overlooking Lake Oswego and Mount Hood. They've created a sustainable garden mainly dedicated to organic food production. The Ervins have ducks, chickens, honeybees, raised beds and a small family vineyard. They have also developed an aquaponic vegetable garden and koi pond for fertilizer production. Return to the hotel and freshen up for tonight's special farewell dinner at Meriwether’s Restaurant named after the famous explorer and known for fresh, local farm-to-table cuisine. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Monday June 25 After breakfast, time to say farewell or perhaps continue on to see other sights in the Pacific Northwest. Breakfast Tour Price $1445 per person based on 2 persons sharing a room. A $395 supplement applies to have a single room. Tour Includes
Not included: Airfare, airport transfers, tips to coach driver, items or events not mentioned in itinerary. To book online, click HERE For more information and reservations, please contact: Sterling Tours, Ltd Print Booking Form 2907 Shelter Island Drive Suite #105-262 Terms and Conditions San Diego, CA 92106 Tel: 619 299-3010 800-976-9497 Print Itinerary CST2023849-40 |
Sterling Tours, Ltd
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