Chicago Midwest Garden Tour


sponsored by The San Francisco Garden Club




This 5 day 4 night garden and cultural  tour of Chicago includes the following: 4 nights at the Palmer House Hilton inclusive of taxes, touring coach for 4 days as per itinerary, group drop off at O’Hare airport, qualified guide to escort the group, daily breakfast, 2 dinners, 3 lunches, entrances: as per itinerary, Private garden visits – Pullman District and North Shore and garden lecture.  
 
Trip price: $1425 (double occupancy), details below.  
 



Experience the vitality of the heartland of America in dynamic Chicago.  Explore parks, arboretums and gardens - from the grand to the intimate.  As guests of local garden clubs you will have entry to private gardens in the historic Pullman District and along the Chicago’s lovely North Shore.  Highlights include a visit to Oak Park to see homes designed and inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and an architectural tour of Chicago.  
This custom designed garden tour is  planned exclusively for the members of the San Francisco Garden Club.    






1.  Wednesday, June 1     Arrival
Members travel independently to Chicago and check into the historic Palmer House, located conveniently in Chicago 's Loop, in the heart of the city's cultural core, near major museums, theaters and nightlife. The hotel features 4 restaurants, a pool, a fitness room, and many room amenities. An informative talk by a lecturer from the Chicago Botanic Garden will provide a valuable introduction to the history of Chicago’s gardens and parks.  A welcome dinner follows.  



2.  Thursday, June 2     Chicago Tour and Private Gardens
Chicago is the birthplace of the "skyscraper," and its architects have initiated several international architectural styles and movements, the most notable being the Chicago School and the Prairie School.   Our morning tour will show you the exceptional buildings, which contribute to Chicago’s fame. A special treat this morning will be a visit to the beautifully preserved, historic Pullman District, one of the first planned industrial towns, which was founded by the   builder of the famous Pullman Sleeping car.  We will be hosted by members of the Arcade Park Garden Club who will take you through their private hidden city gardens and   into urban pocket parks, which the club members are helping to restore. The Club is a member of the Chicago Botanic Garden.    
 
After lunch (included) we take a walking tour of Millennium Park where architect Frank Gehry has designed a soaring outdoor music band shell.  We tour the new Lurie Gardens at Millennium Park, which are the world's largest contemporary art garden.  These sites are part of Grant Park, which was transformed from a lakeshore landfill into a grand formal park.   The remainder of the day is free.  Why not continue to the other gem in Grant Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, which is open this evening.  The Art Institute is just a few blocks from the hotel.    
 



3.  Friday, June 3     Chicago Botanic Garden, Private North Shore Gardens
The day begins with a tour of the Chicago Botanic Garden was founded in 1972 by the Chicago Horticultural Society. The Chicago Botanic Garden is 26 gardens in one. From the Aquatic Garden, Bulb Garden, and Children's Garden to the English Oak Meadow and the popular Rose Garden, there's bound to be a botanical inspiration for everyone.   After lunch at the Botanic Gardens (included) tour members will have the special opportunity to visit three private gardens along Chicago’s North Shore.  Evening free.  



4.  Saturday, June 4     Frank Lloyd Wright Studio and Cantigny Park
Spend the morning visiting Oak Park where we explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s mastery of building design and space. At the Wright Home and Studio you’ll see the interior dynamics, structural systems, and use of lighting and color that made Wright one of the world’s great architects.  After lunch (included) we visit Cantigy Park, the 500-acre estate of a former editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, which includes, among other attractions, 10 acres of magnificent formal gardens, built in 1967. Featured areas include the Fountain Garden, the Rock Garden, the Green Garden, the Rose Garden, and an imaginative Idea Garden.   Tonight a farewell dinner at a local restaurant is included.  
 



5.  Sunday, June 5     Garfield Park and O’Hare departure
Check out of the hotel after breakfast and travel by coach to Garfield Park for a tour of the grounds and Conservatory which houses 10,000 square feet of plants from the world’s tropics. The Monet Garden is an adaptation of impressionist painter Claude Monet’s well-known garden at Giverney, France. The Sunken Garden includes three acres of European classical formal gardens.  After the tour the coach will take tour members to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.    
 





This engaging experience includes:

  • 4 nights at the Palmer House Hilton inclusive of taxes
  • Touring coach for 4 days as per itinerary
  • Group drop off at O’Hare airport as per itinerary
  • Qualified guide to escort the group as per itinerary
  • Daily breakfast; 2 dinners, 3 lunches
  • Garfield Conservancy, Cantigny Park, Wright Home, Chicago Botanic Garden
  • Private garden visits – Pullman District and North Shore
PROGRAM PRICES  
Per person (double occupancy: $1425  
Single Supplement: $415  
AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED