2012 is Sold Out!
Thank you for your interest in our New Orleans Secret Garden Tour. Unfortunately, we have filled our available spaces for the 2012 tour. We will be doing this tour again in 2013 - if you'd like to be notified when the 2013 materials are available, please request the brochure on our brochure request page, and we'll make sure to notify you when 2013 is available. Thanks again!
Join Huron Tours and Travel, your garden tour experts, for a fabulous weekend visit to the Secret Gardens of New Orleans (and much more!).
Spring is such a wonderful time to visit New Orleans! Everything is blooming so beautifully, and the temperatures are perfect. No mosquitoes, no outrageous heat, a gentle breeze, the clang of the streetcar passing by. It won't take you long to understand why so many people love New Orleans so strongly...
Huron Tours attended the fabulous "Secret Gardens of New Orleans Tour" last year, and just knew our travelers would love it as much as we did. The tour takes you through 14 wonderful private gardens in one of the most exclusive zip codes in the US. Each garden is presented by a landscape or garden expert. You'll hear about what's growing, the philosophy behind the plant and design choices, a quick history and have time to ask questions.
Huron Tours has arranged a magical long weekend in New Orleans centered around the Secret Gardens Tour. We'll enjoy world class cuisine, explore the New Orleans Botanical Gardens with a private guided tour, see the city with our favorite private guide, and enjoy the atmosphere as only New Orleans natives and locals can show you.
Huron Tours attended the fabulous "Secret Gardens of New Orleans Tour" last year, and just knew our travelers would love it as much as we did. The tour takes you through 14 wonderful private gardens in one of the most exclusive zip codes in the US. Each garden is presented by a landscape or garden expert. You'll hear about what's growing, the philosophy behind the plant and design choices, a quick history and have time to ask questions.
Huron Tours has arranged a magical long weekend in New Orleans centered around the Secret Gardens Tour. We'll enjoy world class cuisine, explore the New Orleans Botanical Gardens with a private guided tour, see the city with our favorite private guide, and enjoy the atmosphere as only New Orleans natives and locals can show you.
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Thursday, March 22 ~ Arrival in New Orleans, Welcome Dinner at
Restaurant August
Jackson Square in New Orleans
Arrive this afternoon and explore the French Quarter from our perfectly located hotel, the Marriott New Orleans. You'll love the Marriott's location on the edge of the world-famous French Quarter. Within easy walking distance of New Orleans's most sophisticated shopping mall, Royal Street (the best of the French Quarter with wonderful art galleries, restaurants, and quality music), but still in a sophisticated and quiet setting. If any of you are interested in gambling, you are also an easy walk from Harrah's New Orleans casino.
This evening experience New Orleans dining at its finest when you join us for a fabulous "welcome to New Orleans" dinner at Restaurant August (follow the link for the list of accolades and awards (opens in a new window). You'll see first hand why New Orleans has such a high reputation for culinary imagination and quality.
This evening experience New Orleans dining at its finest when you join us for a fabulous "welcome to New Orleans" dinner at Restaurant August (follow the link for the list of accolades and awards (opens in a new window). You'll see first hand why New Orleans has such a high reputation for culinary imagination and quality.
Friday, March 23 ~ Secret Garden Tour, Private Guided City Tour, High Tea at Windsor Court
New Orleans Street Car on St. Charles
We'll begin the day with our fabulous "Secret Garden Tour." We will be guided through many wonderful gardens in different styles along world famous St. Charles Avenue. Many of the houses we will see have teams of people working to keep them in tip top shape - and of course the gardens are a major portion of that effort. These private gardens are open in order to participate in the Secret Garden Tour's fundraising efforts which contribute to brain injury recovery awareness. Huron Tours is proud to be a sponsor of the 2012 Secret Garden Tour.
After the garden visits, we'll have a lovely private New Orleans city tour to give you some history and an overview of this wonderful, vibrant city. We'll explore the incomparable "Garden District," a National Historic Landmark district, which is home to some of the best preserved southern mansions in the US (as well as past and current residences of famous writers, actors, and sports figures). We'll also visit the Vieux Carré, or French Quarter, the oldest neighborhood of New Orleans (built before the formation of the United States), on our way to our next wonderful stop.
Our city tour will wind up at the 4 star Windsor Court hotel, just in time for our High Tea. This is a wonderful extravagant tea that gets top ratings from anyone who has ever experienced it.
After the garden visits, we'll have a lovely private New Orleans city tour to give you some history and an overview of this wonderful, vibrant city. We'll explore the incomparable "Garden District," a National Historic Landmark district, which is home to some of the best preserved southern mansions in the US (as well as past and current residences of famous writers, actors, and sports figures). We'll also visit the Vieux Carré, or French Quarter, the oldest neighborhood of New Orleans (built before the formation of the United States), on our way to our next wonderful stop.
Our city tour will wind up at the 4 star Windsor Court hotel, just in time for our High Tea. This is a wonderful extravagant tea that gets top ratings from anyone who has ever experienced it.
Saturday, March 24 - Botanical Garden Visit, Lunch at Ralph's on the Park, Visit and Tour of Longue Vue House and Gardens
Greorge Rodrigue's Famous "Blue Dog" (in yellow).
This morning we'll transfer via private coach to New Orleans City Park where Huron Tours has arranged an exclusive private tour with the head horticulturalist of the New Orleans Botanical Garden. The Botanical Garden consists of over 2,000 varieties of plants from all over the world set amongst the Nation’s largest stand of mature Live Oak trees. The garden features lovely themed "rooms", many water features, sculptures, a Japanese Garden, a historic train garden, a lovely gift shop, and much more.
We'll also have time to wander through the New Orleans Museum of Art's Sculpture Garden, a whimsical and interesting garden setting of its own.
We'll also have time to wander through the New Orleans Museum of Art's Sculpture Garden, a whimsical and interesting garden setting of its own.
Ralph's on the Park
We have a wonderful treat in store for us when it is time for lunch. We'll dine at Ralph's on the Park, from the Brennan restaurant dynasty. This is a wonderful dining experience that will feel like an escape from the bustle of every day life. Relax in Ralph's and enjoy the decadence of an immersive and authentic New Orleans dining experience.
Following lunch, we have a wonderful visit to another lovely New Orleans setting - Longue Vue House and Gardens. Longue Vue's 8-acre estate is a National Historic Landmark, and is considered one of the last great houses of the American Renaissance. We will enjoy a guided tour of the home and gardens as a wonderful way to wrap up our planned activities today.
After a short coach ride back to our hotel, the evening and night is free to explore New Orleans. If you love music, you're in the right city. We can recommend many wonderful small venues with traditional jazz, great musicians, great singers, or recommend something completely unique. And of course, New Orleans is nothing if not a great restaurant city. Our hotel straddles two great neighborhoods with many of the best restaurants in the world. The Warehouse district can boast Emeril Laggasse's namesake "Emeril's", Cochon Restaurant (a great twist on New Orleans tradition), La Boca Restaurant (a fabulous Argentinian steakhouse you will only find in New Orleans), and a great Italian restaurant Tommy's Fine Cuisine that we just love. The French Quarter is also steps away, and we have plenty of recommendations for dining there as well (we've eaten in nearly every restaurant in the city.) If you don't have a place in mind, let us help you with your selection.
Following lunch, we have a wonderful visit to another lovely New Orleans setting - Longue Vue House and Gardens. Longue Vue's 8-acre estate is a National Historic Landmark, and is considered one of the last great houses of the American Renaissance. We will enjoy a guided tour of the home and gardens as a wonderful way to wrap up our planned activities today.
After a short coach ride back to our hotel, the evening and night is free to explore New Orleans. If you love music, you're in the right city. We can recommend many wonderful small venues with traditional jazz, great musicians, great singers, or recommend something completely unique. And of course, New Orleans is nothing if not a great restaurant city. Our hotel straddles two great neighborhoods with many of the best restaurants in the world. The Warehouse district can boast Emeril Laggasse's namesake "Emeril's", Cochon Restaurant (a great twist on New Orleans tradition), La Boca Restaurant (a fabulous Argentinian steakhouse you will only find in New Orleans), and a great Italian restaurant Tommy's Fine Cuisine that we just love. The French Quarter is also steps away, and we have plenty of recommendations for dining there as well (we've eaten in nearly every restaurant in the city.) If you don't have a place in mind, let us help you with your selection.
Sunday, March 25 - Private Guided Plantation Visits
Houmas House Plantation
This morning we’ll board our private deluxe motorcoach for a day in Plantation Country visiting two of the area’s most celebrated plantation homes: Houmas House and Oak Alley Plantation.
In 2003, Kevin Kelly a New Orleans entrepreneur spent over 10 million on the purchase and restoration of Houmas House estate and in doing so he has created one of the most magnificent plantation gardens in the country.
The gardens of Houmas House have been developed as a lush 38 acre panorama of indigenous Louisiana plant life and stunning exotics. The gardens are planted to reflect the unique beauty of each part of the year especially springtime.
We'll have a wonderful lunch at Houmas House in their award wining cafe which specializes in traditional Creole favorites.
In 2003, Kevin Kelly a New Orleans entrepreneur spent over 10 million on the purchase and restoration of Houmas House estate and in doing so he has created one of the most magnificent plantation gardens in the country.
The gardens of Houmas House have been developed as a lush 38 acre panorama of indigenous Louisiana plant life and stunning exotics. The gardens are planted to reflect the unique beauty of each part of the year especially springtime.
We'll have a wonderful lunch at Houmas House in their award wining cafe which specializes in traditional Creole favorites.
Oak Alley Plantation
Our next stop will be Oak Alley Plantation. Located on the Mississippi River between the historic Louisiana cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Oak Alley has been called the "Grande Dame of the Great River Road". The plantation was named for the quarter-mile double row of 28 live oaks planted in the 1700s by French settlers.
We will enjoy a wonderful narrated tour of the house with great details of life on the plantation. You will have plenty of time to soak up the history and take in the gorgeous grounds of the most photographed plantation in Louisiana.
We will enjoy a wonderful narrated tour of the house with great details of life on the plantation. You will have plenty of time to soak up the history and take in the gorgeous grounds of the most photographed plantation in Louisiana.
Monday, March 26 - Farewell Brunch at Court of Two Sisters Jazz Cafe
Unfortunately all good things must come to an end!
After a leisurely morning and a brief stroll down Royal Street we'll enjoy a Farewell Jazz Brunch at the iconic Court of Two Sisters. We'll share our memories of a wonderful garden tour as we listen to traditional New Orleans jazz in a lovely courtyard setting. After brunch everyone will head home with wonderful memories of terrific gardens, great food and new friends.
After a leisurely morning and a brief stroll down Royal Street we'll enjoy a Farewell Jazz Brunch at the iconic Court of Two Sisters. We'll share our memories of a wonderful garden tour as we listen to traditional New Orleans jazz in a lovely courtyard setting. After brunch everyone will head home with wonderful memories of terrific gardens, great food and new friends.
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Huron Tours & Travel, Inc.
| 6221 S. Claiborne Ave, Suite 586 | New Orleans, Louisiana 70125
Ph/Fax: 800.734.1192 | Email: [email protected]
Ph/Fax: 800.734.1192 | Email: [email protected]
