There’s no better way to sweep away winter than with an overnight escape to the horticultural paradise that’s the annual Philadelphia Flower Show. And with a theme of “Gardens of Tomorrow,” the 2025 edition is sure to provide a world of imaginative designs and boundless inspiration. Horticulturist Chelsea Mahaffey leads the tour.
Begin with a visit to nearby Winterthur, where a guided tram tour of the grounds and mansion give a taste of what used to be the du Pont family’s luxurious estate. After a boxed lunch, discover horticultural secrets on a docent-led garden walk. Dinner is at the festive Victor Cafe, featuring classic Italian cuisine and performances of operatic favorites by the talented servers.
There’s no need to fight the crowds (or feel pushed for time) as you begin your Monday visit to the Philadelphia Flower Show: Spend 2 hours taking in the blooms before the show opens to the public, then enjoy a full day to explore the delights of the world’s largest annual floral exhibition. Included with your ticket is an opportunity to experience the beautiful, exotic creatures in the Butterflies Live! immersive habitat while learning how to attract them to your garden, plus lectures throughout the show led by Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS) educators.
Step into the Designer’s Studio and Gardener’s Studio, which feature top flower designers in competitions and lively how-to gardening demos; explore the wide variety of plants, flowers, and gifts at the Marketplace; and celebrate the beauty of container-grown plants in the PHS Horticourt.
Grab lunch at the show or across the street at Reading Terminal Market, a Philadelphia staple since 1893, housed in a National Historic Landmark building.
The tour’s overnight accommodations also reflect the city’s past: The elegant Kimpton Hotel Monaco in the Old City historic district began its life in 1907 as an office building on Philadelphia’s Bank Row.
Know Before You Go
- Cost includes bus transportation, lodging, all activities, and the following meals: one breakfast, one lunch, and Sunday dinner.
- Overnight accommodations are at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco.
- Tour departs by bus from the Mayflower Hotel, Connecticut Ave. and DeSales St., NW, with a pickup stop at the DoubleTree by Hilton Laurel, 15101 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, Maryland, at about 8:30 a.m.
- Single-room supplement $90 (factored into the Single Room Member and Single Room Non-Member pricing).
- Singles registering at the double-room rate are paired (on a nonsmoking basis) if possible, but must pay the single-room supplement otherwise.
- Detailed information is emailed to registrants about four weeks prior to departure.
- Participants are advised to purchase travel insurance for overnight and multi-day tours from a provider of your choice. Travel insurance provides additional coverage against unforeseen incidents that require last-minute cancellations.
General Information
- Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Friday, February 28, 2025.
- The tour departs by motorcoach from downtown Washington, DC with a designated secondary pick-up outside the city. Content delivered by the study leader on the way to the destination, after the secondary pick-up, is an integral part of the study tour experience. Meeting the group once the tour is en route is discouraged.
- Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
- As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
- For additional tour information:
