Wednesday, June 16

Join Wing Haven and friends for a memorable trip to Newport, Rhode Island

• Arrive by 1:00 p.m. to Hotel Viking.
  Since opening its doors in 1926, Hotel Viking has stood just above Newport’s harbor as a gathering place for travelers, artists, locals, and cultural figures drawn to the city’s creative energy. Built during Newport’s Gilded Age resurgence, the hotel quickly became part of the social fabric of Bellevue Avenue.

• 3:00 p.m. Board transit to private area gardens

• Scenic drive down Ocean Drive to Castle Hill Inn for drinks and hors d'oeuvres on the lawn followed by seated dinner in the Ocean Room.

  Presiding over historic Newport for decades, Castle Hill Inn has long been captivating the hearts and minds of its treasured guests – and today holds sway as one of the most beloved Newport, RI beach hotels. Join the likes of actress Grace Kelley and playwright and novelist Thornton Wilder as you step back in time to the 19th century when the gracious home was commissioned by local marine biologist and naturalist Alexander Agassiz of Harvard University. With its vantage point on the ocean and the sea life found within it, the Inn was – and still remains – an inspiration for all those who have the pleasure of experiencing it.

Thursday, June 17

• Board transportation for a private tour of The Blue Garden

  The Blue Garden debuted in 1913 and was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. for the Arthur Curtiss James estate on Beacon Hill. Over time, the garden with its pergolas, pools, and walls, fell into disrepair, ravaged by a fire and invasive trees and shrubs. With the generosity of Dorrance H. Hamilton, it was restored in 2014 to its original glory—using original Olmsted plans, drawings, and photographs. As the name suggests, the garden incorporates a palette of blues and purples, with touches of white, and has something in bloom each month the garden is open. Over 250 evergreen trees enclose the garden walls to create a secret garden of perennials and annuals. The Blue Garden is known today as a classic example of American landscape art and a triumph of historic preservation.

  Dorrance Hill Hamilton (1928–2017) was the granddaughter of John T. Dorrance, the chemist who invented Campbell Soup's famous condensed soup formula. She was a legendary, avid gardener, a frequent blue-ribbon winner at the Philadelphia Flower Show, and a major horticultural philanthropist.

• Green Animals Topiary Garden

  Green Animals, the oldest topiary garden in the nation, also boasts more than 35 formal flowerbeds, geometric pathways, arbors, fruit trees, and vegetable and herb gardens. There truly is something for everyone at Green Animals.

  Thirty-seven thousand tulips contribute a rainbow of colors during the early spring. Late-spring perennials like columbine, lupine and coral bells give way to summer annuals, hydrangeas, daylilies and countless more unique specimens.

• Enjoy a lovely lunch and shopping at Tiverton Four Corners

  Located within a one hour drive of Newport, Tiverton Four Corners host cozy shops nestled into a quaint 18th century New England Village.

• Sakonnet Gardens in Little Compton, RI

  Sakonnet began in the mid 1970’s as a small clearing deep within a natural tangle of Autumn Olives, Oriental Bittersweet and local Arrowwood Viburnums. Now larger than an acre, its labyrinth of spaces are carved organically out of the original thicket. Each outdoor room reflects the owner’s ongoing experiments with lighting, space, color mixing, collecting and growing wonderful plants.

• Drinks at the home of Wing Haven members followed by a lobster boil on the lawn at Quaker Hill Farm.

Friday, June 18

• 9:00 a.m. Attend opening day at New England’s Premier Flower Show hosted by The Preservation Society of Newport County

• Lunch at The Carriage House at The Elms

  The newly restored Carriage House at The Elms, on the mansion grounds overlooking the historic Elms gardens, is the newest dining experience for guests and members at the Newport Mansions. Enjoy a snack or a selection from our seasonal à la carte menu of New England classics and farm-to-table fare.

• Free time to visit local mansions on your own and/or shop

• Dinner at The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar

Saturday, June 19

Depart at your leisure or add on to your stay.

Trip Details:

• Cost includes three nights’ accommodations at the Hotel Viking, admission to opening day at The Newport Flower Show, a private tour of the Blue Garden, Green Animals Topiary Garden, and Sakonnet Gardens; tours of private area gardens; three lunches; two dinners; and ground transportation. Single-room supplements are not included.

• Space is limited to ensure an intimate and enriching experience.

• Rain or shine. Pack comfortable shoes and clothes for all types of weather.