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Gardens of La Belle Province
with Tour Guides Marjorie & Jeff Mason

SUNDAY, JULY 6 TO FRIDAY JULY 11, 2008

Enjoy a six-day excursion to Quebec with seasoned tour guides Marjorie and Jeff Mason, to the various gardens found in and around Quebec City and Montreal, including the exquisite private garden of Frank Cabot, Les Jardins de Quatre Vents, the famous Reford Gardens at the peak of the peony and blue poppy display, the Montreal Botanical Garden and private gardens in the Montreal area. You'll also enjoy a stop at a specialty conifer nursery and the opportunity to purchase some unusual plants. The tour price includes five nights accommodation, roundtrip transportation on a chartered coach, five breakfasts, two lunches, two group dinners, garden admission fees and guided tours of all the gardens.

Depart the GTA with anticipated pick-ups
1) TBG parking lot; limited overnight parking available
2) Port Hope area
3) Possible additional stop east of the GTA

ITINERARY

Day One (Sunday, July 6)
Early departure from the GTA area; we travel to Quebec City with a morning coffee stop, lunch and afternoon stop. You'll be entertained by Marjorie's storytelling and fun garden/travel games!
We'll check-in to Royal William Québec Hotel and complete our first day with a welcome reception and group dinner at the hotel.

• The Royal William Quebec Hotel is located in downtown Quebec City, in the university, arts, business and technology districts: in the center of the city, in the heart of life.
• The Sainte-Victoire is the Royal William Hotel's restaurant. It features refined French and country-style dining, shown to its best advantage in a sophisticated menu and subtly prepared dishes. The Bistro offers business lunches, a table d'hôte, an "à la carte menu" and breakfasts. A cordial atmosphere is enhanced by music drawn from the French song repertoire and great jazz and blues classics.
• Please note this hotel is 100% non-smoking.
• The hotel offers a work-out room for guests.

Day Two (Monday, July 7)
Breakfast at hotel. We depart at 8:30am for the tour of Frank Cabot's Les Jardins de Quatre Vents. We'll split into two groups each with an English speaking guide. The tour will last approximately 3 hours.
A boxed lunch will be provided as well as snacks for after the tour.

Please note: A large bus cannot negotiate the entrance driveway. Passengers will need to be dropped off by the main road and walk up the driveway (5 minutes). The experience is often too challenging (and as a consequence limited) for those with disabilities.

• We check-in to the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu and you'll have time to explore La Malbaie and dine at a restaurant of your choice.
  
• Nestled majestically between the sea and the mountains, Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu is a vision of historical splendor. Rich in tradition, this exquisite paragon of hospitality blends the quiet charm of the countryside with the sophistication of a world-class resort.
• The only grand hotel in the Charlevoix County, Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu blends the quiet charm of the countryside with the sophistication of a world-class resort.
• Discriminating diners will be delighted with our three fine restaurants which feature a variety of unique options, both local and international. Amerispa, our health spa, helps ease stress and tension, while our business services help take care of any business needs guests may have.

Day Three (Tuesday, July 8)
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll depart for Reford Gardens and International Garden Festival at Grand Metis. We'll cross the St. Lawrence River by ferry and arrive at Reford Gardens for a healthy lunch at the garden café which offers light meals of local produce and delicacies. An outdoor patio has been landscaped in the protected confines of a mature forest. Indoor seating is also available. Lunch will be followed by tours of the garden. We'll have a group dinner later at the hotel, Gouverneur Rimouski.

• We'll visit at gardens during the blooming period of the blue poppy which extends from mid-June to mid-July and reaches its peak during the first half of July. Blue poppy seeds are available for purchase at the Garden Shop.
• We'll check-in to Hotel Gouverneur Rimouski, the best 4-star hotel in the Bas Saint-Laurent region located in downtown Rimouski.
• Our second group dinner is planned for this evening at the hotel.
• This hotel provides a health centre and an outdoor pool.

Day Four (Wednesday, July 9)
Breakfast at the hotel. We then journey to Montreal for our two-night stay in this beautiful city.

• While in Montreal, we'll visit the Montreal Botanical Garden, a private garden in the Montreal area, and a specialty nursery for an opportunity to shop for plants.
  
• The Days Hotel & Conference Centre Montreal is set in the heart of the city, a few steps away from the lovely cafés and boutiques of Crescent street, Ste-Catherine and from Old-Montreal. The Hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool, sauna, spa, and fitness centre.
  
• There will be time for you to explore the city and enjoy dinners out on the town.

Day Five (Thursday, July 10)
Breakfast at the hotel. See above for other details.

Day Six (Friday, July 11)
Breakfast at the hotel. We'll depart for our trip back to Toronto with a stop either at the nursery or a private garden. We plan to arrive back to the GTA in the late evening.