Garden Tour- Lilacs & Beyond

Garden Tour - Lilacs & Beyond

Welcome to New York's Flower City named so in the late 1860s.  Home to North America's largest Lilac Festival. Rochester's famous Lilac Festival is a lavish array of flowers, entertainment and attractions that delights visitors from around the world each year.

The combined acreage of public parkland owned and maintained today by the city of Rochester and Monroe County totals more than 12,000 acres.  Rochester has an extraordinary selection of gardens & parks, horticultural resources and public events that we'd love to share with you.  There are several Olmstead-designed city owned squares and parks here in Rochester. Formal and informal examples represent historical styles ranging from late 18^th century pioneer gardens to early 20^th century industrialists estates with Italian, Japanese & English style gardens.

Day 1         

Check into your hotel. Late afternoon arrival.  Dinner at host hotel.

Depart for Downstairs Cabaret Theatre or catch a live theatre performance at GEVA Theatre.

Day  2        

Breakfast in host hotel

Meet in lobby depart for day-time activities.

Visit Highland Park home of the Lilac Festival. Guided tour of the Lilac Grove & festival grounds.  Time to browse and visit the many Exhibits and crafters.

Visit Ellwanger Garden. A former private garden owned by a famous horticulturist on a ½ acre oasis of trees, perennials, and shrubs or visit the Lamberton Conservatory, climate-controlled rooms contain many exotic  plants and seasonal floral display with a deck for a bird‘s-eye view.

Lunch in the international food court on the Festival grounds.

Visit the elegant home of George Eastman,  founder of Eastman Kodak.  View the Restored gardens-terrace, rock and sunken gardens planted with 300  varieties of historic perennials, bulbs, and trees.  This is also the International Museum of Film and Photography.  The mansion is beautifully restored and contains 90% of Mr. Eastman's own furnishings.

Depart for Sonnenberg Mansion & Gardens, now a New York State Park located in the beautiful Finger Lakes region. The gardens feature 20,000 annuals, rose bushes, water-falls, rock formations and wildflowers.    The Japanese Garden is exquisite.

On-route back to Rocester Dinner at the Holloway House, in East Bloomfield.  An historic landmark operated as a tavern dated back to 1820's, now a charming restaurant with delicious home cooked food served family style.  The unique colonial surroundings are a perfect enhancement to your evening.

Return to hotel.

Day  3          

Meet in hotel lobby for Breakfast with the Animals at Seneca Park Zoo.  This inner-city zoo is located in a nature preserve overlooking the Genesee River gorge.   A very peaceful & pleasant  way to start your day.  The Zoo is all yours for a private visit this morning following a full American breakfast in the new Pavilion.

Orientation @ High Falls Visitors Center.  A fascinating urban park that preserves the history of an early 19^th century industrial center.  Learn about Rochester's past and present. Visit their superb gift shop.  High Falls is known to be one of the largest inter city water falls in North America.  

Visit Strong National Museum of Play.  New multi-million dollar expansion reopened in 2006 includes a butterfly garden and many hands on exhibits.    One of a kind special museum of American pop culture, now home to the National Toy Hall of Fame, world  renowned collection of  toys, dolls, miniatures and dollhouses. The lobby showcases a restored 1950's diner and Denzal antique carousel.  Catch a ride before you leave.

Depart for Erie Canal Cruise on the Colonial Belle. Enjoy the scenic tranquil waters of the canal.  Arrange a group lunch on board or dine at one of many charming restaurants in the charming village of Fairport.

Tour Casa Larga Vineyards. Enjoy tasting their award-winning wines. Visit their elegant, unique gift shop located in the newly constructed Italianvilla.  The scenic vineyards at the highest point in Monroe County, overlooking the surrounding area and Rochester.

Return to host hotel for R and R.

Dinner and Cabaret Show at Crescent Beach Restaurant located on the shores of beautiful Lake Ontario.  Their award winning gardens grace the lake shore.                 

Return to host hotel.

Special Garden events featured in Rochester area: 

March: GardenScape and the Rochester Flower Show

April: Orchid & Bulb Show at Sonnenburg Gardens

May: Annual Lilac Festival and Peony Weekend at Elwanger Garden,

June: Maplewood Rose Festival, Rose Week at Sonnenberg Gardens and Heirloom Garden Week at Genesee Country Village & Museum

Fall: Chrysanthemum Display at Lamberton Conservatory.