BOK TOWER GARDENS “CHRISTMAS IN THE GARDENS TOUR”

SATURDAY, DEC. 16, 2023     

BOK TOWER GARDENS, THE SINGING TOWER CARILLON CONCERT & EL RETIRO MANSION Tour & Lunch – Featuring The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team Show

PRICE:  $89 per person

Tour Activity Level ★★★   

 Think Poinsettia’s!  When Bok Tower Gardens founder Edward W. Bok immigrated to America from the Netherlands at age six, he did not understand the language, customs or culture. Through determination and hard work, he became a highly successful publisher, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, respected humanitarian and an advocate of world peace and the environment. Bok’s grandmother told him to “make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it,” which he did throughout his lifetime, and is proven in this garden! Frederick Law Olmstead Jr., who designed Central Park, Washington DC Mall, the White House and The Biltmore Estate, was commissioned by Mr. Bok to design his garden in Lake Wales. He was given the task to change Mr. Bok’s arid hill into “a spot of beauty second to none in the country.”  Today visit these tranquil gardens, the Carillon 60 Bell Tower’s music fills the gardens daily at 1pm and 3pm, plus plenty of Poinsettia’s in reds, pinks & whites. Tour El Retiro, which means “Retreat” in Spanish, a mansion built by Charles Austin Buck of Bethlehem Steel and a friend of Mr. Bok. Decorated for the holidays, this lovely Spanish designed home was the winter retreat for the Buck family and was elegantly landscaped by the same firm that landscaped Bok Tower Gardens!  El Retiro was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and is now part of Bok Tower Gardens.  On the way home you are treated to a 1-hour water ski show by the Members of the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team.  Bring a folding lawn chair, and there will be food trucks and merchandise for sale with all proceeds going to the Ski Team to carry on this Florida tradition.

TOUR  INCLUDES:  Garden Admission, El Retiro Mansion, Museum & Film, Carillon Bell Recital, Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team Show, Lunch, Danish upon boarding, Bus with Restroom, Free WiFi & Outlets, Meal Gratuities and All Taxes & Professional Group Tour Director.

Lunch Choice Must Be Give at time of booking.
Lunch choices are: Chicken Blueberry Salad, a scoop of homemade chicken salad on mixed greens, feta cheese, candied pecans, strawberries, served with blueberry pomegranate Vinaigrette; – OR- Turkey & Smoked Gouda on artisan multigrain with tangy mayo, lettuce and tomato; -OR- Vegetarian Wrap on a tomato basil wrap with red peppers, cucumbers, carrots, Spanish olives, provolone & cheddar, lettuce, tomato, olives with chipotle ranch dressing -OR- Homemade Chicken Salad on Croissant.

BRING A FOLDING LAWN CHAIR for ski show.

DRESS: Casual & Comfortable Walking Shoes. Customary Driver Tip is NOT included and will be collected on return. (Industry Standards Suggests $2.50 TO $3 per person). Name Tags & Any Tickets given out on bus. Bus seats are assigned from front of bus according to date you pay. Please advise us of Birthdays or Anniversaries or if bringing a walker, scooter or wheelchair and of any special dietary requirements.

NO REFUNDS for cancellations unless resold from our waiting list; Name Changes Permitted. All refunds in form of Future Tour Credit.

EMERGENCIES ONLY: Call 1-386-871-3466 if you are running late for bus or have a problem while on the tour.
***DUE TO MEDICAL REASONS: PERFUME OR AFTERSHAVE IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE WORN ON OUR TOURS. IF DETECTED YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE ***

BUS DEPARTURE TIMES:

ORMOND BEACH WALMART BUS DEPARTS: 8:00 AM  & RETURNS APPROX. 9:00 PM
PORT ORANGE KOHL’S PARKING LOT BUS DEPARTS:   8:25 AM & RETURNS APPROX.  8:40 PM
NEW SMYRNA WALMART BUS DEPARTS:  8:45 AM & RETURNS APPROX.  8:30 PM
ORANGE CITY BUS DEPARTS:   9:15 AM  & RETURNS APPROX.  8:00 PM