WINTERTHUR AND LONGWOOD GARDENS (For AICPA)
One of the most popular sites in America, Winterthur - the Henry du Pont Estate and Gardens - houses a collection of American decorative arts spanning 200 years. It has received extravagant praise for its unique display of furniture and accessories shown grouped naturally in rooms complete to early paneling, mantels, ceilings, antique upholstery, and curtains. Du Pont's vision and sensitivity are equally expressed in the gracious and exciting gardens, both natural and formal, which delight both amateur and seasoned lovers of nature's bounty and are considered among the finest naturalistic gardens in the world.

The estate is set on 985 acres of rolling countryside, impeccably groomed and planted. Eighteen rooms of the estate welcome guests with an astoundingly accurate portrayal of home life in America over the past two centuries.

The newest addition to this splendid attraction is a series of room perfect galleries that display the furnishings of Winterthur in room settings that change every few months to highlight various segments of antiques and Americana.

Lunch will be served at Winterthur Estate.

Next, lovers of exquisite flowers, majestic trees, and opulent architecture will delight in the glory that is Longwood. In frigid February, sweet scented summer, or color washed autumn, the Gardens offer unending treats for all the senses. Impeccably designed and groomed, its 350 acres offer glassed conservatories with fragrant year round rose and orchid rooms, spectacular fountains, 14,000 kinds of plants, indoor sculptured French gardens, and even idea gardens for the home gardener.

PHILADELPHIA ALL AROUND TOWN (For AICPA)
Our first stop would be the National Constitution Center. Here we will see the story of "We the People" - the permanent exhibit in DeVos Hall which includes the Kimmel Theater, a 350-seat star-shaped theater featuring "Freedom Rising," a multimedia production combining film, a live actor and video projection on a 360-degree screen. We will be able to explore, The American Experience, which includes a history of the Constitution as well as more than 100 interactive and multimedia exhibits for all ages. A trip to the center would not be complete without a stop in Signers' Hall, which contains 42 life-size bronze statues of the 39 men who signed the Constitution as well as the three who dissented.

Drive through the vibrant beauty of America's largest city park, where the colonial elite spent their summers. There, they enjoyed the gracious living that marked the 17th century aristocrat. We will enjoy a visit to one of their mansions, furnished and maintained just as it was when the guest lists included our Colonial forefathers. The rooms are complete with bedwarmers, needlepoint stands and authentic furnishings. The porches are poised over wonderful views and the house itself holds wonderful special treasures like antique toy exhibits. The stories that surround their life will spice the tour as your SHOWCASE guide leads you back in time to meet the fascinating people who shaped our past.

On the way to lunch, a drive down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway offers a panorama of fascinating art and architecture, traditional and abstract, from flowing fountains to colossal clothespins, stately churches to towering skyscrapers.

Our motor coach will cruise the Society Hill area en route to City Tavern. Guests will enjoy a special lunch at this marvelous recreation of the original tavern where Franklin and Jefferson and all their cronies would meet to relax and discuss the events of the day. The City Tavern works hard to keep the colonial flavor of the site alive: waiters are costumed and we can have a curator (it is actually a part of Independence Park) talk about the restaurant itself.

THE BARNES FOUNDATION MUSEUM
For years it was the private joy of one man. Now, after a lengthy legal battle and major renovations, you can access the fabulous Barnes Museum containing hundreds of paintings and sculptures in 23 rooms on two floors. One of the finest art collections in the world, it houses 180 Renoirs, 60 Matisses, 50 Cezannes, and works by Picasso, Seurat, Soutine, Modigliani, Rousseau, El Greco, Titian, and Tintoretto, none of which can be reproduced or loaned. On your return trip, you will get a glimpse of the famous Main Line with its magnificent residences and churches.

LONGWOOD—A GARDEN FOR ALL SEASONS
If you love exquisite flowers, majestic trees, and opulent architecture, you will delight in the glory that is Longwood. Its 350 impeccably designed and groomed acres offer year-round rose and orchid rooms, spectacular fountains, 14,000 varieties of plants, indoor sculptured French gardens, and even idea gardens for the home gardener. Whatever your favorite season, you will see it at its best in Longwood’s all-year-long floral kaleidoscope.

BEAUTY IN THE BRANDYWINE: WINTERTHUR and WYETH
Winterthur—the Henry du Pont Estate—houses American decorative arts spanning 200 years. Receiving extravagant praise for unique displays of furniture and accessories grouped naturally in rooms, Du Pont’s vision and sensitivity are equally expressed in gracious and exciting gardens. A remarkable shop with replicas of many items is located on the grounds. Lunch will be at a charming country restaurant. Then in a converted century-old mill beside the Brandywine River, enjoy an impressive collection of three generations of the Wyeth dynasty—N.C., Andrew, and Jamie—and the artists influenced by their style. Or enjoy either of these sites on their own special merits.

SHOWCASE PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia, river-to-river! Meet the fabled giants of our colonial history. Enjoy the Rittenhouse Square mansions and the fountains and monuments of the splendid Franklin Parkway. Soak in the largest urban park in the world with its celebrated colonial mansions. See Victorian City Hall, America’s longest street, Antiques Row, America’s first hospital and library, Society Hill, and finally William Penn’s Delaware River landing site where tall ships still dock. A brochure “translating” common Philadelphia phrases is provided so you can converse like a native, simplifying your restaurant, theatre, and nightlife experiences!

IN THE LAND OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH
The quiet charm of Amish country is the perfect way to view a style of living that rejects the twentieth century. A taste of old-fashioned country hospitality and a glimpse of a way of life untouched by modern conveniences, the tour will travel byways and hamlets where the Amish life-style is evident at every turn. Your guide will explain the traditions and quaint customs of the “plain people,” the hallmark of the day. Luncheon will be served “Dutch style” with the traditional overflowing table of sweets, sours, meats, and desserts. At the last stop, the village of Intercourse, shop for shoo-fly pie, a hex sign, or a bonnet.

OTHER OFFERINGS

History by the Square Foot: The quintessential historic Philadelphia sites.

In Franklin’s Footsteps: History as Dr. Benjamin Franklin lived it.

New Hope And Peddlers’ Village: A whole new world of shopping in an old world setting.

Philadelphia Art And Antiques: A marvelous collection of art, American furniture, and artifacts at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and a colonial mansion.

River Fun—Penn’s Landing And The Aquarium: Relics of former naval battles and museums that celebrates the river, its workers, and the creatures that dwell in it. Add a ferry ride for a great day!

Designer’s Dream Day: In one of the largest wholesale showrooms in America explore the ultimate in interior design to find out what’s hot and what’s not.

City House/Country House: 300 years are illuminated by these homes’ former inhabitants from the butcher and the baker to doctors and mayors.

Extraordinary Chestnut Hill: A community of extraordinary architecture, colorful gardens, cobble-stoned streets, and charming shops.

Culture on the Half Shell: Fascinating art and architecture, from flowing fountains to a colossal clothespin, stately churches to towering skyscrapers. Also tour the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum, and a colonial mansion in-the-park.

Gallery Hopping in Olde City: A very special gallery shopping tour led by the artists and managers who fill the galleries with tomorrow’s treasures.

Bucks County And The Mercer Museum: The bucolic countryside leads to a seven-story, castle-like, concrete fortress filled with pre 20th century Americana. Continue to the bustling artists’ colony.

Hagley is History: A lively trilogy of sites that illustrate working life in Victorian America and its attendant aristocratic leadership.

Mad Scientist for a Day: Explore two American firsts, the Franklin Institute and Dinosaur Hall at the Pennsylvania Academy of Natural Sciences.

Philadelphia Medica: A potpourri of medical related stops, including a museum of medical oddities, America’s first operating room, and a visit to the home of the father of American medicine.

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Showcase Associates, Inc.
911 Cypress Avenue
Elkins Park, PA 19027-1992
Phone: 215-884-6205
Fax: 215-884-2306
Email: info@showcaseassociates.com