EXCLUSIVE TOUR EVENT!

THE GARDENS OF BAR HARBOR & MOUNT DESERT ISLAND

September 10 to 13, 2026 · Thursday to Sunday

Tour arranged by Classical Excursions exclusively for Old Westbury Gardens

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Since opening to the public in 1959, Old Westbury Gardens has inspired visitors through the beauty of its gardens, landscapes, and shared experiences in nature. We are delighted to extend that tradition beyond our gates with an exclusive tour of the celebrated gardens of Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island. This unique program invites guests to explore extraordinary places alongside fellow garden enthusiasts who share a passion for horticulture, design, history, and discovery.

Our four-day visit to Bar Harbor includes private gardens and a variety of remarkable sites to explore and enjoy. Mount Desert Island is considered one of Maine’s most revered summer resort destinations, where the towns of Bar Harbor, Seal Harbor, and Northeast Harbor are set along its scenic coastline. The island has been a place of inspiration, relaxation, and outdoor recreation since the 1840s. In the early years, Hudson River School painters—including Thomas Cole and Frederic Church—traveled to Mount Desert Island, and especially Bar Harbor, to capture its spectacular seascapes and landscapes.

A major aspect of Mt. Desert Island is nature and the cultivation of beautiful gardens. Not only is its beauty unique, but according to the Wild Gardens of Acadia organization at the Acadia National Park, “the glacial accidents which left it with flora from both the cold north and the warmer south.” One person stands out for her highly talented contribution, the legendary landscape designer Beatrix Farrand, who summered at Bar Harbor for over half a century, creating over 60 gardens on the island. One of Farrand’s greatest projects was the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden at Seal Harbor designed collaboratively with Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Last year the garden came under the ownership of the Mt. Desert Land & Garden Preserve, “Set within acres of moss-carpeted woods, [there is an] unique atmosphere…derived from a combination of Eastern statuary with a border garden in which perennials build the foundation of the flower beds and annuals provide an explosion of color.”

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This tour is arranged by Classical Excursions. Please note that you must contact Olivia at Classical Excursions to formally register for this program. Upon completing the registration form, submitting a deposit to Classical Excursions, and receiving a confirmation from Classical Excursions you will be considered registered for this program. The $500 donation to Old Westbury Gardens should be made only after your registration has been confirmed. Please make sure you have received confirmation before making your donation. Payment of the $500 donation to Old Westbury Gardens prior to registration does not guarantee placement on the trip. Again, to inquire about registration for this program, please contact Olivia at Classical Excursions or call 413-446-8728.

A fully tax-deductible donation of $500 per person is required to participate in this travel program. This donation should be made only after your registration has been confirmed. Please note that this donation is non-refundable except in the case that this travel program is cancelled by the organization.

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OVERVIEW OF OUR DAYS

Please click here to view the brochure.

Dinner on your own this evening. Our hotel is well located for easy walking into the town of Bar Harbor.

Group dinner tonight.

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