Hagley Member Travel Opportunities

Christmas in Nashville

Celebrate the Christmas season with Hagley as we spend three nights at the beautiful Opryland Hotel as part of this seven-day holiday tour, December 7-13, 2010. Every year Opryland creates a glittering holiday extravaganza, sparkling with nearly two million lights. Nine acres of indoor gardens are lavishly decorated with brilliant displays of holiday ornaments and huge sparkling trees. Premium rooms at the Opryland Hotel give you views of the atrium. You'll also get to see, direct from New York City, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes. Along with the feasting and festivities you will also enjoy a performance of the Grand Ole Opry and dinner at the hotel with entertainment by Louise Mandrell. En route to Nashville, a special feature is a tour of the great Biltmore Mansion in Ashville, North Carolina, beautifully decorated for the Christmas season. On your return, enjoy a visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. This is an exciting tour with great opportunities to do your Christmas shopping.

We will have a morning departure from Hagley and then head south to Richmond for lunch. We plan to arrive in Winston-Salem in the late afternoon. Dinner will be at the hotel this evening at the Holiday Inn Select. Lunch and Dinner are included in the tour on day one.

We will all enjoy breakfast before heading on the road to Asheville. We anticipate a mid-morning arrival for our visit to the great Biltmore Mansion, beautifully decorated for the holiday season. In 1887 George Vanderbilt selected architect Richard Morris Hunt to build his mansion in the style of a French chateau. At one time it was the largest private home in America. Plan on an independent tour of the mansion with an audio guide, followed by a Christmas lunch at the Deerpark Restaurant on the estate. From the Biltmore we will continue to Knoxville for an overnight stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be included on the tour for day two.

After breakfast we will continue to Nashville with lunch at the Cheekwood Museum Restaurant before we check in for three nights at our lovely hotel, The Opryland Hotel, where there is much to see and do! This evening enjoy the Rockettes, direct from Radio City. Breakfast and lunch are included in day three.

There will be fun for everyone at the General Jackson Showboat luncheon with hilarious entertainment. Plan on some independent time at the hotel with lots to see and do with its many shops and wonderful decorations. This evening you have a reserved ticket for the Grand Ole Opry performance at the Ryman Auditorium. Breakfast and lunch are included in day four of the tour.

This morning see the "Country Christmas" Fantasy of Ice, an incredible exhibit of ice carvings and sculptures handcrafted by more than thirty-five artists form one million pounds of ice. Spend the afternoon at your leisure visiting the beautiful Hall of Trees in the hotel. This evening you are our guest at Louise Mandrell's "Joy to the World" Christmas Dinner Show at the hotel. Dinner is included on day five.

On day six, we will depart Nashville and drive to north to Roanoke, Virginia, stopping en route for lunch. Plan on an outstanding dinner at our beautiful hotel, the Doubletree Hotel. Lunch and dinner included in the tour on day six.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel to nearby Charlottesville to visit Jefferson's innovative Monticello for a guided tour. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States, called it his "essay in architecture." Monticello is a remarkable integration of his love of classical architecture and passion for modern innovation. Lunch will be at the historic Mitchie Tavern where patriots and presidents have dined. After lunch we will continue to Wilmington for an early evening arrival.

Costs: $1,673 per person for Hagley members and their guests based on double occupancy; $585 for single supplement. A $100 deposit is due with each reservation. Final payment is due October 10, 2010. Cancellations after August 15, 2010 until October 10, 2010 require a $25 per person cancellation fee. After October 10, 2010, no refunds unless replaced by another passenger. Trip cancellation/interruption insurance is recommended, and applications can be requested from 4 Seasons Tours by calling (302) 594-1030.

Cost includes roundtrip motorcoach transportation from Hagley Museum and Library; accommodations for six nights based on double occupancy; admissions to all sightseeing as per itinerary; a performance of the Radio City Christmas Show starring the Rockettes; an evening at the Grand Ole Opry; and dinner and entertainment with Louise Mandrell; meals include four breakfasts, six lunches, and four dinners; taxes and gratuities for hotels, included meals, and local guides; and luggage handling.

Call the membership office at (302) 658-2400 to register for either of these trips.