Holland, Michigan at Tulip Time

With Frederik Meijer Gardens

  • Date

    May 9-12, 2024 | Thu / Sun – 4 Days 

  • Location

    Holland | Grand Rapids

Overview

The beauty of springtime in Michigan envelopes you on this adventure. Since 1929, the small town of Holland, Michigan,has celebrated its Dutch heritage and culture, and each spring it blossoms with literally millions of tulips. Join them in celebrating the 95th anniversary of this beloved festival in 2024! Tour the city with a local guide and see the tulips decorating city parks, public attractions, and six miles of tulip lanes through Holland’s historic district and neighborhoods. Immerse yourself in Dutch heritage and culture at the Nelis Dutch Village. Visit Windmill Island Gardens and explore its manicured plantings, dikes, canals, and the only authentic operating Dutch windmill in the United States. See The Texas Tenors! Their popular live performances combine a classical country feel with original songs and familiar covers. Lovers of art and nature will find plenty of enjoyment strolling through the botanical gardens in Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, all the while taking in the delightful fragrances.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

  • See millions of tulips bursting with color
  • Tickets to see the award-winning Texas Tenors
  • Explore Windmill Island Gardens
  • Visit and shop for bulbs at Veldheer Tulip Farm
  • Take a Holland city tour
  • Enjoy Nelis Dutch Village
  • Dine on delicious Dutch-themed menus
  • Explore Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

PACKAGE INCLUDES

  • Escorted
  • 3 nights accommodations
  • Breakfast daily
  • 3 lunches, 1 dinner
  • Sightseeing and admissions per itinerary
  • Ground transportation
  • Hotel baggage handling

NOTE: This itinerary includes activities where moderate walking, possibly on uneven terrain, is required.

Thu, May 9: Depart Indianapolis by motorcoach for Holland, Michigan. Upon arrival, visit Nelis Dutch Village, where you’ll step back in time to explore and admire Dutch culture and heritage as well as a delicious lunch at the Hungry Dutchman Cafe. Following lunch, stop in at nearby Veldheer Tulip Farm, showcasing more than four million tulips, plus thousands of daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses in the spring. There is also a wooden shoe factory and a Delftware production facility where you can watch the world-famous Dutch pottery being molded, fired, hand-decorated, and glazed. Check into your accommodations in the heart of downtown Holland, get settled and have dinner on your own nearby. This evening, you’ll have included tickets to one of the Tulip Time Festival events: a concert by the award-winning Texas Tenors! Come celebrate with the boys on their 15th Anniversary Tour, where you will hear new music along with rousing patriotic favorites and everything from country to classical. Make some new and lasting memories at a concert experience you’ll never forget. (Meal: Lunch)

Fri, May 10: Following breakfast at the hotel take a tour of the Holland area with a costumed guide and learn the history of this famous town and its Tulip Time Festival. Colorful stops along the way provide many photo opportunities. Enjoy a themed lunch hosted by the Tulip Time organization featuring entertainment by the famous Dutch Dancers of Holland, this is a great way to experience a bit of authentic Dutch culture. Then explore the Tulip Immersion Garden, a display of over 65,000 tulips created by world renowned Dutch horticulturist Ibo Gülsen that tells the story of how the Tulip Time Festival came to be a part of the local heritage. This evening is free to do some sightseeing and enjoy dinner at one of the many incredible restaurants in town. If you are a country music lover, you may want to purchase a ticket to see American Idol winner Scotty McCreery in concert! (B,L)

Sat, May 11: This morning visit Windmill Island Gardens, featuring a 250-year-old working Dutch windmill, De Zwaan (“graceful bird”), which towers over the 36-acre property of manicured gardens, dikes, canals, and more than 150,000 tulips. The gardens are also the home of an antique Dutch carousel and the Posthouse Museum, an exact replica of a 14th-century wayside inn. Then take a moment to browse a unique display of over 100 expertly crafted quilts at the Tulip Time Quilt Show. Back downtown, enjoy free time to explore the Marktplaats (“Marketplace”) with food, arts and crafts, or poke around in the downtown area shops around the hotel. Tonight, dinner with a Dutch twist at a local favorite restaurant awaits. (B,D)

Sun, May 12: Say goodbye to the beautiful town of Holland and head for Grand Rapids, Michigan to discover the famed, 185-acre campus of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Take a narrated tram tour through the exquisite sculpture garden showcasing art from sculptors of the late 19th century to the present. Enjoy lunch and time on your own to stroll through the indoor and outdoor gardens including 15,000 square feet of tropical flora, carnivorous plants, Victorian era flowers, and seasonal flowers. Meander through quiet walkways and meadows while enjoying the shade garden and relish the tranquility while perusing the 8-acres of the Japanese garden. Return to Indianapolis in the late afternoon. (B,L)

Haworth Hotel & Conference Center. Nestled at the heart of downtown Holland and Hope College’s lively campus, this hotel offers a great location and comfortable rooms for your stay. Highlights: In-room refrigerator • complimentary WiFi Internet access • on-site coffee shop • fitness center.

PRICING

  • Complete Package
  • Double P/P – $1,459
  • Triple P/P – $1,349
  • Single – $1,819

* Subject to change due to fuel surcharge