History and elegance meet as you wander the gardens and estates of the Eastern Shore portion of the Virginia Historic Garden Week tour.

In it’s 90th year this year, Virginia’s Historic Garden week is a celebration of beautiful gardens all around the Commonwealth. Be a part of the tradition and enjoy the historic gardens of Virginia’s Eastern Shore!

But What is Historic Garden Week?

According to the Virginia Historic Garden Week website, “Since 1920 the Garden Club of Virginia has grown from eight founding clubs to 48 clubs with over 3,500 members. It is the coordinated efforts of these talented volunteers, along with the generosity of nearly 150 private home owners across our Commonwealth, who make Historic Garden Week possible. The Garden Club of Virginia’s horticultural programming and flower shows inspire one of Historic Garden Week’s greatest attractions, the world-class floral arrangements created by club members featured on tours. We estimate over 2,300 will be created especially for Historic Garden Week this spring.” (read more at www.vagardenweek.org/about-us/) 

Historic Garden Week on Virginia’s Eastern Shore is all about discovering the beauty and traditions of southern gardens that you will find scattered along our natural coast. The roots run deep in our sandy soil and you will find incredible landscaping and meticulously planned gardens that beautify these family estates that date back hundreds of years.

Read all about the featured locations this year in the Historic Garden Week guide book: https://www.vagardenweek.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HGWGuidebook_2023_TextPagesFinal2small-4.pdf

How to prepare for your day of exploring

Take it slow

There are 5 highlighted locations on this year’s tour (be sure to read all about them at the link above!), so be sure to factor in plenty of time to enjoy each one. You’ll also want to consider driving time between each location. The tour is all about enjoying the beauty of each garden, so take your time to soak it all in!

Be comfortable

Good walking shoes and comfortable clothing will go a long way to make sure that you have the best experience possible. Bug spray and sunscreen are also great ideas!

Stay hydrated and full!

Don’t forget to eat and hydrate while you’re on your adventure for the day! Our small towns are conveniently located to each spot on the tour and have a great variety of coffee shops, restaurants, and convenience stores for anything you might need.

Come prepared to relax, enjoy, and create wonderful memories as you learn the stories of each home and soak in the springtime scenery. Bring your camera and a friend!

Don’t forget to check out the nearby towns!

As you explore each destination, you’ll be passing by many of our incredible small towns. Learn more about them here and be sure to spend some time exploring them as well!

We are so excited to welcome you to enjoy a weekend of Shore hospitality and history as you explore during the Virginia Historic Garden Week tour. Share your lovely photos with us by tagging #visitesva in your posts!