Saturday, Oct. 21, 1:30 p.m.

The Tea Trolley

104 Main St.

Delta, PA 17314 

717-303-5182

We have been to this tearoom several times and have enjoyed good food and pleasant surroundings. Delta was settled by slate miners and many homes still have slate roofs. Come visit this Pennsylvania town on the border of Maryland.

Our full tea will include:

• Soup,
• Scone,
• Savories, and
• Dessert.

Mobility: There are no steps into the tea room, but make sure to note if you are unable to walk up/down stairs (some members will need to be seated on the second floor).

*Cost: $32, club members; $37, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: Oct. 14

*Please include tea and date in memo section of your check.

Thursday, Nov. 16 and

Friday, Nov. 17, noon

The Front Porch Tea Room

25 W. Market St.

Hallam, PA 17406

717-755-7510

We have not been to this tearoom in the Borough of Hallam in eastern York County for several years. Michelle has taken over this tea gem from previous owner, Bonnie Helm.

Our menu includes:

• Scones,
• Salad,
• Soup,
• Savories, and
• Choice of dessert.  

When making your reservation, please include your preferred date.

Mobility: The bathroom is upstairs in this tearoom, but there is a Rutter's (Route 30 and Market Street) less than a mile away that has accessible bathrooms.

*Cost: $43.50, club members; $48.50, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: Nov. 7

*Please include tea and date in memo section of your check.

Friday, Dec. 8, Saturday, Dec. 9, or Friday, Dec. 15, noon

The Forney House

Bed & Breakfast, Tea Room, and Gift Shop

252 Frederick St.

Hanover, PA 17331

443-244-0306

We have been to this tearoom before and had numerous requests to do a Christmas tea here. Our teas have included excellent food served by a gracious hostess and staff always an excellent event.  

Note: There are three dates for this tea, you must include the date for which you are making your reservation.

Mobility: There are eight steps to the porch of the tearoom; however, there is a motorized chair lift for those who need assistance. Please call the tearoom to make arrangements to use the chair lift prior to our visit.

Parking: The tea room has its own small-ish parking lot and on-street parking is available.

*Cost: $41, club members; $46, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: Nov. 30

*Please include tea and date in memo section of your check.

Royal-tea Club Memberships are due Dec. 31 or a $5 late fee will be added to your dues. Print or click on the form below or visit the renewal page on the website.

For questions about Club membership, reach out to Elaine Agee, Membership Chair, at 717-578-7146 or membership@theroyalteaclub.com.

March 23-30, 2024

Highlights of Charleston, S.C. and Savannah, Ga.

Reservation Deadline: Dec. 23

March 23, 2024

6:00 AM Depart Weis Markets, Linglestown Rd Harrisburg.

6:30 AM Depart Queensgate Plaza, York

We’ll stop at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens to enjoy the gardens and stretch our legs with lunch on your own at the on-site café. We arrive about 4:30 p.m. at the Hampton Inn in Florence, SC. After check in, we’ll have dinner at the Cracker Barrel. (D)

Sunday, March 24, 2024

After our hot breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Savannah, GA. We’ll have a local lunch before we’re greeted by our step-on guide for a tour of this lovely town. At 4 p.m., we’ll check into the Holiday Inn Express in the historic heart of Savannah, steps away from the riverfront, local attractions, restaurants, and bars. The evening is ours to do as we please. (B,L)

Monday, March 25, 2024

After a hot breakfast at the hotel, we depart for the Savannah Queen, a cooking demonstration, and Riverboat Luncheon Cruise. The rest of the day is ours to explore and enjoy. Optional evening activity: Ghost Tour, $25 pp. (B,L)

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

After breakfast and check out, we depart and visit the Angel Oak Tree, which is more than 400 years old, standing 66.5 feet tall and is 28 feet around. The next stop is the Charleston Tea Plantation for a trolley tour through the tea fields with hundreds of thousands of tea bushes stretching almost as far as the eye can see. The Bigelow family, William Barclay Hall, and the staff of the plantation will provide us a tea experience of our life. On picturesque Wadmalaw Island in the heart of the low country, we’ll take a box lunch with us en route to Charleston where we will be greeted by a step-on guide who will give us an overview of this historic city. We’ll check into the Francis Marion Hotel and freshen up for dinner. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

After breakfast, we’ll visit Middleton Place and enjoy a Cook’s Tour that examines Charleston’s culinary heritage by exploring Carolina Gold rice, historic livestock breeds, kitchen gardens, the influence of enslaved African cooks, and much more. Learn how European, African, West Indian, and Native American foods collided in the 17th and 18th centuries to create the unique Low Country cuisine. Next we’ll depart for Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens, founded in 1681 by Englishman Maj. John Boone along the banks of Wampacheone Creek. The family were influential in South Carolina, the colonies, and the nation. The McRae family is proud to present that 330-year history on a daily basis. We’ll return to our hotel for dinner and an evening on our own. (B,L)

Thursday March 28, 2024

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on your own as you’ll have the morning free to do as you please, including tea at the Hotel Bennet or shopping on the world famous King Street. In the afternoon, we’ll take the ferry to Fort Sumter for a self-guided tour of the site, considered to be where the Civil War began. Our dinner is included tonight in Charleston at award-winning Lewis Barbecue. (D)

Friday March 29, 2024

After check out, we’ll travel the tree-lined Highway 61 to Magnolia Plantation where we’ll step back in time with a guided tour of its beautiful gardens with exclusive access to the vision of Magnolia and behind-the-scenes locations. We will be taken through the Camellia Garden, Azalea Garden, Historic River Walk, and the 19th Century Romantic Gardens. Next, we’ll have a private Nature Train Tour, that circumnavigates Magnolia’s 450 acres of wetlands, forests, marsh, and swamp. We’ll learn about the native plants and animals as well as the history of rice cultivation and phosphate mining. Our guide will point out wildlife along the way such as alligators, turtles, and more. We’ll end this visit with a Tea Luncheon in the gardens. We’ll depart for home with an overnight stay at the Hampton Inn Florence, SC. (B,L)

Saturday, March 30, 2024

After breakfast and check out, we’ll continue our journey home with a stop in Richmond, VA, for lunch, and we’ll stretch our legs while we tour the state capitol, designed in 1785 by Thomas Jefferson with help from Charles-Louis Clérisseau while Jefferson was serving as U.S. Minister to France. (B,L)

6:00 PM, approximate arrival in York and 6:45 PM approximate arrival in Harrisburg

Overview

Trip includes: Motorcoach transportation; seven (7)-nights accommodations; seven (7) breakfasts; five (5) lunches including one (1) Tea Luncheon; three (3) dinners; Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens; Savannah Tour; Savannah Cruise; Charleston Tea Plantation; Angel Oak Tree; Charleston Tour; Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Tour; Middleton Place Tour; Boon Hall Plantation; Fort Sumter Ferry and Self-guided tour; Virginia State Capitol Tour; and taxes and gratuities, as listed above. Optional Ghost Tour is $25 pp.

Reservations/questions by phone: 717-657-9658

Reservations online: Online Reservation

Terms & Conditions

Deposit Requirements -- An initial deposit of $250 per person is required to confirm reservations. Travel Insurance must be purchased at the time of booking. Full payment must be received by Dec. 23, 2023.

Cancellation -- Deposit is refundable until Dec. 23, 2023 After that, there are no refunds without travel insurance.

Baggage -- Portage of baggage is included and based on a maximum of one (1) piece of standard baggage per person plus one (1) carry on.

Items Not Included Our tours do not include items of a personal nature such as laundry, room service, telephone charges, or other hotel extras. All passengers are responsible for settling any such costs incurred before checking out of the hotel or returning home.

Gratuities -- Tips for baggage handling and wait staff for included meals are included. Gratuities for the motorcoach driver, local guide, and tour escorts are not included.

Taxes -- Our prices include all government taxes as levied as of the date of this tour flyer. In the event that additional taxes are introduced by governing bodies or existing taxes increased, we will have to pass on all such additional charges to the individual passengers concerned.

Insurance -- We strongly recommend that all passengers be adequately insured for medical expenses, baggage loss or damage, and trip cancellation or interruption. This is the responsibility of individual tour participants. For travel insurance rates, call 717-657-9658 or email we will need your date of birth for rates). Insurance must be purchased on the day of the reservation.

Mobility -- For information about the amount of walking and other mobility questions, contact Lowee’s at 717-657-9658 or email ckelly@lowees.com.

Hotel

Hampton Inn, 1735 Stokes Road, Florence, SC 29501; 843-662-7000

Holiday Inn Express Historic District, 199 E. Bay St., Savannah, GA 31401; 912-231-9000

Francis Marion, 387 King St., Charleston, SC 29403; 843-722-0600

See end of newsletter for reservation form.

More Bus Trips in 2024

Mark your calendars for these upcoming trips:



• March 4, 2024: Philadelphia Flower Show and Garden Tea, a relaxing experience amidst the hustle and bustle of this massive flower show.

As we finalize the plans, costs, and itinerary, we'll provide more information via our newsletter and on the Royal-tea website.

Visiting the Penn Wells Hotel in Wellsboro, Pa., for tea was an excellent (and tasty) experience on our June 16 bus trip. The facility is comfortably elegant, a genuinely appropriate setting for a high tea. Our hostess, Claire, was friendly, informative, and attentive. The selection of Teavana Teas was terrific. The opening appetizers consisted of crisps with bacon jam, and the cucumber and cream cheese whips were exceptional. The finger sandwiches were delicious (especially the chicken salad). The crystal platters of scones, fruit spears, sweets, and savories were wonderful. The scones were some of our best in a while and were prepared by the chef's 14-year-old daughter. The scones were served with cups of lemon curd, jam, and clotted cream.

We visited this hotel for tea while on our journey and found it an excellent way to spend our lunch. Our visit was the Penn Wells Hotels' first tea. The staff was thrilled at their success. They are considering adding teas to their options for showers and small gatherings. Note: Though some may consider tearooms more of a female destination, on our visit, three gentlemen in our group found a tea tasty regardless of gender.

We all enjoyed a rainy day ride with Ole Covered Wagon Tours, a family-owned and operated business in beautiful Tioga County. We took a tour through the wondrous Pennsylvania Grand Canyon in a horse-drawn covered wagon. We could not have imagined the beauty of the canyon, and our cameras and phones were very busy!

The tour guides are fluent in the history of the area going back to the 19th century and were eager to share their knowledge and stories. They told their tales while the horses wound their way on the Pine Creek Rail Trail. The rain put a slight damper on our day, but we would enjoy returning to the canyon and enjoying another visit to the historic Penn Wells Hotel.

This trivia about Wellsboro will take us back to childhood memories. The town is the site of a factory that made light-bulb shells that expanded into making the Shiny Bright Christmas ornaments!

-- Elaine Agee

The Royal-tea Club always adds up to fun and friendship through tea.