In this issue:

• Upcoming Teas
• Bus Trips
• Review
• Bus Trip Sign Up Forms

Sat., Aug. 12, 1 p.m.

Sweet Remembrances Tea Room

118 S. Market St.

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

717-697-5785

Nancy Reppert, tearoom owner, is vacationing in Ireland this year. Come join her for an Irish Tea. Then visit The Rosemary House gift shop next door, owned by Susanna Brill Reppert. There you will find teas, spices, and garden items.

Both Nancy and Susanna have been loyal supporters of the tea club for many years. This is also the site for the PA Tea Festival in September (for more information see the article below).

When making your reservation, please include your preferred date.

Mobility: The main entrance has three steps and the handicapped door is on the side of the building.

Parking: On-street parking is free. Also, there is a is a small parking lot behind the tearoom. On Saturday only, you may park in the PNC Bank parking lot diagonally across the street.

Cost: $50, club members; $55, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: Aug. 1

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

Thurs., Oct. 5 or

Fri., Oct. 6, noon

Kate Pearl Tea Room

111 Stone Ave.

Westminster, MD 21157 

410-857-0058

This is the former Gypsy's Tea Room located in an historic building in Westminster, Md. Kate Pearl is named for the owner's grandmother.

October's theme is Harry Potter with full afternoon tea that includes:

• Soup or salad (chef’s choice),
• Scones,
• Fresh fruit,
• Tea sandwiches and savories,
• Assorted sweets, and
• Sorbet

When making your reservation, please also include your preferred date.

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: $41.50, club members; $46.50, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: Sept. 14

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

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.

Saturday, Nov. 4, noon

Friendly Farms

17434 Foreston Road

Upperco, MD 21155 

410-239-7400

This event is a little different. Not a tearoom but a renovated special events room where we'll have a tea buffet.

Menu includes:

• Shrimp salad
• Chicken salad
• Turkey breast, ham, and roast beef,
• Fresh fruit
• Coleslaw
• Potato salad
• Assorted cookie and brownie tray
• Coffee, iced tea (sweet and unsweetened), hot tea - feel free to bring your own tea bags if you prefer

Notes: We can gather starting at 11:30 a.m. NO doggie bags allowed.

Mobility: There are no steps and our tea is in the lower level.

*Cost: $36, club members; $41, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: Oct. 1

*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.

Wednesday, Sept. 20

Winterthur Museum & Wee Fancy Tea

We arrive at 10 a.m. at the Winterthur Museum, nestled in the heart of Delaware’s beautiful Brandywine Valley. It is known for its magnificent collection of American decorative arts with items displayed throughout Francis du Pont’s former home and showcased in permanent and rotating gallery spaces. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to view the Anne Lowe exhibit, who designed the wedding dress worn by Jacqueline Bouvier when she married John F. Kennedy in 1953. This is the largest exhibition of her work to date, featuring 40 iconic gowns, many that have never been on public display and will illuminate her evolution as a designer from the 1920s to the 1960s.

We arrive at 1:30 p.m. at Wee Fancy Tea, run by a mother-daughter team with roots in Yorkshire, England. Committed to serving an English-style tea, everything is made fresh. We will be indulged with a Queen’s Tea that includes four tea sandwiches (roast beef, chicken salad, cucumber and egg salad); four different dessert scones with Devonshire cream and homemade preserves; and unlimited tea.

*Cost: $110, club members; $120, guests/non-members

Mobility: Trip goers will be required to walk to and from locations and at the museum. If you have concerns about your mobility and the trip, please call the bus company at 717-657-9658

Reservations/questions by phone: 717-657-9658

Reservations online: Online Reservation

Departures:

7:15 a.m. Weis Markets, Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg, PA

8:15 a.m. Queensgate Shopping Center (rear of theatre), Springwood Rd., York, PA

Return (approximate):

5 p.m., York

5:45 p.m., Harrisburg

*The check will be made out to the bus company and must be sent to them with the form below or make a reservation online: www.Lowees.com. (There is a 3% fee for credit card use).

See end of newsletter for reservation form.

Dec. 3-6

Holiday Lights of Asheville, N.C., featuring the Biltmore Estate

Sunday, Dec. 3

7:00 AM Depart Weis Markets, Linglestown Road, Harrisburg

7:30 AM Depart Queensgate Plaza, (rear of theatre), Springwood Rd., York

Rest and meal stops to North Carolina are on your own, with an approximate 5 PM arrival at the Doubletree, Biltmore Village, NC. After check in, enjoy the evening on your own.

Monday, Dec. 4

After a hot breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for the Biltmore Estate, a Vanderbilt mansion that’s America’s largest privately owned home. Biltmore’s grand spaces will be lavishly decorated with trees and Christmas finery, and its many fireplaces will be adorned with greenery, ribbons, and flowers. Admission and the self-guided tour of the grounds, conservatory, and the Biltmore Village shops is included.

An Afternoon Tea at the Inn on Biltmore Estate in also included. The Dining Room’s unique take on this elegant experience features Newby Teas, one of the world’s finest tea purveyors. Tea features fresh-baked scones with clotted cream, honey, and preserves, artfully prepared sweet and savory canapés, and tea sandwiches. Resort elegant attire, such as slacks, dress shirt, or dress, is recommended and encouraged.

After tea, explore the Antler Hill Village and stop at the Olde World Christmas Shoppe. In the evening, there an optional tour available (additional fee) of Biltmore at Night, or choose an evening on your own. Restaurants and shopping are within a short walk of the hotel and the hotel has a restaurant on site. (B, L included)

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023

Enjoy a hot breakfast at the hotel before we depart for the Omni Grove Park Inn, where we will explore the resort and the gingerbread displays by the International Gingerbread Competition. There will be an elegant luncheon buffet on site, as well. Then, we are off to The Cove and Billy Graham’s Chatlos Memorial Chapel, at this mountain venue, fully decorated for the season.

At dusk, we’ll visit the North Carolina Arboretum for their beautiful light display. (B, L included)

Wednesday, Dec. 6

After breakfast at the hotel, we will check out and depart for home at 9 AM. Rest / meal stops en route will be on your own with an 8:00 PM approximate arrival to York and approximately 8:45 PM arrival to Harrisburg. (B)

Trip cost: $999 double occupancy; $1,299, single occupancy.

Cost Includes: Motorcoach transportation, three (3) nights accommodations, three (3) breakfasts, two (2) luncheons (including the tea luncheon at the Biltmore), Biltmore Estates day admission, the Omni Gingerbread Displays, the Cove Tour, NC Arboretum lights, baggage handling, meal taxes, and gratuities for the baggage handlers and waitstaff of included meals. Note: Biltmore Night time admission is $125 additional fee.

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 (which will cover pre-existing conditions). Full payment must be received by Oct. 3, 2023.

Cancellation: Deposit is refundable until Oct. 3, 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 ckelly@lowees.com (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

Doubletree Biltmore Village, 115 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, NC 28803; 828-274-1800. Amenities include: WiFi, indoor pool, fitness center, on-site restaurant, hair dryer, iron/ironing board, and coffee maker.

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.
• March 23-30, 2024: Weeklong trip to Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S.C.

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