BILTMORE ESTATES FAST FACTS
LOCATION: Asheville, North Carolina
HOURS: Hours vary but Admission Gate is generally 8:30am-9:30pm.
Daytime Biltmore House hours are 10am-5pm & Candlelight 5:30-10pm
COST: Cost ranges from $66-$360 from self-guided tours of the house to expert-guided tours of the house and the entire grounds
TIME TO COMPLETE: 1-2 days to tour the mansion and walk the grounds
ACCOMODATIONS: Large parking lots, public restrooms, restaurants and shopping center
After making the move south from Connecticut to North Carolina we were eager to learn more about our new home state. One constant kept coming up in conversations . . . Asheville’s Biltmore Estate. We were aware of the Vanderbilt’s and were intrigued by all of the positive recommendations we kept hearing. It got me thinking that this would be the perfect trip for a long weekend, particularly a long Thanksgiving weekend. I started doing some research, along with trip planning and became increasingly excited as I learned more and more about the estate as well as Asheville. I also felt this could prove to be a different holiday experience for us this year.
George Vanderbilt’s 250-room castle is America’s largest private home and millions visit the estate annually. Unlike many similar estates, the Biltmore has remained in the Vanderbilt family since 1895. Nowadays, the fourth and fifth generations of George Vanderbilt’s descendants are involved in the daily operations along with about 2,000 employees.
Why Asheville's Biltmore Estate . . .
Honestly, the initial motivation to see Asheville’s Biltmore Estate was the positive word-of-mouth from our friends and neighbors. On a personal level, it was also the gilded age that the home and estate represent. A chance to step through a looking glass and experience a lifestyle and time so different from our own. Our interest also stemmed from our love of Downton Abbey and, though that story takes place in England, the opulence and the age are quite similar. In fact, the Vanderbilt’s would probably have crossed paths socially with the fictional Crawley’s more than once.
On the Reel
Downton Abbey (2010-2015)
Starring Hugh Bonneville, Phyllis Logan and Elizabeth McGovern. Created by Julian Fellowes.
Think of Asheville’s Biltmore Estate as a much larger version of Highclere Castle, which serves as the fictional Downton Abbey during the series. While Highclere has as many as 150 persons working the grounds, the Biltmore employs over 2,000. The size of the current estates themselves are similar with the Biltmore’s 8,000 acres compared to the 6,000 of Highclere.
How to get to Asheville's Biltmore Estate . . .
If you live near Asheville you could certainly make it a day trip but we would recommend giving yourself at least a few days. Asheville’s Biltmore Estate is located about halfway in between Charlotte, NC and Knoxville, TN, a few hours’ drive from each. It is an easy, and beautiful, drive especially in the Spring or Summer with the trees in full bloom. You enter through the main gate and have a bit of a drive (about 15 minutes at 25 MPH) to reach the parking areas. From there you can either walk or take a shuttle to the front of the main house.
Where to stay locally . . .
There are a number of hotel options available from the high end, Grand Bohemian Hotel with its amazing open-air drive-in courtyard entrance to the more economical Baymont by Wyndham. We choose, as we often do, to stay at the Hampton Inn with its consistent accommodations, service and reliable complimentary breakfasts.
It is also ideally located for access to the Biltmore Village with its wonderful shops, restaurants (we highly recommend the Cantina for great fresh-Mex and the Well-Bred Bakery for all of your sweet tooth needs . . . think eclairs and macaroons) and quaint architecture. For more traditional American fare there is a TGI Fridays a short 3-minute walk away. The entrance to the Biltmore itself is a short 4-minute drive north up Hendersonville Road.
What to do at Asheville's Biltmore Estate . . .
The list of things to do on the estate is almost endless but here are a few highlights you definitely should not miss:
- Self-guided tour of the house. This took us about 2 hours to complete at a nice leisurely pace. If you love architecture and design you could stay quite a bit longer. The areas of access provide a nice range of room types and styles to satisfy any audience (even our college-age kids loved it). A personal favorite was the Library (23,000 books on multiple levels) and the Banquet Hall with its 7-story high ceilings.
- The Library Terrace provides a spectacular 270° view of the sweeping grounds below.
- Below the terrace begins the Biltmore Gardens, a truly spectacular site in the Spring and Summer but also quite stunning even in the Fall and Winter.
- At the end of the garden is the Biltmore Conservatory. Let me stop for a moment and say, quite honestly, this may have been the highlight of the estate. Even if you are not a specific fan of horticulture you will be stunned at the beauty, sheer variety (over 2,000 different plants and flowers) and colors inside the 7,000 square foot Conservatory.
- With 8,000 acres to choose from, there are endless areas of Asheville’s Biltmore Estate to explore. The plant life is lush and contains as much variety as the Conservatory. We especially enjoyed the Azalea Garden Path, the Bass Pond Trail, the Meadow Trail and the Creekside Trail as all are easy-to-moderate walking paths with ¼ – ½ mile loops.
On the Reel
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe and Russell Means. Directed by Michael Mann.
The 12th (and best IMHO) film version of the James Fenimore Cooper classic novel features the versatile Daniel-Day Lewis in the role of Hawkeye and the stunning Madeleine Stowe. Though the story takes place in upstate New York, many outdoor scenes were shot on the grounds of Asheville’s Biltmore Estate.
- There are also a number of eating choices and shops next to the main house accessible through the open courtyard. The Biltmore Carriage House was a pleasant departure from the usual tourist trap gift shop. It contains a wonderful variety of quality options including some of the coolest snow globes we’ve ever seen. We lunched at the Stable Café which has a unique menu featuring a variety of traditional southern foods.
When done with the house and surrounding grounds hop in your car and head down to the Antler Hill Village where you’ll find a number of interesting stops worth the visit.
- Biltmore Estate Winery featuring a wide variety of local choices. Don’t miss the chance for their specialty wine experience tours and tastings.
- The Outdoor Adventure Center is where you can book extra outdoor activities such as horseback riding, fly-fishing, sporting clays and Segway tours.
- There is the Farm in Antler Hill Village featuring opportunities to explore turn-of-the-century farm life including woodworking, blacksmith and craft demonstrations along with farm animals, a playground for kids and a Smokehouse offering Carolina barbeque, quick sandwiches, and other Southern favorites.
- If you want to know more about the history of the Vanderbilt’s there is the Biltmore Legacy featuring The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition and collection.
- There are a few eateries including the Creamery for all of your sweet tooth needs.
- There is even the Pisgah Playground if you have little ones.
When best to go to Asheville's Biltmore Estate
When to go really depends on your personal preferences. If you enjoy the outdoors then Spring and early Summer are best as everything is in full bloom and the humidity is still at somewhat acceptable levels. If you are more interested in the house itself any time of year will do but . . . at Christmas time there are approximately 15,000 strings of lights on display, as well as 100 evergreen trees, and 41 indoor decorated trees. The banquet hall features a spectacular Easter Egg hunt at the Biltmore Estate that attracts approximately 5,000 children each year.
Conclusion . . .
There is literally something for everyone during your Biltmore Estate experience. No matter your age, interest or taste there is something for you. We could not recommend Asheville’s Biltmore Estate strongly enough. In fact, though we never make it a habit to visit any place more than once . . . we are seriously discussing going back again to experience a different season at the estate.
If you have been to the Biltmore please let us know if you had any unique moments you’d like to share in the comments section below. And never forget . . . Travel is Life!
