This Girl Travels to Biltmore House, Asheville, North Carolina

I recently had the opportunity to tour the Biltmore Estate, an 8,000-acre estate, in Asheville, North Carolina. George W. Vanderbilt officially opened Biltmore House on Christmas Eve 1895, then a few years later he brought his wife Edith Stuyvesant Dresser to their new home, and in 1900, their only child Cornelia was born here.  Today, the Biltmore House remains a family business.

Welcome to Biltmore House, home of the Vanderbilts

Your admission at Biltmore includes self-guided tours of the spectacular Biltmore House and Gardens, and Antler Hill Village, which features the Winery, the Biltmore Legacy, The Village Green and Farm. Biltmore is open 365 days a year.

Planning ahead for your visit to the estate can save you time and money. You can buy tickets online 7 days in advance and save up to $15 per person. Arrive early and allow plenty of time for the tour. If possible, allow two days if your visit includes a guided tour and outdoor activities such as, hiking, biking, kayaking and horseback riding. You’ll be amazed at the size of the estate and all there is to see and do.  Also while visiting, consider staying the night at Inn at Biltmore Estate where you will be treated with gracious hospitality in one of their 201 guest rooms and nine suites. Or, you can also stay in the historic Cottage on Biltmore Estate, which is a two-bedroom, two-bath home, complete with your own personal chef and butler.

There are plenty of dining opportunities available at Biltmore. Cedric’s Tavern, named for George Vanderbilt’s beloved St. Bernard, was my choice for the evening, and an excellent choice at that. This relaxing tavern is located at Antler Hill Village, overlooking the village green. The ambience, décor, and menu resemble the neighborhood pubs of Ireland and Britain. Cedric’s is open for lunch, dinner, and late night entertainment.

At the end of our visit at Biltmore, we did some shopping at many of the quaint shops on the estate grounds where you will find items/gifts such as Appalachian crafts, old-fashioned candy, Biltmore wines, books, jewelry, old-fashioned toys and Christmas ornaments and music.

When leaving the estate grounds we came across one of the Biltmore’s Gardens – The Walled Garden, a four-acre formal garden, features flowerbeds planted in the style popular in the late 1800s. It was absolutely breathtaking.

I was lucky to spend the day at America’s largest home in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, NC. I would love to return and spend more time exploring the many outdoor activities available, and if possible, being a guest at one of the Biltmore’s accommodations, including a visit to The Spa at the Inn on Biltmore Estate.