Travel+Experiment: Our Biltmore Experience in Asheville, North Carolina

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Biltmore Estate
Address: 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803
Website: http://www.biltmore.com/
Phone Number: (800) 411-3812

Biltmore Estate is a very popular tourist attraction in Asheville, North Carolina. This is a family residence and has continued to be operated as a historic house museum, with increasing portions of the house opened for viewing. We visited and took advantage of the US non-working holiday in the month of October 2014, drove five and a half hours of driving from our place going to this very famous charm large private estate of Asheville. It was one of the largest homes built in 1895 and we learned about the technologically advances during this era and the people who maintained the estate and lived there.

It has a lot of things to do in the estate such as outdoor activities, in depth guided tours, hiking trails, the winery, four stars accommodations or simply relaxing in very beautiful surroundings nestled in the beautiful 8,000 acre Blue Ridge Mountain backyard. We recommend a full day or at least eight hours tour to enjoy everything your admission includes plus time for great dining and unique shopping experience. The estate was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964, and remains a major tourist attraction in Western North Carolina with almost 1 million visitors each year.

Biltmore Visiting Tips

We suggest on arriving earlier times to avoid longer lines in the ticketing area
We recommend a full day or at least eight hours tour to enjoy everything your admission includes plus time for great dining and unique shopping experience
A car is required for travel between locations on the estate
Take your time exploring during your vacation at Biltmore. Plan to spend the day, or perhaps two.
Make sure to have a very comfortable walking shoes so you'll enjoy walking around the mansion and its surrounding facility
(as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+ Saturdays are the busiest days. The most crowded days of the year are Saturdays in April, May, October, November, and December
Bring a picnic or stop by the Ice Cream Shop outside the Biltmore House to purchase a picnic to go. There are many great picnic spots on the Estate
If you arrive on the estate after 4:00 PM, your ticket can be validated for the next day at the Reception & Ticket Center. And you can usually add a day for $10
The grounds are perfect for walking your pets, but please make sure to keep them securely leashed at all times. Pets are not allowed inside Biltmore mansion or other estate buildings such as the winery, restaurants, and shops
Each guest is assigned a reservation time to tour the Biltmore mansion on busy days (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

Estate History

Biltmore story began in 1888 where George Vanderbilt, a grandson of famed industrialist and philanthropist Cornelius Vanderbilt and youngest son of William Henry Vanderbilt first make regular visits to Asheville, North Carolina area. A short visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains with his mother immediately sparks Vanderbilt’s imagination. He fell in love with the scenery and he has found the perfect location for his country home.

In 1889, the construction of Biltmore House begins and completed in the year in 1895 for a 250-room French Renaissance chateau residential architecture. Over a six-year period, an entire community of craftsmen comes together to create America’s premier home and the environmental wonderland that surrounds it.

The Vanderbilt officially opens Biltmore to friends and family in 1895. The finished home contains over four acres of floor space, including 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. It was here that Vanderbilt brought his bride, Edith, in 1898, and where they celebrated the birth of their daughter, Cornelia, in 1900. Thirty years later, it was here where Cornelia and her husband, John Cecil, first invited the public to their home. Today, George Vanderbilt’s descendants welcome guests as part of their family’s century old tradition of hospitality. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

Biltmore House and Gardens

First Floor

Biltmore has four acres of floor space and a total of 250 rooms in the house including 33 bedrooms for family and guests, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, three kitchens and 19th-century novelties such as electric elevators, forced-air heating, centrally controlled clocks, fire alarms and an intercom system. The Banquet Hall is the largest room in the house, measuring 42 feet wide and 72 feet long, with a 70-foot-high barrel-vaulted ceiling. The table could seat 64 guests surrounded by rare Flemish tapestries and a triple fireplace that spans one end of the hall.

Second Floor

The second floor is accessed by the cantilevered Grand Staircase of 102 steps that spirals around a four-story, wrought-iron chandelier holding 72 light bulbs. The Second Floor Living Hall is an extension of the grand staircase as a formal hall, portrait gallery; several large-scale masterpieces are displayed and 10,000 books in the library. Located nearby in the south tower is George Vanderbilt's gilded bedroom with furniture which connects to his wife's oval shaped bedroom in the north tower.

Third and Fourth Floors

The third floor has a number of guest rooms with names that describe the furnishing or artist that they were decorated with. The fourth floor has 21 bedrooms that were inhabited by housemaids, laundresses, and other female servants. Also included on the fourth floor is an Observatory with a circular staircase that leads to a wrought iron balcony with doorways to the rooftop where Vanderbilt could view his estate.

Basement

Guests of the estate could enjoy other activities that were found on the basement level including an indoor 70,000-gallon (265,000-litre and 265-cubic meter) heated swimming pool with underwater lighting, one of the nation's first bowling alleys installed in a private residence and a gymnasium with once state-of-the-art fitness equipment. The service hub of the house is also found in the largest basement in the US, as the location for the main kitchen, pastry kitchen, rotisserie kitchen, walk-in refrigerators that provided an early form of mechanical refrigeration, the servants' dining hall, laundry rooms and additional bedrooms for staff. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

Estate Policies: Biltmore is a privately owned property and there are policies you should be aware of. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

1. Food & Beverage Policy

Outside food and beverage is not permitted in Antler Hill Village or Biltmore House areas, including the Front Lawn of Biltmore House, Stable Courtyard, and South Terrace. We invite you to visit Guest Services for suggested picnic locations. No outside alcohol is ever permitted on Biltmore grounds.

2. Pet Policy

You won’t have to leave anyone behind. The grounds are perfect for walking your pets, but please keep them securely leashed at all times. Pets (except service dogs) are not allowed in any building. All pets must be leashed on estate grounds for their own safety as well as the comfort of our other guests. Please be courteous of others and pick up after your pet.

A very limited number of outdoor, unattended pet kennels are available at Biltmore. They are self-service and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested in using a kennel, please see a parking host for kennel information upon arrival on the estate.

3. Photo Policy

· Inside Biltmore House:

Photography, videotaping, sketching, and cell phone use are not permitted within Biltmore House.

· Outside Biltmore House:

Taking photographs of the exterior of Biltmore House and grounds or sketching images of the house or estate grounds is permitted for personal use only. All commercial uses are prohibited without express written consent. Recording, filming, photography, or taping of any concert is strictly prohibited.

· Aerial Photography:

Aerial photography of Biltmore House is prohibited without written consent. Use of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones while on Biltmore property is prohibited.

· Commercial Photography:

All commercial uses of photography or video is prohibited without written permission.

· Wedding Photography:

Taking wedding photography or portraits on the property is prohibited without previous written permission.

The image, logo, and name of Biltmore are registered trademarks and cannot be used by outside parties without permission from The Biltmore Company.

There are different types of tours you may choose when you visit the Biltmore house. We chose the Premium Biltmore House Tour included the Audio Guide Tour. You can choose also not to have an audio while touring around the house. This tours cost a bit of money which you can save by getting free brochures and reading yourself the self-printed description on each room in the house. There are numerous scenery that you can enjoy outside the mansion.

1. Self-Guided Visit of Biltmore House

Your admission includes a self-guided visit to Biltmore House. Stroll through America's largest home on a marked route, assisted by knowledgeable guides along the way. This tour takes 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on your pace. You'll drink in all the amazing sights of architecture, artwork, and much more from the Gilded Age. Also includes your free visit to Antler Hill Village and Winery, with free Winery tour and tasting. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

2. Premium Biltmore House Tour

Tour the house for two hours with a guide assigned exclusively to you. Include areas seen in the Butler’s Tour, Architect’s Tour, and House Tours. Offered daily at 10:00 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:00 PM. Two-day advance reservations are required. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

Cost: $150 per adult, $75 per child

3. Rooftop Tour

Enjoy amazing views from rooftops and balconies and get a closer look at the design and construction of Biltmore House with this 60-minute guided tour of areas not on the regular house visit. Offered daily at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:00 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:00 PM. Advance reservations are required. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

Cost: $17 per person

4. NEW Behind-the-Scenes Guided Upstairs – Downstairs Tour

In this 60-minute guided tour, descend the back stairs to explore servant life at Biltmore. Discover cutting-edge technology that kept America’s largest home humming. Visit the domains of the butler, head housekeeper, and lady’s maid, and then continue on to a suite of guest rooms to learn about grand house parties hosted by the Vanderbilt’s. Offered daily at 10:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

Cost: $17 per person

5. Guided Biltmore House Tour

On this guided 90-minute tour, hear interesting stories about parties in the house, information on artifacts, personalities of friends who visited, and ways the family spent time on the estate. Offered 3:30 PM daily. Advance reservations are required. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

Cost: $17 per person

A. Audio Guide to Biltmore House

Capture the feeling of being guided through Biltmore’s grand rooms by our curators and hosts. On this 90-minute tour, you’ll learn about the Vanderbilts, their guests, and their servants, in addition to the surrounding architecture, design, and artwork. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

Cost: $10 per person
Neckloop telecoil couplers available.

B. Kids’ Audio Guide to Biltmore House

This fun and entertaining 90-minute tour is narrated by Cedric, the Vanderbilts’ Saint Bernard. Cedric guides young guests through amazing rooms in Biltmore House, sharing stories about the Vanderbilts and living in America’s largest home. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

Cost: $10 per person
Neckloop telecoil couplers available.

Gardens

The Biltmore Gardens has 75 acres of formal garden and landscaping. Wanting the best, Vanderbilt envisioned a park like setting for his home and employed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to design the grounds. Frederick Law Olmstead designed New York Central Park but considered Biltmore his crowning achievement. He constructed an Italian formal garden, a walled garden, a shrub and raised garden, fountains and a conservatory with individual rooms for palms and orchids. There was also a bowling green, outdoor tea room, pools and a tree lined esplanade to incorporate the European statuary that Vanderbilt had brought back from his travels. There are varieties of roses grown in the garden.

The glass–roofed Conservatory, nurtures flowers and plants for Biltmore House and tender bedding plants for the gardens. Its central room is a Palm House where a large collection of palms, ferns, and other foliage plants thrive year round.

The three pools are filled with koi and goldfish, as well as many varieties of aquatic plants, including waterlillies, elephant ears, and papyrus. But the stars of the show are the Victoria Water Lilies, which look like giant floating cake pans with spines and bear night–blooming, pineapple–scented flowers. Less formal than the Italian Garden, the four–acre Shrub Garden is a rich, picturesque landscape with hundreds of woody plants. Adjacent is the largest of the Biltmore gardens, the Azalea Garden is renowned for its extensive collection of native and hybrid azaleas. These 15–acre garden features more than 1,000 azaleas grow alongside magnolias, dogwoods and conifers.

Biltmore is known for its annual spring "Biltmore Blooms festival of flowers". Almost 100,000 tulips and other spring bulbs turn the seasonal beds around the estate into carpets of color. Hundreds of vibrant chrysanthemums, salvias fill the Walled Garden each fall and the sunflowers grow up to 6 feet tall with three blooming times this year – early June, early July and early September. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

Biltmore Gardens Bloom Calendar (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

Early April
Darwin Hybrid Tulip varieties begin blooming in the Walled Garden and Estate Entry. Other estate blooms include early flowering shrubs and trees, forsythia, spirea, magnolia, and flowering cherries.

Mid-April
Darwin Hybrid Tulips are usually at peak in the Walled Garden and Estate Entry. Other estate blooms include spring bulbs, dogwoods, and redbuds.

Late April
Single late tulips fill the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds, until the last week when poppies, snapdragons, and pansies are planted. Other estate blooms include hybrid azaleas and various flowering shrubs.

May
In bloom is poppies, snapdragons, and pansies in Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds. Other estate blooms include native azaleas (first week is usually the peak), and various flowering shrubs.

Late May - Late September
Summer annuals fill the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds. Other estate blooms include roses and perennials and lush perennial borders in the Walled Garden, Winery and Antler Hill Village.

June - August
In addition to summer annuals, other estate blooms include native rhododendron and perennials.

Mid-September - October
Hundreds of vibrant chrysanthemums and salvias fill the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds.

Mid-Late October
Fall foliage colors.

Dining

Lunch or dinner, casual or refined dining experience, the choices are delicious with menus inspired by the estate-raised and locally grown food source. They have their own market garden supplied fresh produce for their meals. Their farm and dairy products were one of the finest in the region and the name Biltmore became synonymous with quality and excellence.

You may try a pastry and a cup of fair-trade coffee at the Bake Shop in the Stable Courtyard. Savor lunch in Biltmore’s restaurants. During the winter time season make sure to have ample amount of warm clothing with you because the breeze is freezing.

Cedric's Tavern in Antler Hill Village is another delicious option for lunch. Enjoy English-style pub fare and Cedric's very own beer, or a local brew, as you enjoy views of the Village Green.

Shopping

Biltmore gifts and souvenirs varies from apparel, bath and body, baskets, jewelry, wine and gourmet food, wine accessories, books, movies and music stationery, training DVD, boxes and toys collectibles, home decors such as artisan crafts, decorative accents furniture, wall art and décor. There are also table top and kitchen linens, kitchen accessories, china and glassware’s. They have also garden decors and accessories, Christmas decors, seasonal accents and souvenirs.

Winery

Part of the admission ticket to the estate is the winery guided tour and complimentary wine tasting. You’ll learn about the history of this building as the estate’s dairy, and its new role as the most visited winery in the country. Consider taking the Red Wine & Chocolate Seminar, Vine to Wine Tour or the Biltmore Bubbles Tour, to round out your Biltmore Wine experience. Entrance to the Biltmore Winery is in Antler Hill Village. It's also adjacent to the Inn at Biltmore Estate.

From Antler Hill Village, you can tour around the historic cellars to an impressive tasting room where gracious wine hosts guide you through a complimentary wine tasting. Also grape juice is available so everyone can enjoy. You’ll learn about the red wine making process and why chocolate and red wines are considered a natural pairing, experience the entire process of making sparkling wine, from grape selection to bottling. You may also dine in the winery, gather around the open kitchen inside the Bistro and watch chefs at work, creating fresh dishes for you with food grown right on the estate. Or, if you're in the mood for dining al fresco, ease into one of the outdoor tables at the Arbor Grill and order up savory appetizers, gourmet sandwiches, and entrees made with locally-grown ingredients. Note: Arbor Grill is weather dependent. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

Biltmore Wine Tasting Tips (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+

Feel free to ask your host questions about the wines and wine tasting.
Wine tasting is a social activity, so feel free to talk about what you see, smell, and taste.
Notice the clarity of good wines as you hold them to the light.
Place your nose at the rim of the glass and inhale deeply to catch the wine's "bouquet."
Hold the wine on your tongue a few seconds; then whistle in to take advantage of additional flavors released by exposure to the air.
Notice the more full-bodied taste of red wines and the aftertaste that lingers in your mouth, a sure sign of a good wine.
Most of all have fun!