Today we’re returning to one of my favorite places to visit, Biltmore Estate. Located in the heart of beautiful Asheville, North Carolina, Biltmore has been dubbed ‘America’s Castle.’ At 175,000 square feet, this French Chateau-inspired architectural wonder is the largest home in America. Built by Vanderbilt heir George Vanderbilt in the 1890s, Biltmore officially opened to friends and family during Christmas of 1896. The estate’s Christmas celebrations continue to be some of the most festive in the world.
Vanderbilt spent years with architect Richard Morris Hunt and his team traveling throughout Europe, studying architecture from great castles to cathedrals that helped inspire Biltmore. While Vanderbilt certainly spent a fortune on this mansion, much of the care with the design was out of respect for his love of architecture and art. He wanted to create something both beautiful and practical. He envisioned a working farm that was truly farm-to-table, with all produce, food, and most necessities grown and made on the estate. This was inspired by studying great working farms in Europe. That farm-to-table movement has made a huge comeback, and Biltmore continues to grow most of the food for its restaurants onsite or source it from local NC farmers.
Vanderbilt also saw the creation of Biltmore as a way to provide much-needed jobs in the mountain economy of NC. Asheville and the surrounding Blue Ridge had become a popular tourism escape, as the mountains offered cooler temperatures in the summer (pre-air-conditioning era) and cleaner air from the smog and soot of the big city. In the six years it took to build Biltmore, over 1000 workers were employed. The Vanderbilts employed many staff members and cared for them and their families with respect. Something I loved learning about on the tour is that Mrs. Vanderbilt (George’s wife) would hand-wrap a gift for every employee’s child and write a personal note.
Today, Biltmore is still owned by descendants of the Vanderbilt family. It is one of the major tourism sites in Asheville and continues to significantly bolster the local economy.
While Biltmore’s European-inspired architecture feels like a fairytale come to life, it’s the natural wonders surrounding it that truly set this place apart, in my opinion. The 8,000-acre estate is cradled by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Pisgah National Forest. Over 75 acres of gardens and naturally inspired landscapes, designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, are a testament to nature’s unparalleled beauty.
One of the reasons famed architect Richard Morris Hunt designed Biltmore to be so large was to ensure it fit the scale of the surrounding landscape. Hunt recognized the home needed a certain size to complement the lot, while also carefully ensuring it didn’t mask or overpower the natural wonders. Yes, it’s a huge mansion, but in my opinion, it’s less ostentatious and more an architectural wonder. You can see the meticulous detail and thoughtful design in each feature, crafted for beauty and artistic imagery rather than just a sheer display of wealth. Of course, Biltmore was built to impress, but it continues to enchant because of the wonder in witnessing its unique architectural details.
Step inside, and Biltmore’s interior transforms into a museum, filled with thousands of pieces of furniture and fine art. George Vanderbilt was an avid lover of art and collected the treasures you find in each room out of a genuine love for art and artifacts. Walking through each room allows you to travel the world, from Ancient Rome to Renaissance to Impressionist Paris and beyond. As a book lover, my personal favorite at Biltmore Estate is the library. It reminds me of the library in Beauty and the Beast, at the Beast’s Castle, with ladders scaling to the ceiling and thousands of books. The ceiling itself is an Italian art masterpiece, called ‘The Chariots of Aurora’ by Giovanni Pellegrini. This library truly is a fairytale come to life.
Every season at Biltmore invites you to explore a different flavor and unique aspect of the estate. As an NC resident who visits Asheville as much as I’m able, I decided to invest in a Biltmore Annual Pass. This pass allows unlimited visits throughout the year, along with discounts at the onsite restaurants and gift shops. Each time I return, I enjoy familiar pastimes, like eating at my favorite spot, The Stable Cafe, while also discovering something new. Biltmore always offers something fresh to see each season, from special exhibitions to stunning seasonal flower displays and more.
Spring/Summer: During my recent trip in April, I was able to explore the ravishing Biltmore Gardens and Greenhouse. I’d skipped this area during my last two visits during the winter. The gardens are magnificent, blazing with color and alive with unique plants. I was fortunate to catch the azaleas right near their spring peak. Check out their ‘bloom report’ here.
Biltmore recently celebrated the 200th birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted, who helped cultivate the natural beauty of the mountains into gorgeous gardens. Biltmore continues this tradition with a world class team of horticulturalists who maintain the gardens and use flowers from the conservatory to help decorate the interior of the home.
Fall at Biltmore: God’s talent as a painter is evident when you visit Asheville in the fall, when the Blue Ridge Mountains turn from their cool greenish/blue hues to fiery reds, blazing yellows and burnt oranges. Biltmore provides spectacular views of the fall foliage. This is also a good time to take a hike on one of Biltmore’s trails or embark on one of their outdoor excursions.
Christmas at Biltmore
Christmas at Biltmore
Christmas at Biltmore is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced—it’s a living Christmas card. The spirit of the holidays here feels as though St. Nicholas himself breathed in the cheer. Biltmore also does an excellent job paying homage to the true meaning of Christmas, with Nativity scenes and stories about acts of Christmas charity from years past on the estate. At least once in your life, you must make the journey to Biltmore during the Christmas season.
Because it gets so crowded at Christmastime, I recommend using visiting during the week and going early in the season (November 1-19th/before Thanksgiving, or the first week of December). I’ve also visited right after Christmas, and while it’s still crowded, it’s not as hectic as the weeks leading up to Christmas.
In addition to Biltmore’s Christmas festivities, Asheville itself boasts a lot of wonderful holiday spirit. From The Gingerbread Houses at The Grove Park Inn to Downtown Asheville Decorations and The Asheville Botanical Garden Lights, it’s a festive and fun time for the whole family.
What To Do:
Biltmore Estate has tons of activities for everyone. When planning your visit to the estate I recommend blocking off 1 to 2 days to take advantage of the core attractions: tour of Biltmore House, Winery Tasting, Gardens, Special Exhibits and food shopping.
If it is your first time visiting the estate, I definitely recommend starting with the house tour. This tour takes about ninety-minutes and is accompanied by a detailed self-guided audio tour. You will meander through the mansion’s corridors from the great banquet hall to parlors and dens to bedrooms and eventually the servants quarters, swimming pool (no longer in use, but still awesome to see) and even a bowling alley!
As you tour each one you’ll learn about the mansion’s owners, workers, and history as well as important objects in each room. Pay careful attention to the art on the walls, where you’ll encounter artworks by Renoir, Monet and several by Vanderbilt family portrait painter John Singer Sargent. Sargent was considered the ‘who’s who’ of portraits in New York society, and was also a masterful landscape painter as well. In addition to his portraits of the Vanderbilt family, George Vanderbilt also commissioned Sargent to paint portraits of architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, which hang in the house galleries. What I love about these portraits is that Sargent brings in the details of Biltmore in the background to tie the ‘master architect’ to his masterpiece. Both Hunt and Olmsted both considered Biltmore to be their best and most treasured work. Considering Olmsted designed Central Park that is quite a reflection on how he valued Biltmore’s naturalistic landscape focus.
Fun fact: Biltmore has 43 bathrooms, yet none of them are currently in working order. So if you need to use the restroom, you’ll need to do it before the tour. There are restrooms available near the former stables attached to the house. The mansion has 250 rooms in total, 65 fireplaces and 35 bedrooms.
Did you know? During World War II, Biltmore helped the US Government by storing many treasures from the National Gallery of Art from Washington in Biltmore. You can learn about this fascinating history here.
Stable area...Attached to the main house, you’ll find a series of shops and eateries housed in the former stables. Shops include a Christmas shop with beautiful ornaments, a candy shop, book shop and general souvenir shop. They have an outdoor cafe, as well as my favorite restaurant at Biltmore – The Stable Cafe. This farm to table restaurant features a variety of Asheville inspired menu items, but my go to is the pulled pork sandwich on a gluten free bun with their gluten free creme brulee for dessert.
They have a selection of Biltmore wines that pair well with your meal as well. You can get reservations online prior to your tour for all Biltmore restaurants, or chance your luck on the waiting list. Book online here
Right near the Stable shops, is The Courtyard Market Cafe. This is also a great place to eat can be a good quick option if you are hungry and don’t want to wait for a table. More info here
From the main house, you can easily walk to the gardens. Even in the winter months you can enjoy the garden’s greenhouse which sometimes has special exhibits as well like a ‘Christmas Train’ (a few years ago). Learn more about Gardens and Grounds here.
After finishing your tour of the home and gardens, you can take the shuttle back to your car and drive over to Antler Village (or take the shuttle to Antler Village from Biltmore directly).
Antler Hill Village:
A vibrant hub of activity, Antler Hill Village pays homage to the estate’s farming legacy with its nearby barnyard and dairy buildings, while serving as a lively gathering place in the present day. Located on a broad hill overlooking pastoral meadows below, this area always has something going on. Meander through several eclectic shops and eateries while listening to live music on the lawn. You can also delve into George and Edith Vanderbilt’s life on the estate and their love of travel and collecting art and artifacts in the special ‘Vanderbilts At Home and Abroad’ exhibition. The crown jewel of Antler Hill Village is the Biltmore Winery, where you can learn about the history of Biltmore wines, their ties to the estate, and sample their award-winning selections.
When I visit the winery I always try wines that are unique like the Orange Muscat Sweet Wine. For table wine, my mom and I stock up on Biltmore’s White and Red Christmas Wines every year. Not only are these wines delicious, the bottle’s festive design, depicting the main house or interior is typically done by a local North Carolina artist. You can order their wines online here, and even join the wine club.
If you are hungry, Antler Hill has several places to eat. For a sit down meal, I recommend Cedric’s Tavern, which pays tribute to George Vanderbilt’s beloved dog Cedric. The menu has a mix of pub fare and more gourmet dishes to satiate any appetite.
Truly no visit to Biltmore would be complete without a scoop of ice-cream from the Biltmore Dairy. This is sentimental to me, because growing up my dad would always take me to Asheville and Biltmore – our tradition was to get ice-cream at their original soda fountain, which is now a TGIF’s attached to the Doubletree. Yet the tradition of Biltmore Dairy continues within the estate, where you can enjoy homemade Biltmore ice cream on site. This past trip I indulged in the espresso chip ice-cream. Don’t worry about the calories, you’ll burn them off walking up and down the stairs in Biltmore House.
Antler Hill has fun activities for kids too, like a playhound and interactive exhibits at the Barn.
The area is also home to one of The Village Hotel, one of several accommodation options right on Biltmore Estate. The advantage of this hotel is that you can walk to restaurants and have easy access to the shuttle to get to the main house and also the Deer Park section of Biltmore as well. Up the hill for Antler Village, The Inn at Biltmore provides four star luxury and is perfect for a special romantic weekend or occasion. For information about accommodations on site click here.
Special Exhibitions at Biltmore
Biltmore is always hosting unique exhibitions. A few years ago, I thoroughly enjoyed a Downton Abbey exhibit, where you could see costumes from the hit television series displayed right inside the main house. They’ve also hosted several impressive art exhibitions, including Van Gogh Alive and Renaissance Alive, which were immersive art films. This past visit, I was absolutely blown away by the King Tut exhibit. This exhibit provides an insider view into the history of King Tut’s reign, his death and burial, and the astonishing discovery of his tomb thousands of years later by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon.
While the original King Tut treasures reside in museums in Cairo and throughout the world, this exhibit provides state-of-the-art reconstructions. These help you experience the tomb as the explorers did when they first entered, allowing you to be dazzled by reproductions of the marvels found while learning the rich history of ancient Egypt.
What makes this exhibit especially unique for Biltmore is that George Vanderbilt’s daughter actually married into an Egyptologist family – Amherst-Cecil’s who were involved with the King Tut excavation. Stay tuned for a future post specifically about my “art expedition” to this exhibit!
The King Tut exhibit at Biltmore is on through the end of 2025, so don’t wait to plan your adventure today! Where else can you experience the wonders of ancient Egypt alongside the beautiful mountains of North Carolina all at once? Book your tickets here
Ready to book your trip to Biltmore, you can purchase tickets and plan your itinerary on their Official Biltmore Website.
You can also check out their special tours and activities here.
Fun in Asheville:
I’ll be doing a feature series on NC Mountain Getaways in the next month, including several features on Asheville and the surrounding area. While many come specially to Asheville for Biltmore, don’t forget to explore the Asheville area too. Hurricane Helene did a lot of damage, but Asheville is open for business – the only thing missing is YOU!
To get you started here are a few of my favorite Asheville haunts and don’t forget to subscribe for more NC Mountain Fun in the coming months.
Downtown Asheville: Delicious restaurants, local shops, historic architecture, arts and more – Downtown is a must stop in Asheville.
French Broad Chocolates: I had to include one of my favorite Asheville stops, the sweet French Broad Chocolates. They have delicious homemade chocolate that will sweeten up any trip to Asheville. You can also order they decadent goodness via their website here.
Asheville Art Museum: Features a wonderful collection of Western NC artists, including works from the Black Mountain Art College
Grove Park Inn: Wow it might take an entire vacation budget to check into this historic hotel, but just once, if you are able, a visit to the Grove Park Inn is worth the splurge. I was fortunate to get a deal on Hotwire in 2022, and we had the best time at The Piano Bar and enjoying a drink on the Sunset Terrace, where you can catch a beautiful Blue Ridge Sunset. Even if you don’t stay at The Grove Park Inn, you can make dinner reservations there and learn about the history of famous guests who stayed in the hotel like Harry Houdini, F. Scott Fitzgerald and several U.S. Presidents. The best time of the year to experience Grove Park is at Christmas when they host the world famous gingerbread competition. Book your Grove Park Adventure here
Blue Ridge Parkway: While parts of the parkway are still closed due to Hurricane damage, I drove ten miles on the parkway near Asheville including the amazing Folk Art Center. Additional Access is opening up all the time. Check this official NPS map for the latest openings/closures
Day trip to the quaint mountain town of Brevard, marvel at Looking Glass Falls, Dupont State Forest and more
Hendersonville – Apple Cider Capital, with great restaurants and breweries
Lake Lure: Lake Lure endured horrific damage from Helene, but they are making a comeback story, the Historic Lake Lure Inn and Spa is open for business. This is one of my favorite places to stay in the greater Asheville area.
Built in 1927, the hotel has an Italianate feel with gorgeous art adorning the walls. Each room and hallway tells a story. F. Scott Fitzgerald often stayed here while in the area. The inn has also hosted presidents, celebrities and now wants to invite you to check in for a memorable stay. Book your trip here
Where to Stay in Asheville:
While I love the hotels at Biltmore, I also understand budgeting. I’ve stayed at many hotels in Asheville, each with unique amenities and charm.
Chain hotels:
- Baymont Inn and Suites: Across the street from Biltmore and right by a Texas Roadhouse restaurant. This is a convenient location and usually very affordable. In the two times I’ve stayed here, the staff has always been friendly and the rooms were clean with a comfortable bed.
- Clarion near Biltmore: I stayed here in June 2024 with a Hotwire deal. It’s an older hotel that has been updated. It had a complimentary breakfast and the room was clean. For the excellent price and convenience I’d stay there again.
- Hampton Inn: I’ve stayed at the Biltmore location and their second location as well. I’m a big fan of Hampton Inn in general as they are clean and always include a hot breakfast.
- Doubletree: Right near the entrance to Biltmore. I’ve toured the inside, but not stayed here. It is nice and of course convenient. Link
- Courtyard by Marriott: I stayed here once. It’s not far from Biltmore Village and a standard Marriott style hotel with a decent breakfast.
If you want to splurge:
Local Bed and Breakfasts:
Asheville is known for its beautiful mix of Victorian to craftsman to art deco architecture and beyond. One of the best ways to enjoy Asheville is to check into one of the town’s lovely bed and breakfasts. Each of these provides tons of character and the southern hospitality that will make you want to stay an extra night or two. Support LOCAL at these charming inns.
Beaufort House Inn: Built in 1894, this inn has a relaxed elegance perfect for a retreat.
Lion and The Rose Bed and Breakfast: The Lion and the Rose is a stunning pink lady in the Montford Historic District. The manicured lawns, stylish decor, and welcoming innkeepers invite you in for an unforgettable stay at an exceptional value. This Asheville Bed and Breakfast is an 1898 residence located in a quiet residential neighborhood within walking distance to downtown Asheville and its many attractions. The Blue Ridge Parkway and Biltmore Estate are also just minutes away.
1899 Wright Inn The 1899 Wright Inn & Carriage House is an authentically restored George F. Barber Queen Anne Victorian Mansion nestled in the desirable Historic Montford District. This beautiful inn is a mile to the heart of downtown Asheville’s shopping, dining, cocktail bars, 3 miles to the Biltmore Estate and minutes to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
1900 Inn on Montford Blooming trees and sunlit rooms. Homemade cookies and gourmet breakfasts. Watching the sunset on the porch with live music. Crackling fireplaces. Luxurious bathrooms with whirlpool massage tubs and rain showers. All in a historic, century-old house that feels just like home. This is another Asheville gem worth checking into
Chestnut Street Inn: This beautiful 8-guestroom boutique property is just a ten-minute stroll from historic downtown Asheville, NC, where you can explore a vibrant array of shops, galleries, and restaurants.
Abbington Green: Completed in 1908, Abbington Green is a historic Colonial Revival style home less than a mile from downtown Asheville. The house was completed in 1908 by Biltmore Estate’s on-site supervising architect, Robert Sharp Smith.
Pinecrest: Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast is a 1905 property located in the historic Montford District that combines historic charm with modern amenities. Guests can enjoy the hospitality of innkeepers including breakfast, experiences, and customized recommendations to make the most of your getaway to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Don’t forget to Subscribe to the blog for more Asheville and NC adventures in the coming months! Western NC is open for business – it is just missing you and your sense of adventure 🙂
Here are some helpful Asheville Tourism Resources
Official NPS – Blue Ridge Parkway
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Hi, I’m Adele Lassiter, the travel enthusiast behind American Nomad Traveler. This blog where I share my love for history, cool museums, art, and travel tips. When I’m not writing, I’m a singer-songwriter with a passion for Americana music. Her new album is available here: adelelassiter.bandcamp.com
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