Biltmore Estate: A Historical Escape Back in Time

One of our favorite places to retreat during the hot summer months is the mountains of North Carolina. We absolutely love the weather year round and there is nothing like being on mountain time! While visiting we like to venture off to Asheville for the day and visit the Biltmore Estate. It’s about 1.5 hours from where we stay in Boone.

The Biltmore is the largest privately owned estate in the country! That is pretty impressive! I have had multiple people make the comment “been there done that” as if there is nothing more to see once you’ve been once. I could not disagree more. We learned on our 4th visit to the estate that they are consistently changing the layout of the tour. So even after 4 trips, we have still not seen all the grounds or the house in its entirety!

Exploring

If you plan to go, plan to stay all day. We usually arrive early morning depending on the time of year. If you visit during the Summer, mornings are definitely the way to go to avoid crowds. The estate is over 8,000 acres. Take time to explore the grounds,  you won’t be sorry you did. There are so many things to do; horseback riding, Segway tours, fishing excursions, hiking trails, river floats, bike paths, clay shooting, Land Rover experience, etc.

The main tour of the home is self-guided. If this is your first visit, this tour is included in the price of admission and will let you see a huge portion of the house & basement on your own at your own pace. They also include a voice-guided tour via handheld player. During this 50-minute experience, capture the feeling of being guided through Biltmore’s grand rooms by our curators and hosts. You’ll learn about the Vanderbilts, their guests, and their servants, in addition to the surrounding architecture, design, and artwork. Keep the kids entertained with their very own 50-minute Kids’ Audio Guide, narrated by Cedric, the Vanderbilts’ beloved Saint Bernard

Stroll through the gardens and you will not be disappointed. Frederick Olmsted, the designer of Central Park, designed the Biltmore Gardens. Truly beautiful.

We love the history behind the Biltmore, we love hearing the Vanderbilt story and how George Vanderbilt created an empire. If you don’t know his story, take time to read it or listen to it when you visit the estate. He had an incredible work ethic and perseverance for someone so young. Although he came from a wealthy family, nothing was ever given to him. He worked for everything he ever had.

Dining

The dining options on the estate are wonderful. We have not eaten a meal at the estate that wasn’t first class. Cedric’s Tavern and the Stable House are our favorites. Most of the restaurants are Farm-to-table type places and most everything is grown on the estate.

Furry Friends

The last thing I want to mention is that the grounds are pet-friendly but Biltmore House is not. You may bring your pet and explore the trails, but they are not allowed near the home or inside any of the buildings and must be leashed at all times. Service animals are always welcome. If you are traveling through and want to make a stop there, Biltmore has a kennel on the property. The kennel is first come first serve and might be full, so it would be worth calling and checking before you arrive.

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