Should You Visit the Biltmore Estate? Definitely Yes!

Visiting the Biltore Estate had never really been on my bucket list but when my dear friend wanted to go, I said “Sure, why not?” Yes, I was aware that it was built by George Vanderbilt in 1896 and that it is currently the largest home in the U.S. But honestly, a trip to the Biltmore Estate is magical. Viewing the splendor of the home makes the trip completely worthwhile; however, there is so much more to do and see at the Biltmore Estate. I can’t possibly convey everything about this property but let me give you some of the highlights of my visit.

In front of the Atrium Garden

The Biltmore House

The Biltmore House was the vision of George Vanderbilt, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt. The house was designed by renowned architect Richard Morris Hunt in the French Renaissance style. Construction began in 1890 and was completed in 1896. It is designated as a National Historic Landmark.

If you visit the Biltmore Estate, you obviously want to tour the Biltmore House. At 175,000 square feet the house is massive so expect to spend a couple of hours touring. There are a couple of tours you can take. The most popular (and least expensive at $100 per person) is the audio tour. This also gives you access to the 8,000 acres of gardens and grounds as well as a visit to Antler Hill. Or you can do a private tour with access to the grounds as well as admission to the Chiluly exhibit at $360.00. Honestly, the audio tour was awesome. There are 35 different stops, each with very explicit information about the part of the house you are viewing. It’s quite extensive and long with many stairs up and down; consider that when making reservations. Below are some of our favorite rooms.

The Atrium Garden

The Formal Dining Room

The Library with a collection of 22,000 books

One of the Kitchen rooms

The Nursery

This is only a very small sample of the splendor of the Biltmore House. There are so many reasons to visit. From the extraordinary architecture, to the artworks on property (Renoir, Monet and many lesser known artisits) and the historical significance, I highly recommend a Biltmore House tour.

Where to Stay

Although you certainly can stay in the neighboring town of Asheville, I encourage you to stay on the property. There are three places to stay at the Biltmore Estate: The Inn, The Village Hotel at Antler Hill and the Cottages. The prices range from $450.00 to $1100.00 per night so it’s certainly not inexpensive.

The Inn at Biltmore Estates

There are 210 beautiful guest rooms at The Inn. There is also the stunning Library Bar located next to the lobby as well as The Dining Room restaurant

We stayed at The Inn. The grounds are exquisite, the rooms beautifully appointed, the service is excellent, and my stay was wonderful. There is transportation that runs from The Inn to the other areas of the Biltmore Estate which is definitely important. The grounds are huge so if you don’t have shuttle service, you would need a car to get you from place to place.

If you want to check out the two other locations, the Cottages are the most exclusive and the most expensive. The Village Hotel looks nice but is not at the level of The Inn.

Where to Eat

The Dining Room at The Inn

Available for breakfast and dinner, the Dining Room is a 4 star restaurant that serves upscale Southern food and luscious drinks

There are several restaurants located within the Biltmore Estates. Located in Antler Village, you will find The Bistro which is more casual than The Dining Room but still boasts a varied and upscale menu. Also located in the Village is Cedric’s Tavern if you are looking for more of a pub vibe. It features bar fare, craft beers and local wines.

The Stable Cafe

Located in the Stable Courtyard just outside the Biltmore House, the Stable Cafe is the perfect spot to dine after touring the house. It is only open for lunch.

Also located in the Stable Courtyard are the Courtyard Market, the Bake Shop and the Dairy Bar. If you are looking for a light lunch or a quick snack, you will defintely find it here. Since it is located just outside the Biltmore House (in what used to be the stables) you will only be able to eat in this location during daytime hours.

What to Do at Biltmore Estates

If you decide to stay at the Biltmore Estate for several days, you will not run out of things to do. In addition to touring the Biltmore House and surrounding grounds, here are some other activities available at the estate.

Chihuly at Biltmore

If you have never seen the work of Dale Chihuly, extraordinary American glass artist, you are in for an amazing treat. This exhibit highlights Chihuly’s glass sculptures as well as some of his paintings. I have been to his museum in Seattle Washington and although this is a much smaller exhibit, it is still worth seeing.

Hiking & Biking There are 22 miles of trails at the Biltmore Estate so bring your walking shoes to explore the property. You can also rent bikes at Antler Hill for a half day. A perfect way to see the estate

Horseback Riding If you are interested in horseback riding, you can schedule a ride although you must make reservations. Or if that seems too adventuresome, you can also enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride.

Wine Tasting In 1978, the estate developed their own vineyard and bottle several wine varieties, some from their vineyard enhanced by grapes purchased from vineyards elsewhere. You can stop by the winery for a free tasting. The winery is located in Antler Hill

The Spa If you need a bit of relaxation, there is a spa located at The Inn. It is avaiable to all overnight guests in all three of the hotels; however, you need to make a reservation

Shopping There are several locations that offer great shopping, particularly if you are looking for items that represent the Biltmore Estate. There are shops in the Stable Courtyard, in Antler Hill Village and at The Inn. The assortments are well curated and offer unique and interesting products.

Honestly there are so many more things to do and see at the Biltmore Estate, I just couldn’t cover them all. If you are planning to make the trip, I suggest at least two to three full days. We were there for two nights (but not full days) and we did not have time to see everything we wanted. It can be an expensive trip, but viewing the splendor of the Biltmore Estate is absolutely worth it.

XO

Wendy