North Carolinians Will Never Forget Their First Time Visiting The Biltmore Estate In North Carolina
Each year, over a million people visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. It is one of the most popular attractions in North Carolina and the on-site winery is now the most visited winery in the United States. Most North Carolinians have visited Biltmore at least once and have been inspired by the stunning scenery, lush gardens, ornate architecture, and historic relevance. If you haven’t been to the beautiful Biltmore yet, keep reading to find out why it’s one of the state’s most popular attractions!
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Completed in 1895, the Biltmore is a 178,926 square foot mansion located on 8,000 acres of property just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. The Biltmore Estate is the largest privately owned home in America.
When George Vanderbilt began to build his majestic mountain estate, he envisioned the property to be self-sustaining. Over the decades this proved to be difficult and in 1930 the family decided to open the home to the public. Although still owned by the Vanderbilt family, the property is no longer a residence and is still open to the public for tours and other activities.
Tours of the home are one of the most popular activities on the estate. Guided tours can be quite pricey, but self guided and audio-guided tours are available at lower price points.
Visitors are absolutely entranced by the intricacies of the home. The hidden passages, massive rooms, elaborate decor, and history can be truly mind-boggling. For many people an annual tour of Biltmore is a family favorite tradition.
While the house is a major attraction for a lot of guests, the massive and meticulously kept gardens are the main draw for many more visitors. The summer rose garden, spring tulip display, and the sunflower fields attract flower lovers from all over the world!
There are also 20 miles of trails that visitors can explore. Hiking and biking are popular activities on the estate and is included with any admission. Guests can bring their own bikes or rent a bike for the day.
Meals at Biltmore can be a very unique experience. There are seven restaurants at Bilmore ranging from fine dining establishments to family-friendly casual spots. Many memorable moments happen around the dinner table on the Biltmore Estate.
Fine wine is easy to find at Biltmore. George Vanderbilt’s grandson, William Cecil, planted the first grape vines on the property in the early 1970's. Decades later the winery produces about 150,000 cases of wine annually and ships to 40 different states.
Seeing Biltmore surrounded by the fall foliage is a fond memory for many North Carolinians. The surrounding countryside is one of the best places in the nation to see the changing colors of the leaves.
Christmastime is also extremely special at Biltmore. The decorations and festivities are so extraordinary that many families come year-after-year to see the displays. Some visitors will tell you it is the best time of year to visit the estate!
Biltmore is currently open to visitors. Biltmore admission starts at $64 per adult. Prices vary by date. Kids ages 10-16 are half the price of adult admission. Kids ages 9 and younger are admitted free. Visit the official Biltmore website for information about ticket prices, activities, events, accommodations, dining and more.
Have you visited the Biltmore Estate? Tell us what you remember about your first visit? What time of the year do you think is the best to visit the estate? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
Liz is a Missouri native with a B.A. in English from Mizzou and a M.A. in Non-Profit Administration from Lindenwood University. She works for a STL metro-area community college and enjoys writing, traveling, and indoor cycling. Her true passion is forcing her encyclopedic knowledge of Missouri facts on uninterested strangers from across the globe!
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