My wife and I just walked in the house from a day at Biltmore Estate in Asheville N.C. This was our third visit to Biltmore in two years. The first two times were during the springtime. I enjoy going around the middle of April when all the flowers on the grounds are in bloom. There is about a ten day period when the tulips and azaleas are bloomed together and all the trees are in bloom and dozens of other flowers. If your like me and love being outside you can't beat a visit in the spring. My wife has wanted to visit around christmas to see all the decorations. I surprised her with tickets in her stocking this year for the candlelight Christmas tour of the house. Our tickets were for this evening. Tonight was the final night of the Christmas tours of the house. It was pretty awesome. There was live musical performances throughout the house and dancers in the foyer and ofcourse about fifty different Christmas trees and plenty of other decorations throughout the house. If you get the chance to go I think a regular daytime visit would be the best way to start and pay the extra ten bucks for the audio tour it makes the visit much better by letting you know what your looking at and the history of the house and each room as you go through them. There is no audio tour for the Christmas tour, so the new visitors there tonight didn't have a clue what they were looking at. Although they were still amazed by the beautiful things they saw I,m sure it was more interesting for visitors like myself that had heard the audio tour before. My wife says this was her favorite visit and she is already planning our Christmas visit for next year.

We live in the Triangle and have been to Biltmore several times. When you go back you HAVE to stay at the Biltmore Inn, eat at the Bistro and enjoy the winery!

__________________
"You're messin' up my Zen"

Went for the first time this fall. We will definitely go back. At in the stable, don't remember what they call it. Incredible place, I bought a book about it in the gift shop. Kind of a tradition for me, I pick up a book anytime we visit someplace. Maybe make nice memory jogger in my later years.

__________________
I hope I copied that right

Yup, It would hold a passel of hay.

My wife has passes (purchase new ones every year) and we go a couple of times a year. I remember going as a kid (mid to late 70's) and only a limited amount of the house was open to the public then. My folks lived near the site in the mid 50's. My mother told that she always wanted to go then, but the $2 admission price was to high for them at that time. It's a neat place to visit if you get a chance.

Next time stay at the grove Park Inn, there fireplace is huge and enviting, probably the biggest on the east coast, they put whole tree loggs in it i think it measures 8 feet in lenght by 5 feet high, there back porch with rocking chairs is superb, and there spa is one of the top 10 in the US! on friday night they have an all you can eat seafood buffet for $25 per that they loose money on that is exceptional!! try it next time even if you dont stay there, many come on friday to eat only...

I lioved in Asheville for a year in 1944. The Biltmore House was closed: I think it was a rehab hospital for war wounded at the time.

If you like the Grove Park, you'll LOVE the Inn at Biltmore. We used to always stay at GP until the Inn at Biltmore opened. Of course, as you mentioned, the sea food buffet on Friday and the Prime Rib buffet on Saturdays is enough to get me back to the Grove Park, but the Bistro at the Biltmore Inn.............wonderful!

__________________
"You're messin' up my Zen"

Yes I have, very interesting place, he was ahead of his time. It is amazing what money will do.

I grew up in Asheville, and still live in the area.I have never been to the House. Been on the Estate a few times.
If you go to the local gun show next sat.,you can get 10 stories and they all start the same.
" My(Uncle, Dad, Granddad) poached deer on the Estate to feed the family in the '30s."
You still find old .22s with that story attached. And many tales of Maxim silencers found in dresser drawers.

We've been there several times over the years - I'd like to go again if they've opened up more of the house.
The grounds are just spectacular too!

As S&W-Keeper said
BUT
The servants lived like slave labor - down in dingy, cold, austere basement rooms. Come on - With THAT kind of money it wouldn't hurt to help the help. But then again - that's how the *better* folks see us.

__________________
In dog years I'm dead.

I enjoyed seeing it.

Yes, a number of times. My parents retired in Flat Rock (near Hendersonville) in the late 80's. Construction and the size of the stone used is amazing. From the photos it appears that the cost of the labor to build it was cheap.

ummmmm! grove park blue ridge room. We live just up the road about 20 mins. I like go and watch people. My wife likes the biltmore house and deer park. Me i prefer something else so she goes with her sister. Doeboy

Been several times, the first time I visited I took my folks, went the week between Christmas and New Years. The place was still decorated for the holidays and hardly a visitor in sight it was great.

Second time went is the late spring was crowded but still lots of fun. If they still offer the behind scenes tour spend the extra money it's well worth it.

If any of enjoy art-deco style buildings spend some time in the city of Ashville, which is a fun place to visit, kinda has a 70's college town feel to it.

__________________
Always Stay Strong!

Any carry restrictions at the Estate or Grove Park? Just Askin'....