Biltmore Estate – The Perfect Girlfriends Getaway

Looking for a quick, easy, girlfriends getaway? Consider visiting the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.

The Biltmore Estate was built in the late 1800s by George Vanderbilt, the youngest member of one of the richest families in America. It now sits on 8,000 acres of land nestled in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina.

The house, modeled after three châteaux built in 16th-century France, is truly impressive. Four acres of floor space on three floors. There are 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The basement of the home houses a swimming pool, gymnasium, bowling alley, servants’ quarters, kitchens, laundry facilities, and much more.

The Biltmore Estate was built by master architect, Richard Morris Hunt, who designed the base of the Statue of Liberty. The grounds were designed by revered landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park.

The size of the house is imposing. The detailed scrollwork and sculpture on the house was truly stunning. We took the Candlelight tour of the house on the evening we arrived. The lights were kept low, as they would have been in the evenings back in the late nineteenth century. Several of the fireplaces were blazing.

The house was decked out in its finest holiday attire, just as it would have been in 1895 when George Vanderbilt first welcomed friends and family to his new home. There were performers throughout the house including a choir singing European carols and vintage ballroom dancers in the Winter Garden, and dramatic Christmas readings on an upper floor of the house.

We were simply awestruck as we toured several rooms of the house – on all three floors and in the basement. Each room was beautifully appointed, decorated by George Vanderbilt himself. He began collecting art and books at an early age. The home is filled with the priceless books and art he loved so much.

The Banquet Hall, the largest room in the house, has a 70-foot high barrel-vaulted ceiling, a triple fireplace, and two built-in throne chairs. Despite its size, the room has perfect acoustics that enabled guests sitting at one end of the lengthy dining table to easily converse with guests at the opposite end of the table.

The Tapestry Gallery and Library were magnificent. The Library houses thousands of books. A passage behind the exquisite fireplace leads to a second floor of overflowing bookshelves. The ceiling is adorned by dramatic artwork – The Chariout of Aurora, by Venetian artist, Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini. This elaborate depiction of the dawn makes the room appear to open to the sky. The painting originally embellished the ceiling of the ballroom of the Pisani Palace in Venice. The 13 separate canvases were dismantled and relocated to Biltmore .

Crimson brocade, sumptuous velvets, silk, and stamped leather are among the materials used for bedding and wallcoverings in the private and guest quarters located on the upper floors. Each room is filled with ornate, priceless furniture. On the third floor there are four unique guest rooms, called the Artists’ Suite. Each is named after a favorite artist or work of art and decorated accordingly.

The house was beautiful during the Candlelight tour. However, upon our return the next day we were able to see the house in its full splendor. We noticed the intricate details of the satinwood, mahogany, and carved walnut furnishings, wall tapestries, and other priceless collectibles. The experience was intensified by the available audio tour.

The audio tour was well worth the $10, revealing the history of the house, the Vanderbilt family, the men who designed the house and gardens, and a glimpse into what life was like when the family occupied the home.

We toured the gardens and the terrace which overlooked the vast property. A trip to the conservatory offered us the opportunity to see a variety of plants and flowers.

There is a lot of walking during a Biltmore Estate tour. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes to tackle the several flights of stairs in the house and expansive gardens. No doubt you’ll work up a quite an appetite. But, no worries. There are several dining options on the estate to meet your needs. From casual dining in the Stable Cafe or Bistro to a sumptuous buffet at Deerpark Restaurant (which I HIGHLY recommend) or an elegant meal at The Dining Room. Either way, you won’t go wrong with Estate-raised beef and lamb.

A fine wine is a great finish to the perfect meal. The Biltmore Estate Winery (formerly the Biltmore Dairy) makes several wines and is the most visited winery in America.

We visited the wine gift shop before taking the Red Wine & Chocolate Seminar. The facilitator was funny, engaging and extremely knowledgeable. Next we took a guided Behind-the-Scenes tour of the winery where we learned about the art of crafting fine wines. We ended the evening with a visit to the Tasting Room. Our wine host, Sarah, guided us through a complimentary sampling of a variety of Biltmore Estate wines. We each picked a favorite and which we were able to purchase onsite.