Open House

Winter Wonderland: Our Top 5 Picks for the Season

Posted on 12/19/2017 by Jean Sexton

When visiting Biltmore during the winter season, you'll have a wonderland of exciting options to enjoy, from America’s Largest Home^® to America’s most-visited winery! Here are our Top 5 picks for the season: 

Winery

Chase the chill in the air away with a visit to our Winery, located in the heart of Antler Hill Village. Housed in an original estate dairy barn, you can go behind the scenes with a guided tour of our production facility, then enjoy complimentary tastings of more than 20 of our handcrafted wines. Check out the Wine Bar, or reserve your space for one of our fascinating specialty wine experiences like the delightful Red Wine & Chocolate Tasting.

Conservatory

Take a trip to the tropics without ever leaving Biltmore! In the heart of Biltmore’s Walled Garden is an architectural treasure, almost as beautiful as Biltmore House. The Conservatory, designed by Biltmore House architect Richard Morris Hunt, was built to provide Biltmore House and the gardens with flowers and tender bedding plants. Today, more than a century later, it still fulfills that role. The glass-topped, light-filled space features a gorgeous array of plants any time of year, but winters are truly special as exotic specimens in the Orchid Room reach peak bloom during the coldest months of the year. Many of the orchids are the same varieties that George Vanderbilt originally chose for the Conservatory, and there's always a new breathtaking display just around the next corner.

Afternoon Tea at The Inn on Biltmore Estate™

Warm up a chilly day with the elegant charms of Afternoon Tea at The Inn. Inspired by Vanderbilt family traditions—they enjoyed tea themselves and served it to their guests—our Afternoon Tea offers a welcome moment of leisure spent enjoying a delightful assortment of teas, English finger sandwiches, scones, fruit breads, cheeses, and tea pastries.

Blacksmith Shop at Antler Hill Barn

Catch a glimpse of the past as you watch an estate blacksmith practicing the ancient art of forging metal into useful and beautiful implements. Not only is it fascinating to watch an expert blacksmith at work—it's also quite cozy in the confines of the Blacksmith Shop, located in Antler Hill Barn. For a memento of your visit, check for hand-forged items at The Barn Door shop located nearby.

Guided Hikes (Thursday—Sunday)

Head outdoors for our Guided Hikes, included with your stay at The Inn, Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate^®, or Cottage on Biltmore Estate™. Choose your activity level, from the moderate to fast-paced Trail Blazers to the more relaxed River Stroll, and spend between 1 and 1.5 hours enjoying the long-range views that winter brings to Biltmore. Although these Guided Hikes are only available for those with overnight accommodations at Biltmore, we recommend the trail from Antler Hill Village to the Lagoon for our day guests who want to warm up by walking. 
 

Plan a Biltmore getaway now

With all these wonderful warmer-uppers to choose from, winter is a great time to plan your next Biltmore visit!

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