Plan Your Trip to Biltmore
Biltmore’s first-time visitors often realize that once they arrive there’s more to see and do than they expected. Perhaps that was George Vanderbilt’s grand plan when he created the estate in the late 1800s.
Wowing guests for more than 100 years, Biltmore offers a full menu of activities to keep guests intrigued as they discover Vanderbilt’s 8,000-acre mountain estate.
A visit to Biltmore includes access to the 250-room Biltmore House; 80-plus acres of formal gardens; Antler Hill Village and Farm; and the estate’s award-winning Winery. Exploring each part can take a full day – or even more. Guests wishing to extend their visit to two or more days often choose to stay at The Inn on Biltmore Estate or the Village Hotel at Biltmore Estate.
Discovering America’s Largest Home
The Biltmore House visit is a self-guided tour through three floors and the basement of America’s largest home. Every room on the tour has been carefully conserved by Biltmore’s Museum Services staff. Displays of the Vanderbilts’ original artwork collection and furniture beautifully illustrate life at Biltmore as it was during the time when George and Edith Vanderbilt lived in the home with their only child, daughter Cornelia. Many of the rooms offer panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
An audio tour of the House is the perfect companion in that it reveals fascinating details about the Vanderbilt family, their guests and entertaining stories about life on the estate. A guest host is posted in each of the main rooms, ready to answer questions and provide insight into the life and times of the Vanderbilts.
Beautiful Gardens for Every Season
Beyond the House, acres of formal gardens beckon. Biltmore’s gardens were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture. The formal Italian Garden offers a quiet place to relax with its classic statuary and three symmetrical reflecting pools, while the Shrub Garden entices with a stroll along secluded paths. The 4-acre Walled Garden teems with seasonal color and symmetrical design. The historic Rose Garden is filled with multiple varieties of roses, some of the very same types first grown in the garden during Vanderbilt’s day. The soaring Conservatory, designed by Biltmore House architect Richard Morris Hunt, is a showcase filled with tropical palms, ferns and orchids.
Beyond the formal gardens are more than 20 miles of hiking and walking paths.
Family Fun at Antler Hill Village & Winery
Casual fun is the order of the day at Antler Hill Village and the Winery with fascinating historical exhibits at The Biltmore Legacy, live seasonal entertainment at the Village Green, and farm exhibits and animals at the Farm. At the Winery, enjoy complimentary samples of Biltmore’s award-winning wines and tours of the facility, once home to the original Biltmore Dairy.
Extend fun with a stay at The Inn on Biltmore Estate or Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate
Stay a night or two and dig deeper into the Biltmore visit. The Inn on Biltmore Estate features graciously appointed rooms and warm hospitality in honor of Vanderbilt’s lasting legacy of hospitality. The Inn is rated Four Diamonds by AAA and Four Diamonds by Forbes Travel Guide.
Village Hotel is the estate’s second accommodation property, joining The Inn on Biltmore Estate to provide a range of options for guests who want to stay overnight on the estate. Village Hotel’s location is set in a casual and social atmosphere in the heart of Antler Hill Village, while The Inn offers four-star accommodations in a luxurious, private hill-top setting.
About Biltmore
Located in Asheville, N.C., Biltmore was the vision of George W. Vanderbilt. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt, America’s largest home is a 250-room French Renaissance chateau, exhibiting the Vanderbilt family’s original collection of furnishings, art and antiques. Biltmore estate encompasses more than 8,000 acres including renowned gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture. Today, Biltmore includes Antler Hill Village, which features the award-winning Winery and Antler Hill Farm; four-star The Inn on Biltmore Estate; the new Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate; Equestrian Center; numerous restaurants; event and meeting venues; and Biltmore For Your Home, the company’s licensed products division. To learn more about Biltmore, go to www.biltmore.com or call 877-BILTMORE.
