Naturalist

Croquet

Discover one of the most authentic Vanderbilt-era activities Biltmore has to offer! Your experienced Outdoor Adventure Center guide provides croquet equipment, course setup, plus coaching, captaining, or simply supervising teams as they navigate the course. Regardless of experience or skill level, all will delight in the fun, friendly sport enjoyed by the Vanderbilts and their guests more than a century ago.

Croquet equipment provided for use.

Maximum of 8 participants. Advance reservations required. To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties. Must be 8 years of age or older to participate. Participants are encouraged to bring water, dress for the weather, and wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes.

Falconry

Discover the ancient art of falconry on Biltmore’s historic grounds. Learn how to handle a trained hawk or falcon, then experience the inimitable thrill of a raptor flying to and landing upon your gloved hand. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity to interact with one of these majestic birds of prey.

Maximum of 6 participants.

To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties. Must be 8 years of age or older to participate. Guests under 17 years of age must be accompanied by a paying adult. Guests encouraged to dress for the weather and wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes.

Geocache Challenge

Join us for an exciting and challenging outdoor scavenger hunt in the forests and fields of Biltmore Estate! This fun-for-all-ages navigational quest invites you to find hidden caches and collect clues for the chance to win prizes. Outfitted with a Garmin GPS unit and accompanied by an Outdoor Adventure Center guide, you will learn and practice valuable wayfinding skills, and enjoy a satisfying sense of accomplishment by journey’s end!

Garmin GPS units provided.

Maximum of 10 participants. Advance reservations required. To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties. Participants are encouraged to bring water, dress for the weather, and wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes.

Winter Birds & Waterfowl

Part of George Vanderbilt’s vision for Biltmore was that its land would serve as a protected habitat for waterfowl and game birds. This exclusive bird-watching tour offers you a unique opportunity to learn about the winter birds and waterfowl that call Biltmore home, as well as those that migrate through our area. You’ll enjoy a van ride to some of Biltmore’s most iconic bodies of water—the Bass Pond, the Lagoon, or Long Valley Lake—where you’ll observe these intriguing creatures within their natural habitats.

Tours led by professional guides from Asheville’s Ventures Birding and with support from Biltmore’s Outdoor Adventure Center guides.

Maximum of 12 participants. Tour stop locations vary and are subject to change. To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.

Wildflower Seed Bombs

This fun-for-all-ages (and a little bit messy!) activity invites you to take a hands-on approach to supporting the growth of wildflowers and wildlife. An excellent method for planting native wildflowers in hard-to-reach places, seed bombs are also a great way to provide our feathered and furry friends a nutritious snack. Learn about the history and varieties of seed bombs, then dig right in! The activity ends with a chance to lob your freshly-made seed bombs into the pollinator and wildlife habitats near the Outdoor Adventure Center.

Clay, water, seeds, towels, and aprons provided.

Maximum of 10 participants. Advance reservations required. To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.

Naturalist Talks

Join our knowledgeable Outdoor Adventure Center Guides for engaging and informative talks about some of the wildlife that call our 8,000-acre estate home!

Hosted in Antler Hill Village’s historic Horse Barn, these brief presentations introduce you to different wild Biltmore inhabitants each month:

– March: Salamanders
– April: Rabbits

Find out where they live, what they eat, and what (if anything!) eats them. You’ll also learn about their life cycles and behaviors, including how they interact (or not!) with humans. Full of fascinating facts about each creature profiled, these talks inspire a deeper connection to the natural world around us.

No reservation required. No minimum age required; parent or guardian must accompany guests under age 18. To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.

Bluebird Walk

Explore the fascinating world of the Eastern Bluebird with one of our expert guides! Not only will you learn about the history and life patterns of this beautiful bird and the development and maintenance of Biltmore’s Bluebird Program, you’ll also discover how you can help birds in your community. Conclude this enjoyable, informative experience by joining your guide on an easy walk to perform hands-on work checking and evaluating Bluebird Boxes on the estate.

Maximum of six participants. To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.

Intro to Nature Sketching

Discover the artist within with this introductory experience focused on fun, a love of nature, and the joy of capturing Biltmore’s great outdoors on the pages of your very own nature sketchbook! Encouraged by one of our experienced Naturalist Guides, you will develop observational drawing skills as you learn the basics of sketching two of the most common, easy-to-draw elements in nature: leaves and trees. A relaxing activity that stimulates creativity, nature sketching also enhances your appreciation of the estate’s beauty.

All art materials provided, including take-home nature sketchbook.

Maximum of 10 participants. Advance reservations required. To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties. Participants are encouraged to bring water, dress for the weather, and wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes.

Intro to Nature Journaling

Join generations of everyday travelers (and literary giants!) who have described the resplendent natural beauty of George Vanderbilt’s magnificent estate for more than a century. Taking place at one of Biltmore’s many scenic locations, this class explores the process and power of creative self-expression.

Nature journal included.

Maximum of 10 participants. Advance reservations required. To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties. Must be 12 years of age or older to participate. Participants are encouraged to bring water, dress for the weather, and wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes.

Project FeederWatch

Learn about the birds that call Biltmore home for the winter while helping to identify and count birds to support the international Project FeederWatch program! Led by one of our Outdoor Adventure Center guides, this engaging activity not only introduces you to the birds of Biltmore, it also offers a relaxing opportunity to enjoy the estate’s natural splendor. Upon receiving a checklist of common local birds and identification guides to consult during the experience, you will walk to the feeding station and settle in for a 20-minute counting and information session (seating will be available).

Maximum of 8 participants. Advance reservations required. To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties. Participants are encouraged to bring water, dress for the weather, and wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes.

Flower Petal Art

Experience the beauty of flowers and the power of creative expression with this engaging activity that invites you to enjoy nature’s colorful blooms in any season! Participants will craft their very own framed take-home floral masterpieces as they learn about flowers and leaves from one of our knowledgeable Outdoor Adventure Center guides.

All art materials provided.

Maximum of 10 participants. Advance reservations required. To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.

Guided Bird Walks

Explore the fields, open woodlands, and Farmyard area below Antler Hill Village on an engaging, educational adventure led by a professional Ventures Birding tour guide.

Once fitted with your choice of binoculars, you’ll embark upon a relaxing stroll along dirt roads and paths while watching for the different bird species and other wildlife that frequent this “open country.” Learn about these fascinating creatures, as well as the importance of the estate’s grounds as a habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife during a truly delightful experience.

Maximum of 8 participants. To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.