If you know anything about Asheville, NC, you probably know about Biltmore Estate. It's certainly one our coolest features. It's even better to be able to use it as part of your backyard! You know, along with the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pisgah National Forest... But just in case you're new here (welcome!), here's a quick primer. Biltmore Estate was built as a retreat by George Vanderbilt, grandson of the world's wealthiest man at the time, Cornelius "The Commodore" Vanderbilt. (So fascinating, definitely look him up!) The estate originally included 125,000 acres, and many of which were sold to create Pisgah National Forest. The house is the largest private home in the United States and is currently run as a self-sufficient, 8,000 acre estate. It's the second largest employer in Buncombe County, and provides year-round events and entertainment for tourists and locals alike.
Now that you live here and you've already done the typical day visit- the house, the gardens, the winery, and Antler Hill Village- what's next? How do you take advantage of this excellent resource as a native?
Step 1: Become a Passholder
In order to enjoy and take advantage of all the benefits I'll list and more, you'll need to have an annual pass. You can upgrade a daytime ticket (see Biltmore's Welcome Center or call for more information, as it's not posted online), or you can purchase a pass outright. They aren't inexpensive, but they are SO WORTH IT. Click here for all of the benefits that come with having an annual pass.
Step 2: Visit Again
Now that you're a local Passholder, you can take a little more time absorb all that there is to see. Read more of the literature to get a better sense of all that's available for visitors to take advantage of: trails, gardens, shops, restaurants, and more. Drive around to familiarize yourself with the layout of the estate and determine where you want to start exploring first.
Step 3: Do Stuff! Are you outdoorsy? Artsy? A foodie? You'll find plenty on the estate to enjoy in each of those categories and more. Here's my list of suggestions, most of which are free, broken down by category:
Outdoors:
Trail walking/ running (paved trail by Antler Hill Village; Deer Run trail, etc.)
Sit outside on the Library Terrace and watch the sunset. Nothing like it.
Hanging in a hammock by the river
Walking through the Azalea Garden
Hiking to the Bass Pond
Outdoor games (Frisbee, flying kites, etc.)
Bike riding (bring your own bike or rent one from Biltmore)*
Horseback riding (bring your own horses or pay for a ride from Biltmore)*
Falconry (SO COOL.)*
Many more facilitated by the estate- click here for more info!*
Arts:
The house contains thousands of pieces of fine art. Go through the home on a slow day and really examine the collection. (My favorites are anything by Sargent and The Waltz, typically on the second floor.)
Bring your supplies and paint/knit/draw/whatever on the estate grounds. I love to watercolor and enjoy finding new subject matter and settings to paint in. There's an endless supply!
Visit the Antler Hill Village artist demonstrations, including blown glass
Photograph the many excellent views, vistas, and subjects throughout the estate
Food:
Bring a picnic from home or purchase items from the estate's dining options and eat outside on a blanket pretty much anywhere guests are allowed to go*
Eat at one of the many, MANY dining options available. Bring friends who aren't Passholders in the evenings with a reservation. (See Biltmore's website for exceptions.)*
Shop for gourmet food items at most of the gift shops (the Winery Gift Shop has the widest variety of food gifts.)*
Visit for a wine tasting as the selections change throughout the year, or pick a theme (reds, whites, etc.) and go with Passholder friends!
Extras:
The estate offers quite a few additional tours for a fee, from inside the house to the grounds and everywhere in between. Passholders receive a discount, so it's more advantageous to do them all!*
In the past couple of years, Biltmore has been offering various exhibits to add even more reasons to visit. They've recently featured Legos, Downton Abbey costumes, and Titanic costumes, and they're typically offered during the beginning of the year and are part of the regular home tour.
Christmas at Biltmore is so, so special. Visit during the day to take in all of the many decorations, or come for a Candlelight Christmas Evening to experience the home as it might have been at Christmas during the Vanderbilts' time.*
The Biltmore Concert Series is held during the summer and draws some great acts! It's held on the South Lawn and the sun sets while the music plays.*
That's a lot, and it's not even all of it! While some activities do have additional costs, there's so much that is included with your annual pass and doesn't cost anything but time. Have you visited Biltmore Estate before? Do you have a pass, and if so, have you tried any of these activities? Let me know in the comments of this post!
-Laura
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* Items marked with an asterisk may include extra fees.
I've done my best to provide accurate data and links, but please check with Biltmore Estate if you have any questions. They provide excellent service in person, over the phone, and online! I cannot be held responsible for any changes by Biltmore to the above information.
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