BILTMORE ESTATE

George Vanderbilt first visited Asheville, NC in 1888, and quickly began work on a 250-room French Renaissance style chateau, which we now know as Biltmore House. In 1895 the house was opened to family and friends, and in 1930 Biltmore House was opened to the public. The estate has a rich history, and has since expanded to include accommodations, a winery, and outdoor activities. I have included a visit to the Biltmore in my article on a weekend in Asheville, but there are plenty of things to do here for a standalone weekend! Note that for the majority of these Biltmore items, one must have a Biltmore Annual Pass, a daytime ticket, or be staying at one of the estate’s overnight properties. Here are my reviews on all of the Biltmore offers we have partaken in thus far:

Activities:

Self-guided Tour – this tour is one of the most popular activities on the Biltmore Estate, and a lovely way to see the interior of the home on the property. While you won’t be able to see all 250 rooms, you do have access to 3 floors and a basement, so you will definitely get a sense of how George and Edith Vanderbilt lived! While Christmas time is Biltmore’s busiest season, consider making the trip, as the house comes alive with different decorated Christmas trees sprinkled throughout. Please note that there is a clear bag policy and there are no bathrooms available once inside.

inside the house during Christmas time

Rooftop Tour – this tour takes upwards of 12 guests and allows you to take a peek at areas of the house that you do not have access to on the traditional house visit. Book the earliest tour – this way, when you have access to the roof and balconies, you have unimpeded views of the esplanade (and there won’t be dozens of people speckled across the lawn). It is a wonderful opportunity to take photos that you would not otherwise be able to snap. Note that you must walk up about 125 steps, which also means you must come down (which gets us to a total of 250 steps)!

view from the rooftop on a winter’s day

Farmyard Visit – if you are in the Antler Hill Village, stop by for a quick hello to the hens, lambs, pigs, goats, and calves! (The chickens were absolutely adorable.)

Hiking – there are 22 miles of hiking trails on the estate. Grab a detailed trail map from the Outdoor Adventure Center or the Concierge if you are staying at one of the hotels on the property. All trails are very clearly labeled and are labeled by their difficulty.

Falconry – while this is not my favorite falconry experience I have had, it is a lovely chance to be introduced to these birds of prey. This is not a private activity, and there can be upwards of six people in your group. While this activity is an hour and a half, there is limited time interacting with the birds and getting the opportunity to handle them. If you find yourself in Ireland, read my article here on my favorite hawk walk experience.

Archery – this is a fun light activity! You will meet at the Outdoor Adventure Center and then you will be driven a ways away to your targets. Once there, you will be shown proper technique and then take aim! You could be in a group setting, but try for a winter weekday around lunchtime, and you might find that you suddenly have a private archery lesson.

Basic Sporting Clays Lesson – this two-hour lesson is no joke! You will meet at the Outdoor Adventure Center and then you will be driven to a stand. There you will learn proper gun mount, stance, and fundamental skills to engage your target from an expert. It is really fun!

Accommodations:

The Inn – this four-star inn is the loveliest of the Biltmore accommodations, and is situated on a hill for stunning views. The lobby is extra dreamy, with a cozy roaring fireplace and floor to ceiling windows where you can sit and take in the views. Absolutely eat dinner at The Dining Room, The Inn’s restaurant below the lobby.

Food:

Cedric’s Tavern – named after the Vanderbilts’ St. Bernard, Cedric, this is a casual eatery on the Biltmore Estate, specifically located in the Antler Hill Village. The restaurant has pub food and very friendly staff. We really liked the pretzel rolls and the bangers and mash.

Bistro – this restaurant is also in Antler Hill Village. The atmosphere and food is slightly elevated from Cedric’s, and is only open for dinner. I got the house made rigatoni (which was a tad rubbery, but the flavors were nice).

The Creamery – for a sweet treat in the Antler Hill Village, head to the Creamery! Huge scoops and coffee await you after you have had your fill at Cedric’s Tavern or the Bistro. I asked for two scoops of their raspberry sorbet and the bowl they gave me was enormous!!

Stable Café – now moving away from Antler Hill Village, this restaurant is located where the estate’s horse stable used to be. In fact, you can get a booth in one of the converted stalls! The restaurant provides comfort food, and the first time we were there, I got the meatloaf and pecan pie and absolutely loved it. However the second time we went, the meatloaf was quite dry, so this place could be hit or miss.

The Bake Shop – if you need to grab something quick and you are near the Biltmore House, head to the Bake Shop. They have a handful of sandwiches and pastries. They are quick, incredibly casual, and you can sit and eat your food at one of the tables in front of the storefront.

In Room Dining at The Inn – if you are staying on property at the Inn and you want room service, you can call down to the front desk and they will bring you up something from their menu. Our food came much later than the time originally communicated to us, it is quite overpriced, and my pastries were so-so (pastry snob over here), so unless you just want to stay in and enjoy room service for the experience, I would skip this here.

The Dining Room – this is Biltmore’s crown jewel, and my favorite restaurant on Biltmore Estate (I saved the best for last!) The restaurant looks super romantic, has incredibly attentive staff, and the food is incredible. I let them know in advance that I am lactose intolerant, and they were so accommodating. They even brought two different kinds of bread at the beginning of our meal so CJ could enjoy bread with dairy and I could relish in my dairy free focaccia! I had the gnocchi and CJ had the duck breast. Both were amazing! Please note that there is a strict dress code.

Shopping:

Biltmore House & Gardens – there is a really cute Christmas shop, a delectable chocolate shop, a whimsical toy shop, and a store for people with a green thumb. Because these shops are very close to Biltmore House (which is the main attraction), it is quite crowded as you flit from shop to shop.

Antler Hill Village – the much less crowded shops of Antler Hill Village have a little outfitters shop, a wine shop, and a couple of stores with random assortments of knickknacks like candles, crafts, and accessories.