The Biltmore Estates located in Asheville, North Caroline is definitely a destination place to add to your list.  The day we visited, we decided to get off the hiking trails for a new activity and have a play day in town.

The Vanderbilt family built the magnificent 250-room French Renaissance chateau over a six-year period in the last 1890’s.  The house has over four acres of floor space and includes 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. Incredible spaces in the home include, a library, banquet halls, a bowling ally, a gym and a swimming pool to name a few.

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We spent a couple hours walking the grounds, looking at landscape before we started our tour of the house. In addition to the palatial home, there are gardens, a dairy barn, horses, a winery, and Antler Village with places to eat, shop and stay.

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When you purchase tickets to the Biltmore Estate you are buying a tour of the home for a specific time slot. Tourists can only enter the house during the time allotted. Plan for about a four hour visit and wear comfortable shoes!

We took the guided audio tour and would highly recommend that.  The narrator not only highlights interesting facts about the house, but also tells a charming story along the way.

Steve’s career for the past 40-years has been supplying millwork (windows, doors and trim) to the construction industry. He has an eye and an appreciation for architectural details. The Biltmore Estate Mansion is loaded with unique details on both the exterior and interior of the home. He was in architectural heaven while there.

I had to laugh at him a few time that day. He spent his time looking at moulding profiles, wood joinery, coffered ceiling details, fireplace corbels and columns.

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In short, we think our pictures describe this special place better than our words do!