Our Visit To The Biltmore Estate
If you follow us on Instagram, then you probably saw that we had an unconventional Thanksgiving Day; we spent the majority of it at the Biltmore, America’s largest private home. The huge mansion is located in Asheville, North Carolina and we arrived just in time for the Christmas decorations to be up. We had such an amazing time touring (in fact, we decided it was our favorite attraction from the whole trip). I wanted to make sure we share a few tips and information that would be helpful for anyone else looking to go. We both had no idea what to expect and in hindsight, there are a few things we’d do differently! If we don’t answer a question that you have, be sure to leave a comment below!
When To Go
There isn’t really a wrong time to visit the Biltmore. We lucked out with perfect weather in November and managed to be there in time for all of the Christmas decor. I already told Brandon that we have to go back in the spring when they have 100,000 tulips planted and the garden is in full bloom. As plant lovers, we were a little sad that we couldn’t see the magnificent gardens in all of their glory. However, there were certainly plenty of things that we got to see (i.e. a giant gingerbread house, Christmas trees in every room) that others wouldn’t get in the spring or summer.
Time To Spend
We spent four-ish hours on property. Everything is extremely sprawled out so it took some time for us to get from the wine tasting area all the way to the actual estate. They also have a little shopping village that we did not get to see due to time. I would suggest reserving a half day at least for Biltmore related activities but you can definitely do longer! Additionally, we discussed potentially staying on property next time for a different experience.
What To Wear
Layers! I was dressed perfectly for the outside area but got a little warm inside the house, especially in the basement and lower levels. There wasn’t a ton of airflow down there and so many people are going through at any given time. Luckily, I could just shed my blazer but I would advise not wearing a heavy sweater as your only item. In the spring or summer, a pretty sundress would definitely suffice. We both agreed that because the Biltmore is a formal home, we wanted to dress appropriately to respect that space.
Must Do // Must See
Our favorite thing was the actual house tour itself. We spent over an hour making our way through the many different rooms, astonished at the glamour and grandness in every area. It truly is amazing. Additionally, you’ll receive a complimentary wine tasting with your ticket purchase and we had a lot of fun sipping Biltmore wine before we made it to the house. I’d definitely suggest doing this as a fun little activity! Make sure that you reserve some time to just drive the grounds too. Everything is absolutely beautiful and Brandon enjoyed driving the winding roads, spotting wildlife in the fields.
The conservatory and the gardens are a sight in themselves and we loved walking through that area. Be sure to wear good walking shoes so that you don’t tire out though! Again, everything is really spread out!
On Katherine: Trouve layering tee, Asos blazer, Wit and Wisdom jeans, similar boots
On Brandon: Vintage button down, Banana Republic pants