This week the girls are out of school. I decided we would take a little trip to Asheville NC, about 1 1/2 hours east of us. Asheville, as I am sure everyone knows but me, is the home of the Vanderbilts. A few years back RaChael, Leslie visited the Vanderbilt's summer home in Newport, Rhode Island which was stunning.
The main home is nothing short of breath taking. It is the largest home built in the United States and is so large, you have to drive around the property just to get to the barn and winery. We started out with the main house. The whole house is not on the tour but you can tour about 67 of the rooms, each uniquely appointed not to mention the indoor swimming pool, bowling alley and observation room and a library that would make Belle shiver (Disney reference). After the tour we went to the "stables" which are now converted to a restaurant, creamery, doll shop, merchantile and book store. We went around the house and found the gardens.
They were beautiful and I am sure in later in spring are stunning. The conservatory was about the size of our home and house all kinds of plants from around the world. (once again, thinking of Bill Greer).
We tracked back to the car and made our way to the "barn". There, guides explained the daily procedures and we visited the wood carver on sight as well as the residential smithy who comes from four hundred years of iron work. He was fascinating; he even played the anvil as an instrument. The barn area also housed another creamery and merchantile. We then went to the winery that housed the wines the Biltmore produces from their own vinyard and other southern food stuffs along with a bistro. After that we kind drove around Asheville (not necessarily on purpose). The same planner that built the house also built the Biltmore Village; very quaint. It was a great trip.
This week the girls are out of school. I decided we would take a little trip to Asheville NC, about 1 1/2 hours east of us. Asheville, as I am sure everyone knows but me, is the home of the Vanderbilts. A few years back RaChael, Leslie visited the Vanderbilt's summer home in Newport, Rhode Island which was stunning.
The main home is nothing short of breath taking. It is the largest home built in the United States and is so large, you have to drive around the property just to get to the barn and winery. We started out with the main house. The whole house is not on the tour but you can tour about 67 of the rooms, each uniquely appointed not to mention the indoor swimming pool, bowling alley and observation room and a library that would make Belle shiver (Disney reference). After the tour we went to the "stables" which are now converted to a restaurant, creamery, doll shop, merchantile and book store. We went around the house and found the gardens. 
We tracked back to the car and made our way to the "barn". There, guides explained the daily procedures and we visited the wood carver on sight as well as the residential smithy who comes from four hundred years of iron work. He was fascinating; he even played the anvil as an instrument. The barn area also housed another creamery and merchantile. We then went to the winery that housed the wines the Biltmore produces from their own vinyard and other southern food stuffs along with a bistro. After that we kind drove around Asheville (not necessarily on purpose). The same planner that built the house also built the Biltmore Village; very quaint. It was a great trip.
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