Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

[minniebeth]

Calling all travel experts! I know Asheville is a great place to visit and you can spend lots of time there doing lots of great things! But I only have *one* (boo!) day to spend at Biltmore~ any advice on how to plan the day? I know there is a lot to see, how do I plan the day to see as much as we can? I'd also like to visit the winery while there. Any restaurant advice for time at Biltmore and or Asheville? We will be driving in from a short distance away, spending the day at Biltmore, staying over in Asheville, spending the next morning in Asheville, then driving home (about 7 hrs.) I've always wanted to spend a few days there but for now, this is all I have, so I'll take it! Any advice will be appreciated!!

 

[blana]

First off, it's generally cheaper to get tickets ahead of time. http://www.biltmore.com/visit/plan-your-visit/special-offers

When I've been, we generally spend the morning at the main house, followed by lunch at the Stable Cafe, right beside the house. http://www.biltmore.com/visit/things-to-do/dining/stable-cafe

The only other tour I've done isn't offered any more, so I can't say too much about the ones they have now.

Only done winery tastings once, but hitting them after lunch seems t o work best.

And then you can always spend lots of time in the gardens and conservatory.

 

[loves to dive]

It's pretty easy to do in one day, we generally take two but have done it in one. There is a self guided tour with ear phones and a recording, or you can just pick up a booklet and walk through with that. We have taken a number of the behind the scenes tours, I love them since you get to see rooms that aren't on the regular tour and they are a good way to get the most bang for your buck. Like PP we generally do the morning at the main house and the stables. Sometimes we grab a box lunch at the stables and go up on the hill and have a picnic, sometimes we eat at the restaurant there at the stables and sometimes we head over to the winery and eat there. The tour of the winery is fun and worth the price as well, they have an excellent tasting room. If you have time, they also have a little farm you can visit, it really doesn't take that long and it's kind of cute.

 

[onescgirl]

Start off touring when it opens and one day will be plenty. I like eating at the stable after touring for lunch. If you walk the trails and gardens, that will add a little time. And, The Winery does not take long at all to tour.
If you have time in your trip, The Grove Park Inn is very nice to see and eat at.
AAA has Biltmore House discount tickets if you or someone you know is a member.

 

[bcla]

I've only heard about the McDonald's there. Saw it on some Travel Channel program.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We have been to Biltmore 4 or 5 times and enjoy it every time.

We bought our tickets ahead of time at AAA for a discount the last couple times we went. We have also done 2 of the behind the scenes tours and they are really neat.

If you get to the house right at opening, you will have plenty of time to tour the house, gardens and winery in one day. We usually eat a snack at the end of the house tour - there are places to get something at the carriage house. Then eat dinner in Asheville somewhere.

 

[minniebeth]

Thank you for all the replies! They definitely helped to answer the questions I had and helped to plan the day. I went ahead and booked tickets online ahead of time for a discount. We paid for the audio tour, because we figured it would be good to know what we are looking at...
My DD loves history, so I hope that will help to make it interesting for her.

Looking forward to it!
And yes, I did read about the McDonald's there, bcla! (I thought you were kidding at first, lol... but maybe now we will actually go!)
Thanks again!

 

[bcla]

And yes, I did read about the McDonald's there, bcla! (I thought you were kidding at first, lol... but maybe now we will actually go!)

Travel Channel had some program that covered unusual McDonald's around the world. That included a snowmobile drive-thru in Sweden, a sit-down restaurant with waiters and a nontraditional menu, and one with a piano. I guess the one near the Biltmore was designed with an expectation from the city that buildings near the Biltmore Estate be somewhat classy.

I found it on YouTube:

 

[PlutoPony]

Get there when they open (or a little before). That will help with closer in parking and crowds in the main house.

Audio tour is worth it now that they don't do guided tours for the masses. We booked a specialty tour - think it was on architecture - and it was very good. Took us into some areas that aren't open to the public.

You can drive back to the vineyard after you finish with the house and gardens. It's possible to walk but it's a hike, my advice is drive. It's been a while since we've done the winery tour so I'll defer to those who have visited more recently on that. Did a Segway tour also - they originate in the village area around the vineyard.

We drove into the grounds around 9am on a summer day a couple years ago. Stopped at the building to get tickets then got back in the car to drive to the parking lot. Just after leaving the ticket booth we met a mother brown bear and a couple cubs gamboling right beside the road! Quite a cute group. We drove slowly and they pretty much ignored us but it was a surprise to see! A good part of the estate is heavily wooded with a fair amount of wildlife. Keep your eyes open because you never know what you will see . Have not heard of any problems with guests and wildlife so don't think it's an issue.

 

[minniebeth]

bcla~ thank you for posting the video! I watched the whole thing Visiting the "world's classiest" McDonald's is definitely on our list now, lol!

PlutoPony, thank you for the advice of driving to the vineyard. What a neat experience to see the bears! We will definitely be on the lookout for Wildlife.