Photos by Drew
On my birthday a few months ago when we took it easy and watched nerdy things on tv we saw this Smithsonian On Demand program called Aerial North Carolina, and it really made me want to finally take a trip to Asheville. Because I had never really been to Asheville, but when I was moving to Georgia 4 years ago (!) I drove right by Asheville and was blown away by the beauty of the mountains and was really tempted to stop because of its F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald connections.
We planned our trip this last weekend before I got sick, but I was too excited not to go. It was really cold in the mountains when we got there Saturday, so we just ate dinner and rested. The next day was even colder, so we stayed in the car for most of it, driving into the mountains to Boone, where Drew spent some time in college. We took backroads through the mountains, which were covered in snow and absolutely beautiful, and I learned that I like snow ok as long as I can just look at it from inside a warm car. The only time we got out was to take Drew’s mom’s recommendation and stop by the original 1880s Mast General Store. As soon as I went inside I remembered that one of you had recommended it to me in a comment, because it seemed really familiar and half reminded me of the old general store in Social Circle, Georgia. I loved it.
The cold weather kept making me sicker, and on Monday morning when we woke up to go to the Biltmore I was almost tempted to just sleep the whole day. But once we made the drive and walked onto the grounds I got excited and almost forgot about being sick. The place is beautiful, and huge (supposedly the largest private residence in the country), and even though I had been worried about long lines and crowds there weren’t many people there at all. We were given headsets and then sent off on a go-at-your-own-pace tour, which is my favorite kind of tour by far. Big crowds and standing around listening to tour guides usually makes me antsy, so I like when you can take your time when you want to. Especially in extra good rooms like Edith Vanderbilt’s bedroom and this room in the basement covered with murals that were painted during a party in the ’20s.
We were probably in the house for two hours, so by the time we went back outside I was feeling pretty bad again. We got some hot chai and apple cider in the old Vanderbilt stable-turned-bad museum coffee shop (kind of sacrilegious, but I wasn’t complaining, except for when they blasted U2 all over the grounds), and walked around the gardens, which look like gardens usually look in the south in January. All brown and grey and no color, but kind of eerie and fitting to go along with a cold, grey day. There were lots of flowers in the heated Victorian greenhouses though. And as nice as the gardens were, probably the best part about the Biltmore grounds is the view. Blue Ridge Mountains as far as you can see . . .
I lived in Asheville for a few year and it really is so beautiful! You definitely should go back to Biltmore in the spring to see the gardens in bloom…it is really amazing and worth a separate visit!
These pictures are so lovely. It’s hard to believe that this estate is in North Carolina. It looks as if it belongs somewhere in Europe. And I always like to purchase the headsets for museum tours!
Jenny, same here . . . I get so antsy listening to tour guides. The headsets are so much better for ADD people like me.
This house is very beautiful. I visited it once in the summer. I wish I could go for every season. I live in NC but near the beach, so unfortunately Asheville is like a 9 hour drive.
Lovely photos!
Jeri
You visit the best places! <3 The house is truly breathtaking. I love the oversized 'greenhouse' too. Have you seen the Wallace and Grommet warerabbit movie? There is a glasshouse on top of the mansion, and it has always been my dream to recreate it! x
I haven’t seen that but I agree with you–glass houses are so beautiful. This one was old and filled with flowers, and they called it a hot house just like they do in Jane Austen novels. : )
love the pictures, the place looks amazing! now i’m dreaming of going to biltmore:) x
WOW. Incredible!
that’s breathtaking!
So beautiful
Great pictures. Sorry you weren’t feeling good. You’ll have to go back this summer
and go on the Roof Top Tour! It was amazing!
Thanks, Anthe. I know, I’m going to keep an eye on their website to see when this rooftop tour starts. The views must be so beautiful.
photos look wonderful. i love that coat. where did you find such a lovely thing?
Thanks, Lucia . . . I found it at a thrift store, tucked away in the wrong section. Favorite winter coat by far. : )
That place is wonderful! Could be somewhere in Europe actually.
Hope you’ll be better soon! xx
I love Biltmore..I live about an hour away & we go all the time, just to see the gardens at different times of year. I agree that you should try to make it back in summer, although it’s often horribly hot, it’s still amazing to see the flowers. Fall is unbelievable too (although still always horribly hot)… I loved seeing these photos on your blog!
Jackie, that sounds amazing. If we lived nearby I’d definitely just get the year-round pass . . . the grounds seem like such a good place to just walk around, even if you don’t tour the house again. I can’t imagine it being really hot there since it was freezing when we went. I’ll have to go back to Asheville during the fall when the weather’s good and I’m well enough to really enjoy it : )
You have no idea – I LOVE the Biltmore House so much. When I lived at home, my Mom and I would get annual passes so we could see it during all the seasons and we would walk around together pretending what it would have been like to live or visit there when the Vanderbilts lived there. So fun. And for some reason, I love their Christmas ornament shop too. So jealous!
Hi! This might seem like a strange comment but I have read about how much you love Hearst Castle and it’s history and I thought you might be interested to know that Citizen Kane is going to be showing there in March! Hearst must be spinning in his grave right now, but I can’t imagine a better place to see that movie! Just thought I would share!
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-citizen-kane-20120123,0,746138.story
Wow, that is really beautiful!
Historic houses, especially mansions, are one of the best things about playing tourist, imho. Thanks for sharing your photos.
Wow, looks so great there! Want to be there, right now!