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Day Trip from Buckhorn Inn to the Biltmore Estate

My brother, Herb Galbreath, and his family invited me to join them on a day trip to the magnificent Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.  The estate is about an hour and 40 minutes from Buckhorn Inn.  I recommend this highly as a day trip when you are staying with us.

The magnificent Biltmore Estate is a short drive from Buckhorn Inn.

A Brief Biltmore History

George Washington Vanderbilt II built the estate between 1889 and 1995.  His daughter Cornelia opened the house to visitors in 1930 to help the area get through the Great Depression.  The French Renaissance-style house was designed by Richard Morris Hunt and was modeled on various grand chateaus.  Among its more than 250 rooms, the house features a bowling alley, an indoor swimming pool, and electric elevators.  

The 10 square miles of grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmstead.  Vanderbilt was interested in the environment and the surrounding forest was the site of the first forestry education program in the United States.

Here are my nieces, Megan and Jessica, posing by a stick work sculpture by Patrick Dougherty.

Tips for Visiting the Estate

1,  Be sure to buy your ticket in advance as they sometimes sell out.  

2.  If you can, plan your trip for a weekday when it will be a bit less crowded.  

3.  All tours of the house require a timed reservation.  The peak crowds arrive in the morning, so you may want to visit the gardens, conservatory, winery, and other areas first and plan your house tour for 2:00 pm or later.  

2.  Don’t forget to visit the amazing gardens—you will be glad you did.  

3.  The regular tours through the house are self-guided.  They offer an audio guide which tells you facts about the house, the family, and history of the time.  It is very informative.  

4.  Allow about 2 hours to tour the house.

Timing your visit for non-peak hours will provide a more intimate experience.

5.  Allow time to explore Antler Village with its crafts demonstrations, Vanderbilt museum, shops, and winery.  It is about five miles from the house.

For more information, visit http://Www.Biltmore.com