If you go to the mountains, you cannot forget
to visit the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina!
There are many historic places to visit in the
mountains of North Carolina, including houses. One of these historical houses
would be the Biltmore House which is also America’s largest home and available for the public!
First, I will tell you a bit about the Vanderbilt's...
The Vanderbilt’s were one of the best-known
families in America. Jan Aertsen van der Bilt(then became...Vanderbilt ?) emigrated from Holland around
1650. At first the family prospered as farmers and it wasn’t until the years between
1794 and 1877 that the family became wealthy. The family included 13 children(I know, that's a lot of children!), 37 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren. Upon his death, Jan van der Bilt
left most of his $100 million estate to his eldest son, William Henry. William
Henry, like his father, also donated to worthy causes and was able to double
the family’s assets. After William’s death and his wife’s death, the youngest son,
George Washington Vanderbilt, would inherit all assets.
The Biltmore house was created by George
Vanderbilt as an “escape from everyday life.” This French Renaissance “chateau”
covers four acres itself. The Biltmore is the largest private residence in
America with 250 rooms including 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces,
a gymnasium, changing rooms, kitchens, a bowling alley, a basement which houses a
swimming pool and so much more!
At the
Biltmore you can explore its many gardens such as the Rose Garden, Italian
Garden or the Spring Garden. Also, you can visit America’s most visited winery,
with more than 600,000 visitors a year! After that, right next to the winery,
there is an activity center, Antler Hill Village, which includes live
entertainment, food, shopping and much more!
*Pictures from biltmore.com*
Even
after you have toured the whole house, its gardens, its winery and tasted some
of the wine, there are still many more outdoor adventures! You can also go
hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, river raft or go on carriage ride
tours. There are many more things to do at the Biltmore house! Ticket fees are
regularly $59.00 but if you buy your tickets seven days in advance, you save
$15! Trust me! From personal experience, this is something you would not want
to miss out on! :)
