Inn on Biltmore Estate, holiday time

The most photographed view of Biltmore. Photo PBH

Any season is a good time to visit the historic and beautiful Biltmore Estate. You may come to see the magnificent 250-room French château built by George Vanderbilt. I came to see the gardens on Biltmore’s 8,000-acre estate.

We stayed at the four-star Inn on Biltmore Estate. I felt like we were treated with the same hospitality enjoyed by the Vanderbilt’s guests. There is a variety of packages so it’s easy to choose the one right for you.

The gardens are designed by America’s premier landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. From the Italian Garden to the ancient trees in America’s first managed forests, Biltmore’s lush landscape is a living tribute to Olmsted’s genius.

When the mums (Chrysanthemum sp.) are blooming at Biltmore, it’s really fall. I was there as the mums were being planted throughout the estate. Workers were planting in the seasonal beds at the front entrance, Welcome Center, Walled Garden, and all around Antler Hill Village.

Fall is one of this guest’s favorite seasons. Everywhere you look, fall lends color and variety to your view. Mums are followed by  Biltmore’s thousands of poinsettias in every building and the hundreds of Christmas trees that decorate the estate.

Espalier fruit trees provide fruit for the Biltmore restaurants. Photo by PBH

If you are coming to Biltmore to see the house and garden highlights:

Take a self-guided visit of Biltmore House & Gardens which is included in estate admission. Or you can purchase the Audio Tour Guide ($10.), which covers all rooms’ open to the public in Biltmore House.

Notice the fresh floral arrangements and live plants in the house. Many exotic plants are brought in from the Conservatory. The “outdoor rooms” were designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The Conservatory is a great example of a functional, beautiful space. Stroll through the exotic blooms and buds that can only survive under protective glass.

Just below the Conservatory, take advantage of some great gardening shopping at A Gardener’s Place. You can buy gifts and plants, many of which are exclusive to Biltmore. You can also enjoy daily complimentary “how-to” seminars at A Gardener’s Place.

Look for Historic and Champion Trees such as China firs and the second generation of Cornelia Vanderbilt’s “baby tree” (a cucumber magnolia planted in honor of her birth in 1900.)

Return to Biltmore House for a Legacy of the Land Tour. In this informative and comfortable motor coach tour, you’ll travel across the estate, learning more about the history of the land, structures, former residents and Vanderbilt’s vision for Biltmore.  Visit areas not usually open to guests. Cost: $19.00 per guest, in addition to estate admission. Recommended.

Cherub statues in a Biltmore garden. Photo PBH

Antler Hill Village is a 15-acre village full of beautiful container gardens. See the Kitchen Garden, a one-acre garden, which showcases fragrant herbs and vegetables used by the Biltmore restaurants. There is also a Winery guided tour and complimentary wine tasting.

Trip Tips – wear comfortable shoes and plan to do some walking in the huge gardens and estate. You’ll need your own transportation. Parking is free and some of the estate venues are several miles apart. It’s less crowded Sunday – Friday.

Visiting Biltmore in the fall only made me want to come back and experience the estate in every season. Especially spring, oh yes, and summer….and definitely Christmas time. If I were closer, I would become a Twelve–Month Pass holder.

More About the Area – Biltmore is located in Asheville, NC, a beautiful city with a strong arts community. You could easily spend several days enjoying Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Stop by the excellent official Asheville, North Carolina tourism site to plan your visit.

Biltmore Mums Photo PBH