Biltmore
Overlooking the 8,000 acres
My bucket list is not very long, but The Biltmore Estate has been on it for a number of years. On Wednesday I checked it off my list.
I was expecting Biltmore to be similar to The Breakers in Newport, RI. And why wouldn’t they be? The Breakers was built by Cornelius Vanderbilt II, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt and Biltmore was the creation of George Vanderbilt, another of Cornelius’ grandsons. Both were completed in 1895. Both were designed by Richard Morris Hunt. But while the buildings are similar in scale and amenities, Biltmore has more of a French feel. And the grounds… well, there is just no comparison there. While The Breakers commands a spectacular view of Narragansett Bay, it is on just a few acres of land. The Biltmore Estate is nestled in the midst of over 8,000 acres of forest and gardens. It is immense, about 1/3 the size of Disney World. There may be larger private estates elsewhere in the world, but not many.
The first evidence of the size of the estate comes shortly after entering: you encounter a sign that says “Biltmore Estate 2 miles”. A 2-mile long driveway! I would hate to shovel that in a snowstorm.
Because we were in our dually, we were directed to a lot that was relatively close to the mansion. But we still had to walk about a quarter mile to the entrance (we got a shuttle ride back). We got the self-guided audio tour and were glad we did. The audio tour contains much more information than the brochure. We spent nearly 2 hours inside, then had a (very expensive) snack in the courtyard. Jett did some gift shopping while I did a quick tour of the gardens and conservatory. All of this under a bright sun on a warm day.
This was a bucket list item that did not disappoint.
Dining hall
Breakfast room
Kitchen
Library
Guest room
Gardens
Conservatory
Orchids
Who knows?