Travel & Vacation Guide, North Carolina

By Connie Limon

The Biltmore House is like exploring a real-life castle! The house atmosphere is one of a relaxed elegance. George and Edith Vanderbilt’s 250-room family home and country retreat in Asheville, North Carolina provides a fun and educational trip for the entire family on weekdays, a weekend or just on Saturday.

At the Biltmore House you will discover original art from masters like Renoir, 16-century tapestries, Napoleon’s chess set, and a library with 10,000 volumes. The Banquet Hall has a 70-foot ceiling. There are 65 fireplaces in the Biltmore House, an indoor pool, a bowling alley and many priceless antiques. The French Renaissance chateau is America’s largest privately owned home.

Take a self-guided tour of Biltmore House for one admission fee. You can also learn the inside stories and view rarely seen areas with guided specialty tours, most of which are offered year-round. The guided specialty tours may be reserved in advance or the day of your visit. Time to tour the house is about two hours, but there is more than the house to see at the Biltmore Estate. Other attractions include:

• Biltmore Gardens: At your leisure and included in the self-guided tour estate admission, stroll acres of formal and informal gardens. Frederick Law Olmsted, America’s foremost landscape architect, designed the gardens. There is a an Italian Garden, managed forests, and Biltmore’s lush landscape as well as an All America Rose Garden that features more than 250 varieties of roses.

• Take a motor coach tour of the estate while learning the history of the land, structures and former residents. The cost currently in 2007 is $17.00 per guest in addition to the estate admission.

• America’s Most-Visited Winery: You will be able to sample the Biltmore’s award-winning red, white, rose and sparkling wines and learn a new recipe during their culinary demonstrations. Gourmet foods, cooking accessories and other treats await you at the Wine Shop. The self-guide visit and wine tasting is included in estate admission.

• Behind-the-Scenes Guided Tour: The guided tour is at 2:00 p.m. daily. On this tour you can take a look at how the Biltmore House crafts their award-winning wines. This tour is free with estate admission.

• Red Wine & Chocolate Seminar at Winery: Held daily 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Free with estate admission.

• Culinary Demonstrations at Winery: Monday through Thursday, 3:00 p.m. and Friday through Sunday, Noon to 2:00 p.m. You will be able to watch their culinary experts prepare recipes created by the Biltmore chefs. Free with estate admission.

• Barrel Tasting: This occurs daily at 4:00 p.m. Enjoy a sample drawn directly from the barrel free with estate admission.

Are you interested in how wine is made? Discover the art of winemaking during your self-guided tour of the Biltmore House. You can start off with an introductory film, and then take a look at their fermentation room and corking area. Walk through at leisure the cool cellars where wines age.

The Tasting Room

While you are enjoying your self-guided tour of the Biltmore House Winery be sure to visit their tasting room. Enjoy complimentary samples of their award-winning wines. The only stipulation here is that guests must be at least 21 years of age to taste the wine. The showing of an I.D. will be required. Children are invited to participate with grape juice.

Continued in Part 2

Important Disclaimer: The web site address listed in the resource box of this article is not associated with the Biltmore Estate or any of its employees. This article and the web site are for information purposes only.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved

Written by: Connie Limon. For more information about planning a trip to the Biltmore Estate visit http://smalldogs2.com/BiltmoreEstateTripPlan For a variety of FREE reprint articles and special sections of other topics visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com

By Elizabeth Kirwin

When planning a family vacation to Asheville, North Carolina, it’s a great idea to include some fun things to do with the kids. There are many activities that the younger set will love in Asheville and in and around Western North Carolina. Here are some best picks:

Visit Chimney Rock Park

Chimney Rock Park is a favorite destination for Asheville-area visitors. It features unique outcroppings of rock and is approximately a one-hour drive from Asheville. An elevator takes visitors to the top of the ‘chimney’ where there is easy access to high-elevation trails. The ‘chimney’ is a 315-foot monolith located at 2,280 feet. On a clear day, it provides 360-degree views up to 75 miles away.

Two popular hikes include: Exclamation Point at 2,480 feet; and Hickory Nut Falls trail – a 30-minute, moderate hike that ends at a waterfall.

If smaller children are present, elevation hiking may not be an option. Instead, take a short walk on the Great Woodland Adventures Trail. This trail is flat and short and includes interactive, sculpture exhibits about regional plant and wildlife.

After exploring the park, families can visit the gift shop; share a snack; or enjoy the Western North Carolina views from the observation deck.

Tour the Biltmore Estate

No family vacation to Asheville, NC would be complete without a visit to the Biltmore Estate. Activities that engage children are plentiful.

At Riverbend Farm, children can experience life on the farm as it was in the late 19th century. Actors dress in period costumes; barnyard animals are present; craft demonstrations take place; and a kitchen garden is available for viewing. A nearby creamery is a great place to take a break and enjoy an ice cream.

Depending on the season, a variety of outdoor activities are available. Carriage rides, horseback riding, river float trips, and biking are popular ways to tour the 8,000-acre estate. Families can also stroll through Biltmore Gardens, informal and formal gardens, as well as the American Rose Garden where over 250 varieties of roses thrive.

Discover the ClimbMax Climbing Center

At the ClimbMax Climbing Center in downtown Asheville, children can practice rock-climbing skills in a safe, supervised environment. The Climbing Center is set-up with indoor walls that replicate actual rock climbs. Children may participate in bouldering or unroped climbing, no higher than 12 feet. Visitors may also choose to partake in ‘Staff Belays,’ where trained and certified professionals assist with roping, knotting and harnessing participants. The ClimbMax Climbing Center is an interactive environment that children will remember long after their Asheville visit.

Picnic at Mount Mitchell

Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, stands at 6,688 feet. Families can drive the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway to this destination, about one hour north of Asheville. Extra clothing is recommended because the temperature is likely to be 20-30 degrees cooler. The observation deck provides 360-degree views and families can take part in an interpretive program about the history of Mount Mitchell and its native wildlife, flora and fauna. A gift shop is on site and a restaurant and snack bar provide tasty offerings. Plenty of outdoor picnic areas are also available. Plan a half-day or full-day trip and enjoy the beauty of Western North Carolina.

Learn About NC Gems and Minerals at the Colburn Earth Science Museum

The Colburn Earth Science Museum in downtown Asheville has a superior collection of minerals, gems, petroglyphs, and more, from North Carolina and around the world. The collection includes 350 samples of gems, fossils and crystals from North Carolina and gives an overview of the history of mining in the state.

As a great follow-up excursion to a museum visit, the museum has a gem-location map that identifies the best gem-finding counties. It also provides a list of mineral mines where children can dig for crystals and gems that are abundant in the Western North Carolina region.

Kid-Friendly Accommodations

Staying at hotels can be expensive when planning a family vacation, especially when you factor in the cost of eating out. Renting a suite at one of the new Asheville condo hotels is a great option. Families can cook, have food delivered and enjoy family time in a spacious, Asheville hotel condo; The Residences at Biltmore is one such option.

One thing is for sure, there are lots of things in Asheville for kids to get excited about. An Asheville family vacation includes adventure, exercise, fresh air, and most importantly – fun.

Elizabeth Kirwin is a travel and leisure writer who publishes articles on the Asheville and Western North Carolina area. Her work has been published nationally and focuses on artistic, cultural, historical, and educational views of the area. Visit http://www.residencesatbiltmore.com/hospitality or email concierge@residencesatbiltmore.com for more information.