If you've never taken the walking tour of The Biltmore Estate, it's certainly worth the consideration.
At the height of the Gilded Age, circa 1800's, the youngest son of William Henry Vanderbilt, (George Washington Vanderbilt-think Daddy was thinking big when they named him?) began making regular visits to Asheville. Apparently, George and Mother Maria loved the climate and scenery so much that he decided he'd like to replicate the "little mountain excapes" his siblings created in NY and Rhode Island.
I suppose George's definition of "little" was perhaps skewed a tad differently than the lion's share of the working population back than- even in today's climate. Unless one considers 125 acres small, perhaps George's perceptions could be perceived as curious, even back then.
Biltmore is an impressive structure in and of itself, featuring 250 rooms spread over 175,000 acres. Included in the stats are 35 guest rooms, (only) 43 bathrooms-that's it? 65 fireplaces and ONLY 3 kitchens!
When you take the walking tour, I highly recommend deploying the portable walkie-talkie like headphones, which are chock full of interesting facts, history and lore associated with the estate. However, be forewarned: The one aspect of the Biltmore House that needs upgrading is the lighting. In spite of the well-appointed authenticity of the house and the family's commitment to projecting the home in all it's splendor, the lighting needs serious upgrading. Considering the sheer elegance and attention to detail, somewhere down the line, the lighting got overlooked, which amounts to a major flaw. It would be one thing to feature the occasional gas-light or lantern, again for authenticity, it's quite another to provide dim lighting-which I found to be a major drawback that detracts from the tour itself.
There is no denying that while the billiard room, private bowling alley and swimming pool and (especially) the personal gym are impressive/especially for the times, the architecture is one of the true breathtaking highlights of the tour. The Vanderbilt's could and did afford the best of everything and spared no expense in hiring the great architects of the day. While husband and wife had "separate" bedrooms, what caught my party's eye was the wonderful wardrobe display's for Edith still stand the test of time. It's relatively (no pun intended) easy to imagine Edith pulling a Diana Ross during multiple intervals each day, enjoying more than one wardrobe change to fit the proper or appropriate activity of the hour.
My group's favorite room was the Biltmore library, which we found to be the most inviting room in the house. Since most folks could only relate so much to living in a space of the enormity of a Biltmore Estate, the consensus was the library standing out as the easiest room to relate to in terms of imagining one's spending any sort of significant time in.
By the end of the indoor portion of the tour, our group was chomping at the bit to soak up the outdoor grounds and garden(s). Biltmore's gardens are again, beautifully maintained and less ostentatious than the house itself. Or better put, perhaps it feels more like an area that most "commoners" can relate to easier. The garden had to have been one of their most frequented parts of the estate for George, Edith and their children, as well as visitors to the grounds back in the day. Even on a misty day, the garden creates the perfect setting for pictures and a comfortable atmosphere for the children to romp in and enjoy. Plus: It was nice to see that even on a large set of grounds, security is not close by micro-managing guests to the garden or looking over their shoulders. The gardens pleasantness remains beautifully appointed and untarnished.
Perhaps the most surprising treat was their Stable Cafe restaurant:
Led by General Manager Laura Baker, she and her staff could not have been more accommodating or friendly. Their goal of ensuring each patron's satisfaction is evident in their attention to customer service and not leaving a stone unturned during one's visit to the restaurant. Chef Brian Hough is equally impressive, having taken his experience in having previously worked with the Red Cross and becoming an invaluable asset to the Biltmore's culinary team.
Chef Hough adds versatility and first-class flair to a tasty menu that any visitor to the venue would find to their liking. Our waitress was enthusiastic, professional and sensory acute to our needs, doting over the children and going out of her way to ensure our satisfaction at every turn.
The entree's portions were generous, the presentation appealing to the eye and the flavors fresh and delectable. We all tasted the "sampler" which was comparable to a mini-smorgasbord and the desserts were out of this world! Kudo's to Chef Hough and staff for creating desserts that don't simply look appetizing but making the sweets so amazing, that the customer ends up in a (good) quandary with respect to which desert is the favorite-All good! The Stable Cafe Sampler is a must order, simply due to the versatility as is the Stable Cafe Dessert Sampler, especially if peaches are in season.
The Stable Cafe Sampler includes: pulled pork, yummy creamed sweet corn, spiced rubbed smoked ribs, rotisserie chicken, collard greens (a must) and the homemade sweet pickles are a can't miss!
The wine tasting at Antler Village was another story: The Bar Keep that served our party was inattentive and stuffy, so we made quick work of the "tasting" and moved on. The tasting itself was overshadowed by a much nicer gift shop that featured tasty cheeses and spreads that were both scrumptious and surprisingly well-priced.
All in all, the Biltmore Estate is a must see, the grounds are a treasure to experience and the Stable Cafe was the dark horse during a wonderful summer excursion.
For more information or to book your tickets, go to: www.biltmore.com