Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina: A great day or weekend trip this Christmas season

December 7, 10:54 PMCarolinas Travel ExaminerPaul McDaniel

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(Biltmore Estate)

The Biltmore Estate, in Asheville, nestled amongst the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, contains the largest privately-owned home in the United States. Built between 1888 and 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt, the home is inspired by French Renaissance chateaux architecture and is 175,000 square feet with around 255 rooms.  It remains to this day one of American’s most prominent examples of the Gilded Age, and is still owned by descendents of Vanderbilt. The estate today covers around 8,000 acres, split by the French Broad River.

The Biltmore Estate, with its home, formal gardens, winery, and various dining options, deserves a visit by anyone traveling within the western North Carolina region. The estate, as well as the city of Asheville itself, however, makes for a particularly nice day or weekend trip for persons living in the Charlotte area.

Although a great place to visit during any season, with unique things to see and do at different times throughout the year, December makes for an extra special time to visit the Biltmore Estate. At this time of year, visitors can enjoy all that the home and estate has to offer as it is magnificently decorated for the glorious Christmas season.

More specifically, when visiting the Biltmore Estate from November 7 through January 4, you can experience “Christmas at Biltmore” during any daytime visit. The Biltmore Estate website states that during Christmas at Biltmore, visitors can “share the magic of Christmas at Biltmore with your loved ones this holiday season. Enjoy America's largest home decorated with dozens of Christmas trees, hundreds of wreaths, bows, and poinsettias; miles of evergreen garland; thousands of ornaments, tinsel, and beading; and a magnificent 35-foot Fraser fir.”

Also from November 4 through January 3, if you visit the Biltmore Estate during an evening, you can experience “Christmas Candlelight Evenings” at Biltmore. Enjoy the magic of Biltmore House at night, filled with candlelight, blazing fireplaces, and live holiday musical performances. The Biltmore Estate website states that during these evenings, visitors can “come see why our Candlelight Christmas Evenings is more magical than ever, with more entertainment and a new illuminated forest on Biltmore House's Front Lawn. Share the enchantment of a candlelight visit of Biltmore House, complete with roaring fireplaces, live music, storytellers, ballet dancers, marionettes, and thousands of delicate ornaments.”

Use the official Biltmore Estate website to plan your complete visit and stay at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. So, what are you waiting for?  Christmas will be here before you know it and so will the New Year! Go on and plan your day or weekend trip sometime this December and experience all the grandeur of the Christmas season at the Biltmore Estate.

For more info: 

• Biltmore Estate (official site)
• Biltmore Estate (background information from Wikipedia) 
• Explore Asheville, North Carolina (official visitor’s site) 
• Asheville, NC (background information from Wikipedia)