The Beauty Around Us

We returned to Biltmore Estate on Day 4  (May 14) of our North Carolina vacation, using the next-day passes that we purchased the day before.  After taking in the view of Biltmore House from the statue of Diana and exploring the Italian Garden, we drove to Antler Hill Village and Winery.   There is a Farmyard, a Barn, a museum, and a few shops and restaurants located at Antler Hill Village.  Our first stop was at the Farmyard, where we saw chickens, goats and cattle.

The Farmyard

Farmyard Rooster

As we were leaving the farmyard, making our way to the barn, we saw cattle in a distant field.

See that building behind Bob?
That building is the barn.

We walked through the barn, where we saw a variety of exhibits — wood making, blacksmith and mercantile — and lots of farm equipment.

Woodworking Exhibit

Blacksmith Exhibit

Mercantile

There was farm equipment that we were encouraged to climb up on.

We ate lunch at Cedric’s Tavern, which our friends Pete and Karen had recommended.

Cedric’s Tavern

Bob ordered a Reuben Sandwich, described on the menu as “corned beef piled high on rye bread with melted Swiss, sauerkraut, Russian dressing and Tavern chips”.  I ordered Cedric’s Tavern Tuna Melt, described on the menu as “tuna salad served open faced on an English muffin,melted provolone, tomatoes, and “comeback” sauce, with whole grain vegetable salad”.  Pete and Karen said that the food was excellent at Cedric’s Tavern.  We agree 100% with Karen and Pete!

This bronze sculpture of Cornelia Vanderbilt and Cedric sits between Cedric’s Tavern and the Creamery.

After lunch, we walked through The Biltmore Legacy museum, where we learned about the lives of the Vanderbilts here and abroad.  The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition was interesting and very informative.  No photography was permitted inside the museum.

We walked to the Winery when we completed our tour of The Biltmore Legacy museum exhibit.

These two photographs taken, as we were leaving Antler Hill Village behind.

Goodbye Antler Hill Village

Antler Hill Winery

When we visited Biltmore Estate in May 2008, we took a tour of the winery.  We were not interested in another tour of the winery, nor were we interested in participating in any wine tasting.  What brought us to the winery was to see a rare automobile that is housed at the winery.

This is a 1913 Stevens-Duryea Model “C-6” automobile — one of 10 in existence.

We departed Biltmore Estate at 1:30 pm.  You may have noticed that we enjoyed gorgeous weather in Asheville, particularly while visiting Biltmore Estate.  The weather was about to change, dramatically.  As a result of the imminent change in weather, we cut our stay in Asheville from 3 nights to 2 nights and arrived in Maggie Valley a day early.  More on that subject in my next blog post!

We returned to Biltmore Estate on Day 4  (May 14) of our North Carolina vacation, using the next-day passes that we purchased the day before. We followed a trail from parking lot A to the marble statue of Diana.

Statue of Diana

Diana

Diana sits high on a hill with a sweeping vista of Biltmore House and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

We walked down to Biltmore House taking more pictures along the way.

View of Biltmore House from Diana statue

Once we reached the roadway in front of Biltmore House, we walked over to the Italian Garden.

the Italian Garden

We returned to Biltmore House and caught the shuttle bus back to Parking Lot A. Our next destination was Antler Hill Farm, Village and Winery – the subject of my next blog post.

As I wrote in the last two blog posts, we spent Days 3 and 4 (May 13 and May 14) at Biltmore Estates in Asheville NC. After admiring Biltmore House and the Library and South Terraces and the Walled Garden and Conservatory, we walked through the Azalea Garden to Bass Pond.

Azalea Garden

Azalea Garden

Azalea Garden

Azalea Garden

The walk from the Conservatory to Bass Pond is approximately 1/3 mile.

Bass Pond

Bass Pond Boat House

We would have walked around Bass Pond to a waterfall on the other side of the pond; however, the trails were closed.

 On our way back from Bass Pond to Biltmore House and from there to our car, we came across a shuttle bus (near the Conservatory). We rode the shuttle bus to parking lot A. We planned to eat a picnic lunch at the parking lot inside our car and then head over to Antler Hill Village and Winery. Our plans changed, though, while on the shuttle bus ride. While on the shuttle bus ride, the driver pointed out a lagoon and two barns, one housing sheep and the other housing horses.  The driver suggested having a picnic at the lagoon and told us that there was a lovely view of the back of Biltmore House from the lagoon.  We  decided to save the Antler Hill Village and Winery visit for the next day, using our next-day tickets that we had purchased earlier in the day.

On our drive from Parking Lot A to the lagoon, we passed by Bass Pond.  We stopped at the far end of Bass Pond where we saw and photographed the waterfall.

Bass Pond Waterfall

The remainder of our day at Biltmore Estate on May 13th was spent picnicking at the lagoon and checking out the sheep and horse barns — the subject of my next blog post.

We spent Days 3 and 4 (May 13 and May 14) at Biltmore Estates in Asheville NC.  A little more than a week before leaving on vacation, we purchased tickets online for admission to Biltmore Estates.  Ordering tickets online at least 7 days in advance provided a 15% discount on the ticket price.  Even with the discount, the price for admission to Biltmore Estates is pricey (but well worth the cost).  I paid $94.16 for two tickets.  Admission includes a self-guided visit of Biltmore House, access to acres of historic gardens, access to Antler Hill Village, admission to “The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad” exhibit, and a free wine tasting and guided Winery tour.

We visited Biltmore Estate one time before. Our first visit was 6 years ago, in May 2008. We were in North Carolina that year to attend the South Eastern Vulcan Riders and Owners Club (SEVROC) motorcycle rally, the same reason that brought us to North Carolina this year. Neither Bob nor I was interested in touring Biltmore House a second time. We were interested only in seeing the grounds again, in a more leisurely fashion.  On our visit in 2008 we attempted to see everything on the estate in one day.  By the end of the day, we were exhausted and didn’t come anywhere close to seeing everything on the estate.   We didn’t see everything on the estate this year either; however, we had a much more relaxing visit! This blog post and several more posts to follow will provide details and photographs of our visit to Biltmore Estates.

Biltmore Estates was a short drive from the Best Western of Asheville Biltmore East, our hotel while staying in Asheville.  After passing through the entrance gate, it is a 3-mile drive to Biltmore House. We were directed to Parking Lot A. Signs at the parking lot indicated it was an 8-minute walk to Biltmore House. A shuttle bus was already at the parking lot, so we chose to ride the bus to Biltmore House.  I realized, upon reaching Biltmore House, that I had forgotten to put on suntan lotion.  We walked back to our car.   After putting on suntan lotion, we walked back to Biltmore House.  By the way, we easily made the walk to Biltmore House in 8 minutes or less.

Biltmore House

Biltmore House is America’s largest home.  George Vanderbilt commissioned its construction in 1889.  The 250-room French Renaissance chateau was completed six years later and officially opened to friends and family on Christmas Eve 1895.  Three years later, George Vanderbilt brought his bride Edith Stuyvesant Dresser to Biltmore, and in 1900, their only child Cornelia was born here.  George Vanderbilt died in 1914.  In 1924 Cornelia married the Honorable John Francis Amherst Cecil.  The young couple made Biltmore their home.  The Cecils opened Biltmore House to the public in 1930, in response to requests to increase area tourism and to bring in money to preserve the estate.  Biltmore Estates remains a family business to this date.

We walked to the right of the expansive green lawn to an information booth, where we purchased two next-day admission tickets for $10.00 each.  After paying for the next-day admission tickets, we continued walking to the right of Biltmore House through a courtyard to the location of public restrooms.  The next two photographs were taken on our way back through the Courtyard and as we walked across the front of Biltmore House.

Biltmore House
(view from Courtyard)

One Entrance to Biltmore House

To the left of Biltmore House are the Library Terrace and the South Terrace.

Library and South Terraces

The terraces provided the Vanderbilts and their guests a relaxing setting near the house.  The South Terrace was originally designed as a bowling green for playing the sport of lawn bowls.  On the South Terrace are several statues and a Teahouse.  Spectacular mountain views are provided from the South Terrace.  The Library Terrace provided shaded seating.

Steps from Library Terrace Lead Down to South Terrace

Steps from Library Terrace Lead Down to South Terrace

South Terrace

South Terrace

South Terrace

South Terrace

I believe that this canopied walkway is part of the Library and South Terraces.

While I was photographing the statues and admiring the magnificent view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the South Terrace, Bob relaxed in the shade.  This walkway leads to the Shrub Garden.

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Library Terrace

Library Terrace Wisteria

Looking back toward Biltmore House and Library Terrace from the Shrub Garden

I will share more photographs from our visit to Biltmore Estates in my next blog post.