A Magical Christmas Destination: Biltmore Estate
We all dream of the picture-perfect holiday season. A time full of family togetherness, Christmas lights, warm hot chocolate, nostalgic movies and all things merry-and-bright. But often times the reality is a month of endless to-do lists and busyness, causing us to (ironically) barely catch a glimpse of the holiday magic we're striving to create. Sometimes to fully appreciate the wonder of the season, we have to step away from the day-to-day and see it in another light. If you're looking to add some timeless tradition to your Christmas season, I have two words for you: Biltmore Estate!
The weekend before Thanksgiving, we packed the car and road-tripped four hours east to Asheville, North Carolina, the backdrop of George Vanderbilt's famous estate, which shines brightest during the holidays. From the start of November to right after New Years, Biltmore Estate is decked to the nines! More than 60 Christmas trees, 13,000 ornaments, and countless lights, ribbons and poinsettias adorn the majestic home. Outside, a towering Norway spruce sets the stage on the front lawn, while inside, a jaw-dropping 34-foot-tall Frasier Fir weighing 2,000 lbs is the centerpiece of the banquet hall. While the main attraction is the evening candlelight tour of the home, the entire 8,000 acre property is brimming with holiday festivities for the whole family, from visits with Santa to gingerbread house decorating. Here's everything you need to know about a Christmas at Biltmore visit:
Candlelight Christmas Evenings
It's fitting that the holiday season is Biltmore's busiest, as George Vanderbilt officially opened his house on Christmas Eve in 1895. Today, you can be welcomed in just as his first guests were on that historic night. Book a reservation for the "Candlelight Christmas Evening", a nightly self-guided tour of the home, where flickering candlelight and blazing fireplaces illuminate the majestic rooms, their warm glow reflecting off the glass ornaments and tinsel hanging from tree after tree after tree. Sounds of soloists playing traditional Christmas music greet you right when you enter, and throughout the night choirs join in adding to the milieu. From turn-of-the-century gifts resting under the trees to fresh garland wrapping the rails of the four story spiral staircase, every detail is thoughtfully crafted to paint a picture of the grandness experienced by the Vanderbilt family and their friends 124 years ago. It's hard to know where to look, as each room we passed through was as beautiful and spectacular as the last, leaving me in awe the entire time!
The candlelight tour is self-guided, allowing guests to take in the sights and sounds at their own pace. While audio guides are available, my suggestion is to simply walk through the home during the evening allowing yourself to be fully caught up in the Christmas magic. Then, return the next day to tour the home and dive into its history, either using the audio guides or joining a guided tour. We found the two experiences to be very different yet both very satisfying. The ambiance at night lets you feel the home, as opposed to simply seeing it during the day. This feeling is without a doubt the main reason to visit Biltmore at Christmas! Candlelight Christmas Evening is a bit of a splurge (tickets range from $70-85, children under the age of 9 visit for free), but it is an experience worth the price of admission. Reservations are required.
Holiday Experiences Not To Miss
In addition to the Candlelight Evenings, there are so many holiday festivities outside the home's impressive four walls to explore. In Antler Village, take a leisurely stroll through the square with a cup of cider or cocoa in hand while enjoying the carolers and Christmas light displays. If you are looking for a more hands-on experience, options such as decorating ornaments at The Inn or learning how to create a stunning seasonal centerpiece from one of the estate's gardening experts are offered. Activities vary by day, but here's what to expect:
Santa at the Bandstand - Take your little ones to visit Santa Claus (a very good one I might add!) at the Bandstand in Antler Village on weekend afternoons.
Bonfire and S'mores - Grab a s'mores kit from The Creamery and head over to the village's picture-perfect fire pit surrounded by a sea of white Christmas lights for an evening bonfire.
Gingerbread House Tea - I definitely recommend seeing The Inn at some point, regardless of whether or not you are staying there, and what better way to experience it in all it's holiday splendor than with a gingerbread-themed tea! Enjoy assorted tea sandwiches and desserts while you decorate your own gingerbread house. Note that reservations are required and that it's only offered on select dates in mid-December.
Ornament Decorating - While you're at The Inn, you can also try your hand at ornament decorating. During the few days leading up to Christmas, you can join a unique workshop led by a local Asheville artist on how to decorate holiday eggs in the traditional Ukrainian Pysanky style. It's a one-of-a-kind souvenir to remember your time at Biltmore! Again, reservations required and available only to overnight guests.
Sugar Cookie Decorating - For Village Hotel guests, roll up your sleeves and grab an apron as the hotel's pastry chefs offer tips on how to decorate the perfect holiday cookies.
A Gardener's Place Seminar - Take an early afternoon stroll through the gardens and make your way to the conservatory, where each day at 1:30pm gardening experts demonstrate how to create stunning holiday centerpieces.
Carriage Rides - While this is not limited to the holiday season, I can't think of a better time of year to explore the estate grounds by carriage ride!
Estate Activities
If you aren't familiar with Biltmore Estate, there's a good chance you might assume it's simply a grand historic home, but the reality is the estate offers so much more. With over 8,000 acres to explore, Biltmore caters to outdoor enthusiasts with 20 miles of hiking and biking trails, guided trail rides, kayaking, fly fishing, falconry and more. There are also plenty of family activities, from the Farmyard's petting zoo and playground to a kids audio guide of the home and toy shop in the Carriage House. One thing not to miss (although, we unfortunately skipped since Sophie was with us) is the Winery. Go for a tasting or enjoy a charcuterie board and live music at the the outdoor wine bar.
And speaking of food, there are 15 dining options on premise, ranging from quick grab-and-go bites to elegant four-course meals. Our favorites: lunch at farm-to-table Bistro in Antler Village and dinner in the beautiful Dining Room at The Inn. We happened to be visiting over our anniversary and dinner at The Inn was a special way to celebrate! In today's overly casual world, it can be hard to find occasions to dress up, an opportunity the Dining Room affords, adding to it's charm. In fact, the couple at the table next to us were in full formal wear - tuxedo and all! But even if you don't travel like a Vanderbilt with full black tie attire, don't worry, a button down shirt and casual dress will be just fine!
With large crowds during the holidays, I suggest you make dining reservations in advance, although, I will say we were fortunate to never have to wait for a table.
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition
Calling all Downton Abbey fans! Through April 7, 2020, Downton Abbey: The Exhibition is showcased at Biltmore, offering fans of the hit series an in-depth look at their favorite characters and storylines, while also highlighting historic events of the time period. Walking through sets and seeing costumes up close makes for an immersive experience that pairs perfectly with the real-life upstairs/downstairs story of the Vanderbilt family and their staff.
Where To Stay
Our time at the Biltmore spanned a weekend, and if your visit is also overnight, I highly recommend you stay on the Biltmore Estate property. There are three lodging options to choose from: The Inn, a four-star hotel offering luxurious accommodations and sweeping views of the estate; The Village Hotel, a comfortable, inviting atmosphere in the heart of Antler Village, making it the perfect home-base for an active visit; and the Cottage, a historic home dating back to the Vanderbilt era that can be your own private retreat (aside from the butler and chef, who will be at your beckon call). All three very different, all three great.
Booking our trip on a week's notice, the only room available was at the Village Hotel, which in hindsight, was the perfect fit for our stay! Don't let the dated exterior deter you. The inside is fresh and modern, with a design inspired by the estate's farmhouses and guest cottages, and is just steps from the winery, the adventure center, and shops and restaurants. Between the convenient location and laid-back atmosphere, it's a great fit for families.
While you'll most likely find the nightly rate at any of the estate's accommodations to be higher than what you'd find elsewhere in Asheville, staying on property gets you two things you can't otherwise buy - convenience and experience. There was a magic to our weekend that I know was a direct result of staying on property. I wasn't simply being shuttled in and out of a museum, but being invited to imagine myself in a bygone world of both grandeur and simply living. That coupled with the hotel guest only amenities of around-the-clock shuttles, early access to estate grounds before the general public and tour reservation priority brought an effortlessness to our visit.
Tips and General Information
The Christmas season at Biltmore starts the beginning of November and ends the beginning of January, but make sure to check their calendar as to the exact dates before booking your travel as they vary slightly year to year. While the decorations will be up from the start, more and more seasonal activities are offered closer to Christmas, so again, pay attention to the event calendar if there's something specific you hope to experience. Being there the week before Thanksgiving, everything seemed to be in full swing to me!
Tickets: It can be a bit confusing knowing what all a general admission ticket includes but the two main things to keep in mind are: (1) Candlelight Christmas Evenings require a separate ticket and (2) reservations are required for entry into the house. Also, note that there is no access to Antler Hill Village and Winery apart from a general admission ticket, so the only way to get on property is by paying to do it all. If you stay at one of the Biltmore hotels, your daytime ticket is included. Ticket prices vary by day, but during the holidays range from $69-$99, and by booking 7+ days in advance you will save $10. Book tickets here.
Whether you're driving a car or taking the shuttle (which I recommend to avoid parking), make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get from place to place. Between traffic, shuttle stops and security lines, we found getting around to be a lengthy (but easy) process and arrived slightly late to a few events. However long you think it will take you, give yourself a 10 minute buffer to be safe.
As at any popular attraction, it will be crowded, but by arriving when gates open at 8:30am you'll beat the rush and be able to enjoy the house and grounds before most people arrive. Last entry into the house is at 5pm (aside from Candlelight Evenings).
We found our visit did exactly as we hoped it would - kicked off the season with a little magic and put us in the holiday spirit! I’m sure this won’t be our family’s last Christmas at Biltmore and I hope you enjoy your visit as much as we did.
