Christmas at the Biltmore Estate

The Biltmore Estate is a mega-mansion, and the United State’s largest private residence. Does the name Vernderbilt ring a bell? Well George Vanderbilt, and his wife Edith, were the masterminds behind this iconic piece of American architecture. Known for its opulent design and incredible landscaping, the Estate later developed into a winery and has multiple inns on its property. It is now a modern vacationland to visit and live like a Venderbilt.

There are 250 rooms in this French Chateux style abode. Modernly, this house is known for it’s beautiful Christmas displays and its extensive gardens. These gardens and decorations will surely get you in the Christmas spirit! I was so impressed by the details and the abundance of it all. We drank some rich, hot chocolate that kept us warm as we walked around the festive grounds. The visit easily took an entire day and we had so much fun exploring the estate, doing a wine tasting, and eating dinner at their Bistro restaurant. Here is a break down of all the fun things we did while visiting the Biltmore Estate:

Winery – Balloons. Everywhere! I think this was by far my most favorite place to visit at the Estate. There were long lines, but if you go later (after 7PM) there is no wait. The champagne bubble ceiling looks so fabulous as you are sipping the Estate’s best selection!

Bistro – Love the farm-to-table aspect of diving on the Estate. You’re eating all the vegetables and animals they raise on the Estate and locally! We had a delicious baked brie to start, then Scott had a filet mignon and I had a delicious handmade pasta with bolognese.

Forest of lights – Below the tall trees with flickering lights hanging down, is a warm firepit with s’mores kits readily available. The scene reminded me of my ski trip to Utah and eating s’mores while slopeside. The twinkling forest reminded me of snow, and the chilly night paired with a warm snack was just so perfect.

House Tour – The best part of the trip is going inside the home of George & Edith Vanderbilt. There are Christmas trees lit up in nearly every room and garland everywhere. We took the evening tour because we wanted to see the house lit up with lights and the atmospheric fireplaces. See our pictures from the house tour below – aren’t these trees and rooms so gorgeous?