Biltmore Estate

Activity Overview

Biltmore Estate is a large private estate in Asheville, North Carolina that was built in the late 1800s. Its most famous feature is Biltmore House, a 250-room chateau that is the largest home in the United States. It was built by George Washington Vanderbilt, a prominent member of one of the country's richest and most famous families. Visitors to the estate can tour the grounds, the house, and its winery, as well as participate in activities like cycling, hiking, carriage rides, fly-fishing, horseback riding, and river float trips. If your family has always wanted to visit a beautiful European castle, this is a great attraction to visit that is much closer to home.

Things to Do

• Explore Biltmore House, which is still owned by the Vanderbilt family. Self-guided tours generally take around 2 hours, and allow you to see the building's impressive architecture and artwork as well as the winery.
• Take a guided tour of Biltmore House in order to learn more about the Vanderbilt family, the parties that they had in the house, and how they often spent their time on the estate.
• Float down the beautiful French Broad River that winds through the estate in a raft or a kayak!
• Go on a family carriage ride around the estate in a wagonette or enjoy a tractor-pulled wagon ride around the farm.
• Check out the 22 miles of hiking trails on the estate that wind through forests and meadows.

Biltmore Estate Insider Tips

• View the estate's calendar to learn about upcoming events such as live musical performances, cooking demonstrations, summer camps, and festivals.
• Make sure to view their special offers page before purchasing tickets, since they often have discounts available.
• If you want to see and do everything at Biltmore Estate, you'll probably want to spend two days there. Discounted admission is often available for a second day, and you can always stay at the inn on the estate if you want.