While in Asheville, you must visit the Biltmore Estate! We toured the house, did a wine tasting and had lunch at Cedric’s Tavern.
Biltmore Estate House Tour
I ran by the Biltmore Estate during the Asheville Half Marathon and knew we’d have to go back for a full house tour. Pictures do not do it justice! The house is absolutely gorgeous.
The audio tour rotates and while we were there the theme was A Vanderbilt House Party. Each room featured one or a few people and a short story about a house party. It’s also worth noting that the audio tour is free if you purchase tickets online.
Just look at the size of the triple fireplace above! The costumes were not original, but were meticulously recreated to match the original. The house took 6 years to make and has four acres of floor space, including 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces!
Biltmore Winery Tasting
Included in the ticket was a wine tasting at the Biltmore Winery, which is located in the Antler Hill Village. The little village reminded me a lot of Winter Park. Very cute, walkabout area with an ice cream shop, the winery, shops, and a few restaurants.
You entered through a stone tunnel that had facts and figures about the winery’s history. There was also a room that looked like a really neat place to host an event.
We tried several wines and bought a couple bottles of our favorites. Compared to the expensive tour ticket, the wine prices were very reasonable.
Cedric’s Tavern
After all the walking and wine tasting we needed something to eat. The estate has several dining options. We landed on Cedric’s Tavern, named after the famous Saint Bernard that was Vanderbilt’s favorite pet.
We split some wings and an Irish Dip sandwich since it was St. Patrick’s Day. The food and service was good. The pricing wasn’t terrible either, considering it’s location.
If you visit Asheville you must see the Biltmore! There are also several walking paths, horseback riding paths and other activities to do on the 8,000-acre estate.
