My last planned activity before heading back to Fort Lauderdale was the Biltmore Estate. I was told you couldn’t leave Asheville without visiting the Biltmore. So when I booked my trip, I booked my reservation for a 2 pm tour.
River Arts District
Before I visited the Biltmore, I decided to explore the River Arts District of Asheville. I decided to walk from my hotel to the area about a mile and a half away. I don’t know what I was thinking 🤔.
Asheville’s River Arts District (RAD) is a destination that grew out of necessity. Artists needed cheap rent and large spaces. The area blossomed into a convergence of art, creativity, commerce, and entertainment. Below are some pictures of the area.
After my exploration, it was time to head back to my hotel to prepare for my Lyft pickup.
Biltmore Estate
The Biltmore is about a 20-minute ride from downtown Asheville. If you don’t have a car, my recommendation is to pre-book with Uber or Lyft. You will need to arrive an hour or an hour and a half before the tour. I can understand why.
From the entrance gate to the Estate, it is about 3 miles. For those who have cars, there is parking, and a shuttle will take you to the Estates. When you arrive at the Estate, you are presented with this view.
Since I was almost 2 hours early for the tour, I had time to explore the gardens.
I only explored half of the gardens as I was tired. My “dogs were barking.” Yep, my feet were killing me, and I needed to take a breather before the tour.
Then it was time to explore the inside of the Biltmore. Note: You have the option of purchasing the audio.
Biltmore History
The Biltmore Estate was built between 1889 and 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt II, the prominent Vanderbilt family (who owned various shipping and railroad companies). The house was opened up to visitors by George’s daughter Cornelia in 1930 to help the estate (and Asheville) weather the Great Depression.
George Vanderbilt’s family still owns the house and still has many original features, from artwork to furniture, which makes it an excellent house to snoop around and takes lots of pictures.
From inside the house, beautiful views of mountains.
View leaving the property.
I only spent about 3 hours at the Biltmore. However, for you to fully explore the Estate, you will need to be there for about 8 hours, and of those hours, 2 hours are inside the house. Furthermore, the Biltmore Estate offers dining to wine tasting, so before you go, make sure to plan your visit. Oh, and make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.
Thank you guys so much for reading this blog and joining me in my Asheville adventures! Make sure to check out my other blogs and contact me if you want me to curate a trip for you and your friends/family.