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girls weekend at Biltmore

Girls Weekend at Biltmore in Asheville, NC

Spend a day at a spa or discovering downtown Asheville then allow yourself a complete day to explore Biltmore Estate. There is plenty to see and do here. The House takes about an hour to an hour and half to tour. Count on a little longer if it is busy or if you are doing the audio tour. You can tack on additional tours like a Rooftop Tour or a Behind the Scenes Tour too. There are several other guided specialty tours including digital audio tours (recommended),a Behind-the-Scenes Tour, a Guided House Tour and Legacy of the Land (estate tour by motor coach)

You'll also want to make sure you leave time and room for enjoying ice cream in the Stable Courtyard or lunch at the Stable Café , Deerpark Restaurant (a buffet) or our favorite, the Bistro, located adjacent to the Winery. You can take a self-guided tour of the Winery and add about another 45 minutes to your day.

Shopping

  • A Christmas Past
  • Carriage House
  • Toymaker's
  • Bookbinder's
  • Confectionery

Dining

  • Stable Café - Casual fare including rotisserie, smokehouse and grill favorites as well as fresh salads and desserts
  • Courtyard Market - grab a quick bite and people watch at this open-air courtyard featuring pizzas, salads, hot dogs, beer and wine
  • Bake Shop - coffees, pastries and more
  • Ice Cream Parlor - hand-dipped ice creams and assorted beverages

Photography Limitations in Biltmore House

No photography, videotaping, or sketching is allowed inside Biltmore House. Also, though you may take photos of the exterior of the House, the front facade is a trademarked image and cannot be published commercially. You may only use it for personal use.

Biltmore Timed Entry

Timed entry is exactly what the name implies. In addition to your tickets, you need to get a pass with a time on it. This is your time to enter Biltmore House. Instead of waiting in line, you are free to explore the grounds, gardens and shops until your entry time arrives. Sometimes, you may even be able to request a later time so that you can visit the Winery (a 3-mile drive from the House) or dine in a restaurant while you wait.

  • If you are picking up tickets at the Welcome Center, you may get a pass there.
  • If you already have tickets, arrive on the Estate as soon as it opens (8:30 a.m.) and go directly to the white tent near the House to pick up your pass.
  • Please note: There are days (though usually only at Christmas) when all timed entry passes are given out and you won't be able to get into the House. Plan on arriving before 1:00 and you can usually avoid this.

Biltmore Gardens

If you are visiting during any time except winter, make sure you take time to enjoy the extensive gardens. You can walk from the House down through the Walled Garden and down to the Bass Pond or you can drive through the Walled Garden and park near the Gardener's Cottage shop and walk to the Bass Pond or Azalea Garden from there. Here's what you can expect to see blooming during your visit.

  • April: The Walled Garden is the place to go to see tulips, poppies, snapdragons, pansies, forsythia, dogwoods and redbud
  • May: Explore the Azalea Garden just below the House and take in the Bass Pond trails and Walled Garden for border plants
  • Late May - Oct: Roses and Perennials
  • June - July: native rhododendron, yarrow, sedum and lavender
  • July - Aug: salvia, marigolds, cannas, impatiens and assorted annuals
  • Sept - Oct: Mums displayed in a quilt pattern
  • Mid - Late Oct: Leaves, leaves and more leaves adorn the forests and surrounding forests.

TIP: A great way to visit the Estate is to arrive after 3:00, enjoy the grounds and stay for dinner at the Bistro then return the following day with the same ticket. If your return visit is on a time-entry day, make sure to get a pass so you can enjoy the House. If you need two full days to visit the Estate, you can upgrade your ticket to a two-day ticket.

Biltmore Winery

Let's face it, this is what you really came for and Biltmore's Winery won't disappoint. First, learn about winemaking during a self-guided tour of the cellars and see how wines are aged to perfection then visit the Tasting Room to sample. Aftewards you can purchase wine to take back to the hotel or home to friends.

Winery Dining

  • Wine Bar - located just outside the Wine Shop, grab a cheese plate and a glass and enjoy a relaxing afternoon with friends
  • Bistro - Just beside the Winery you'll find fresh produce from the gardens and farm. You'll also find wood-fired pizzas and heavier fare if you are dining for dinner.
  • Arbor Grill - Al fresco dining in a casual outdoor spot. On most weekends you can enjoy live music as well.

Outdoor Activities at Biltmore Estate

River Bend Farm - More than a century ago, this area was the center of Biltmore's farming community. Today it features skilled crafters and artisans, gardeners,livestock and baby animals.

  • River Bend Barn - exhibits and antique farm equipment
  • Farmyard - meet chickens, goats, Belgian draft horses and others
  • Kitchen Garden - tour the garden that provides fresh produce for the Field- to-table program at Estate restaurants.
  • Shopping - shop the Mercantile for souvenirs and helpful kitchen items

At the farm, several tour options are available:

  • Morning Woods Walk - $10, featuring historic sites and structures
  • Wagon Tour - pastures, forests and views not available to the public
  • Guided tour - $10, explore the history of employee family life on the estate

Reservations are suggested for the following activities. Call 800-411-3812 for reservations. You must purchase a Biltmore admission ticket in addition to the passes below. Prices subject to change. Please verify with Biltmore before you make your plans. Follow links to compare.

  • Carriage Rides - $35.00 for 45 minutes.
  • Horseback Riding - $60 per adult/ 1 hour. Western-style guided ride.
  • River Float Trips - Enjoy a 3-hour self-guided kayak trip down the slow moving French Broad River ($20/person) or a guided trip for $30/person.
  • Biking - $10.00 - 1 hour on single speed beach cruiser, $20.00 half-day up to 4-hours on hybrid or mountain bike, $40.00 - full day up to 8 hours on hybrid or mountain bike. Available daily 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Check in at the Explore Biltmore Outdoor Center near River Bend Farm. Cost:
  • Hiking - Free with Estate admission. Stop by the Explore Biltmore Outdoor Center.
  • Segway Tours - $65/ person for guided 2.5 hour tour on an All-terrain Segway.
  • Sporting Clays - $175/person for 2-hour session learning to shoot clay targets
  • Intro to Fly-Fishing - $125.00/person. Other classes offered. Follow link for details.
  • Land Rover Driving School - Starting at $225 per person. Follow the link for details on all available options.

Biltmore Summer Evening Concerts

Watch live performances on the South Terrace lawn of Biltmore House during Biltmore’s annual Summer Evening Concerts series. Concerts offered weekends July through August typically. Tickets go on sale in May.

All concerts start at 8 p.m.