A Visit To Biltmore Estate Will Truly Change Your Life

A trip to the Biltmore Estate will make your holidays beyond epic.

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If you want to take a journey into the past — specifically the Victorian era — then a trip to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, is a must this winter.

The Biltmore Company

The stunning French Renaissance-style chateau, which was the vision of art collector George Vanderbilt, first opened in 1895. It took six years of construction by over 1,000 workers, and the home still wasn’t finished by the time of its opening, so construction continued for several more years. But the extra work definitely wasn't a waste of time, because the completed estate is truly breathtaking.

The house is open year-round. But its literal shining moment is during the holiday season — when it's dressed up beautifully with thousands of sparkling lights and ornaments, fragrant garland, and several gleaming Christmas trees.

The Biltmore Company

The holiday decor — which includes approximately 30,000 lights and 150 candles inside the house — is next-level beautiful. You'll def think your own Christmas decorations are hella basic when you get home.

After years of wanting to visit the estate, my family and I finally decided to take a trip to the massive home last December.

The Biltmore Company

We reached it by driving up the estate's dramatic, 3-mile Approach Road, lined with gorgeous foliage. After parking in the estate's parking lot, we took a shuttle bus to the actual Biltmore House. The multi-step journey definitely helped build my anticipation — so I was shook AF when I finally got a full view of the estate as the bus made its way up to the entrance.

A self-guided tour of the home allows you access to all three floors and the basement.

The Biltmore Company

It's exciting walking from room to room as you're basically transported to a time so long ago — and you'll receive a detailed pamphlet about the design and the history of the rooms you explore — but make sure to wear comfy shoes! You'll DEFINITELY thank me for that tip later.

The house features 33 bedrooms, 65 fireplaces, and 43 bathrooms. Most of the spaces are restored to their Victorian-era state and filled with items from George and his wife Edith Vanderbilt’s original collection.

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The two-floor library and Louis 15th Room, which is pictured above, were two of my favorite rooms in the house.

Ohhh, and the Tilded Terrace outside the estate is perfect for snapping a real dope selfie.

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I mean, you can't go wrong with tons of natural light and beautifully aged limestone.

But the fabulousness doesn't stop at the actual house: You can also visit the Biltmore Winery for a tasting of the estate's exceptional wines — which you can even purchase on the winery's website when you get home. You can shop the Biltmore Estate-inspired barware and home collections on the site as well.

The Biltmore Company

Given that we spent the bulk of our time exploring the house, we didn't get a chance to take advantage of our free wine tasting. But that's on the top of my list the next time I take a trip there for sure.

You can also stroll through the property's numerous gardens or glass-roof conservatory. And the Antler Hill Village is a fun spot to visit as well, with charming shopping and dining options that'll steal your heart.

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The parents and I took a quick drive to the village on our way home, and it was super cute. So I would recommended building some time into your schedule to explore it!

And if you want to make a real getaway out of the visit, you should consider booking a stay at the Inn on Biltmore Estate or Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate.

The Biltmore Company

Staying at the inn offers a more luxurious and secluded experience, with the hotel tucked away on the property about 4 miles from the village. The Village Hotel has a more casual vibe and is located right next to Antler Hill Village, with easy access to dining, shopping, and other activities. Rates for the inn start at $189/night (based on double occupancy in January) and rates for the Village Hotel start at $129/night (based on double occupancy in December).

But if you'd prefer staying somewhere that's not on the Biltmore property, you can check out other accommodations in the Asheville area here, starting at $117/night (based on double occupancy in December).

A trip to Biltmore is a seasonal tradition for many families —and with its gorgeous decor, beautiful architecture, and rich history, a trip to the beloved Carolina landmark is truly worth every dollar.

The Biltmore Company

The estate is really the perfect way to briefly step back into Victorian-era America while creating new memories with your family, friends, coworkers, or whoever you decide to bring along.

You can get daytime tickets to the Biltmore Estate for $32.50+.

A ticket includes a self-guided visit of Biltmore House, access to the historic gardens and Antler Hill Village, admission to the estate's current exhibition, and a free wine tasting at Biltmore Winery.

Christmas tours will be offered through Jan. 7, 2018.

So go ahead and get into the beauty of the Biltmore Estate. It'll be a trip you'll NEVER forget and maybe the start of a new tradition for your own family.

Hulu / Giphy / Via giphy.com