Mansion, Mountains, and a Family Freebie: Our Day at the Biltmore

April 2025: What do you do when your niece Kameron casually says, “Hey, want free tickets to the Biltmore?” You drop everything, grab your most comfortable walking shoes, and say YES so fast you almost pull a hamstring.

Thanks to Kameron’s uncle on her mom’s side (follow that family tree if you dare), who works in the outdoor events department at the estate, we got the golden Willy Wonka passes to America’s biggest backyard. And by “backyard,” we mean 8,000 freaking acres of mountain magic wrapped around a 250-room mansion.

The House That Vanderbilt Built (Because…He Could)

So here’s the scoop: George Washington Vanderbilt II - yes, that Vanderbilt - was a 19th-century overachiever with more money than sense (or maybe just the exact right amount of both). He visited Asheville, loved the view, and thought, “You know what this place needs? A massive French Renaissance chateau with a bowling alley.”

The Biltmore Estate was completed in 1895 and was meant to be George’s “country home.” Which is funny because most people’s “country home” has maybe a porch swing and a possum problem - not a 175,000-square-foot mansion, 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and a library that looks like it belongs in Hogwarts.

Our ticket to opulence also included an audio tour - because clearly Kameron’s connection is magic. The devices looked like vintage cordless phones from the early 1990s, and we spent half the time pretending we were talking to someone from the Gilded Age. (“Yes, Cornelius, the gold bathtub has arrived. Have the servants install it by noon.”) But in all seriousness, the tour added a rich layer of detail that helped bring the estate to life - without us having to read tiny plaques and pretend we understood 19th-century architecture terms.

We explored the house room by room, and just when we thought we’d seen the fanciest spot possible, another even fancier room popped up. George’s house is basically a never-ending parade of rooms that scream, “I had a whole lotta money and no chill.”

Garden Goals (And a Bit of Botanical Envy)

Outside, we wandered through gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted - the same guy who landscaped Central Park. The tulips were out in full bloom, flaunting their colors like they knew we were basic tourists who hadn’t seen anything this vibrant since highlighters were invented.

The conservatory had plants from all over the world and smelled like a fancy perfume commercial. We briefly debated moving in and becoming greenhouse squatters, but figured that might jeopardize Kami’s ticket pipeline.

Bonus Round: The Winery 🍷

Yes, there’s a winery on-site. Because apparently having your own private train line, dairy, and forest wasn’t quite enough.

We took the free wine tasting tour and sampled everything from dry reds to dessert wines. Some were great. Some were…interesting. (One tasted like if grape juice met moonshine at a Renaissance fair.) But who cares? It was free, and it was wine, and that combo is as rare as a quiet toddler. Note: We brought home a bottle of Biltmore Estate Gewürztraminer (pronounced ga-VERTZ-trah-MEE-ner) – a delicious dry and full-bodied wine with notes of lychee, rose petals, and spice. Everyone needs a break from beer every once in a while!

Wrapping It Up (Like the Picnic Basket We Forgot to Pack)

After a full day of walking, gawking, sipping, and trying to imagine what it’s like to actually live like a Vanderbilt (spoiler: exhausting), we reluctantly headed out. The mountain views followed us all the way to the car like they wanted one more photo op.

Massive thanks to Kameron and her Uncle Steve for the unforgettable day. If this is how the other half lived, we’re totally down to borrow their zip code again anytime.

Want to see more pics from our day at the Biltmore?

Check out the Portfolio section on our website - we posted all the best shots we didn’t cram into this post!

Cheers!

-Chasing 78° 🍷🏰🌸#RVLife #Chasing78 #BiltmoreBound #FreeTicketMagic #WineryWanderers #TulipsAndTastings #Chasing78Life #AdventureSquad