The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, features a 250-room French Renaissance chateau built by George Vanderbilt, grandson of American industrialist Cornelius Vanderbilt. The house covers four acres and displays a large collection of antiques, sculpture, fine furnishings, and works by artists Pierre-Auguste Renoir and John Singer Sergeant. The chateau, completed in 1895, is the largest private home in the United States. Visitors take self-guided tours to see 16th century tapestries, a 10,000 book library, formal gardens, some of the 35 bedrooms, servants' quarters, and the most visited winery in the United States. The estate offers seasonal events, concerts, and a variety of activities including horseback riding, hiking, carriage rides and fly fishing. Dining and lodging is available on the estate. The formal garden has wide-ranging displays throughout spring and summer, including daffodils, hyacinths, as many as 100,000 tulips in bloom, lush perennials, chrysanthemums and more than 250 varieties of roses.
Parking at the Biltmore Estate
The estate is located just off Interstate 40 at Asheville. A vehicle is necessary; the approach road from the ticket office to the public parking area is three miles long, through a natural, park-like setting. Shuttles run from the parking lots to the front door of the house, as well as to other destinations on the estate. No public transportation is available. Taxis are allowed on the estate.
Best and worst times to go to the Biltmore Estate
Summer weekends can be crowded, though winter holidays are the busiest season, when the house is decked in lavish, traditional holiday decorations. The house opens at 9:30 a.m., but crowds often don't build until noon. Advance ticket purchase is recommended for most Saturday visits during warm weather, as well as most days from Nov. 20 through Dec. 31. Those wanting a quiet time to widely explore the house often visit midweek, or in the off-peak winter.
Admission to the Biltmore Estate
Adult admission is in the $50-plus range for one day; discounts and child and senior rates are available online. Adult ticket discounts are available with advance purchase online. On certain summer days up to two children can visit free with a paying adult. Check the reservations website for the best pricing. Ticket price includes parking, self-guided visit of Biltmore House, access to gardens, and free wine tasting for adults and guided winery tour. Behind-the-scenes tours are available at additional cost.
Must do at the Biltmore Estate
The house is the obvious draw, with its Downton Abbey vibe, the fantastic works of art, the 19th century architecture, and the oddities, like Napoleon's chess set or the private bowling alley in the basement. The gardens boast miles of walking paths, hundreds of thousands of beautiful flowers, and an impressive orchid display in the conservatory. Likewise, the winery tour gets you up close to the business of making wine, and includes a free tasting. Wine is available for purchase if you want more while sitting on the sun-dappled patio.
Other places to visit near the Biltmore Estate
Just outside the estate is Biltmore Village, home to a variety of shops, cafes, galleries and restaurants. Nearby on U.S. 25 South is the Blue Ridge Parkway, a mountain-peak highway. Head south to Mt. Pisgah or north to the tallest peaks in Eastern North America. On Friday evenings in warm weather consider heading to Pritchard Park in downtown Asheville to dance and drum for free at the popular outdoor drum circle.
Insider tip for visitors to the Biltmore Estate
The estate is so big — it's on 8,000 acres — you might fear you didn't see everything in just one day. (Flower lovers can spend hours in the garden and never step into the big house.) So buy your ticket online in advance, then when you get there ask for the cut-rate 'next-day' ticket as well. These are available year-round but must be used the very next day. The additional cost? $10 most days, $15 during the winter holiday season.
Author's bio: JD Austin is an Asheville, North Carolina, native who has worked more than 30 years in journalism around the Southeast United States.
A short drive from downtown Asheville, the North Carolina Arboretum is a 434-acre natural protected environment featuring 65 acres of cultivated gardens for all ages to enjoy. The Arboretum offers miles of self-guided walking, hiking, and biking trails with a variety of difficulty levels as well as educational programming and exhibits throughout the year. Guided walking trails are available April through November.
Parking and public transportation at the North Carolina Arboretum
Parking at the North Carolina Arboretum is $14 for personal vehicles, $50 for commercial vehicles, and $100 for busses or motor-coaches. The Arboretum's Education Center, exhibit center and gardens are wheelchair accessible. Annual membership passes are available.
Best and worst time to go to the North Carolina Arboretum
The North Carolina Arboretum features plants in bloom year round. Because many of the exhibits are outdoors, the best time to visit are during the spring, summer and fall months. However, during rainy days, the Arboretum offers educational opportunities inside.
Admission to the North Carolina Arboretum
Aside from parking, there is no admission fee to the North Carolina Arboretum.
Must see/do at the North Carolina Arboretum
The Arboretum features the Bonsai Exhibition Garden, which opened in 2005 and includes more than 100 diverse bonsai trees from around the world. Due to weather conditions, the Bonsai Exhibition Garden is open from mid-March through mid-November. Other popular exhibits include the quilt garden, native azalea garden, and a winter outdoor lighting exhibit.
Other places to visit near the North Carolina Arboretum
The Arboretum is located at the entrance of the Blue Ridge Parkway off of Highway 191 in South Asheville. Visitors can travel north or south on the Parkway to see amazing views of the Southern Appalachia. Guests are also encouraged to visit the Asheville Outlet Mall on Highway 191, near Interstate I-26.
Insider tip for visitors to the North Carolina Arboretum
The North Carolina Arboretum hosts many national exhibits throughout the year that encompass art, history, science and culture. Many are indoors and can be enjoyed year-round. Visit their website at ncarboretum.org for a list of current exhibits.
Author's bio: Carolyn B. Fraiser is a freelance journalist, photographer, and publications specialist in Asheville, North Carolina. Follow her on Twitter @carolynbfraiser.
The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, features a 250-room French Renaissance chateau built by George Vanderbilt, grandson of American industrialist Cornelius Vanderbilt. The house covers four acres and displays a large collection of antiques, sculpture, fine furnishings, and works by artists Pierre-Auguste Renoir and John Singer Sergeant. The chateau, completed in 1895, is the largest private home in the United States. Visitors take self-guided tours to see 16th century tapestries, a 10,000 book library, formal gardens, some of the 35 bedrooms, servants' quarters, and the most visited winery in the United States. The estate offers seasonal events, concerts, and a variety of activities including horseback riding, hiking, carriage rides and fly fishing. Dining and lodging is available on the estate. The formal garden has wide-ranging displays throughout spring and summer, including daffodils, hyacinths, as many as 100,000 tulips in bloom, lush perennials, chrysanthemums and more than 250 varieties of roses.
Parking at the Biltmore Estate
The estate is located just off Interstate 40 at Asheville. A vehicle is necessary; the approach road from the ticket office to the public parking area is three miles long, through a natural, park-like setting. Shuttles run from the parking lots to the front door of the house, as well as to other destinations on the estate. No public transportation is available. Taxis are allowed on the estate.
Best and worst times to go to the Biltmore Estate
Summer weekends can be crowded, though winter holidays are the busiest season, when the house is decked in lavish, traditional holiday decorations. The house opens at 9:30 a.m., but crowds often don't build until noon. Advance ticket purchase is recommended for most Saturday visits during warm weather, as well as most days from Nov. 20 through Dec. 31. Those wanting a quiet time to widely explore the house often visit midweek, or in the off-peak winter.
Admission to the Biltmore Estate
Adult admission is in the $50-plus range for one day; discounts and child and senior rates are available online. Adult ticket discounts are available with advance purchase online. On certain summer days up to two children can visit free with a paying adult. Check the reservations website for the best pricing. Ticket price includes parking, self-guided visit of Biltmore House, access to gardens, and free wine tasting for adults and guided winery tour. Behind-the-scenes tours are available at additional cost.
Must do at the Biltmore Estate
The house is the obvious draw, with its Downton Abbey vibe, the fantastic works of art, the 19th century architecture, and the oddities, like Napoleon's chess set or the private bowling alley in the basement. The gardens boast miles of walking paths, hundreds of thousands of beautiful flowers, and an impressive orchid display in the conservatory. Likewise, the winery tour gets you up close to the business of making wine, and includes a free tasting. Wine is available for purchase if you want more while sitting on the sun-dappled patio.
Other places to visit near the Biltmore Estate
Just outside the estate is Biltmore Village, home to a variety of shops, cafes, galleries and restaurants. Nearby on U.S. 25 South is the Blue Ridge Parkway, a mountain-peak highway. Head south to Mt. Pisgah or north to the tallest peaks in Eastern North America. On Friday evenings in warm weather consider heading to Pritchard Park in downtown Asheville to dance and drum for free at the popular outdoor drum circle.
Insider tip for visitors to the Biltmore Estate
The estate is so big — it's on 8,000 acres — you might fear you didn't see everything in just one day. (Flower lovers can spend hours in the garden and never step into the big house.) So buy your ticket online in advance, then when you get there ask for the cut-rate 'next-day' ticket as well. These are available year-round but must be used the very next day. The additional cost? $10 most days, $15 during the winter holiday season.
Author's bio: JD Austin is an Asheville, North Carolina, native who has worked more than 30 years in journalism around the Southeast United States.
The YMI Cultural Center in downtown Asheville offers a historic location for events, cultural exhibits, weddings, and seminars as well as ongoing community forums, cultural festivals, and literacy programs. The cultural center also offers visitors a glimpse of African American history through artwork and photographs.
Parking and public transportation at the YMI Cultural Center
Parking for the YMI Cultural Center is available on the street in metered parking spaces or in the Biltmore Avenue Garage. Asheville transit has bus stops along Biltmore Avenue.
Best and worst time to go to the YMI Cultural Center
The YMI Cultural Center is open to the public on Tuesdays through Fridays, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The center is open at other times for special events.
Admission to the YMI Cultural Center
There is no admission charge to the YMI Cultural Center; however, some events might require tickets or separate admission.
Must see/do at the YMI Cultural Center
Whether attending an event or visiting the YMI Cultural Center, visitors have the opportunity to speak with volunteers and staff, who are available to connect individuals interested in getting more involved in the region's multi-cultural community with organizations that are active in creating culturally-diverse activities for the community.
Other places to visit near the YMI Cultural Center
The YMI Cultural Center is located conveniently to dozens of downtown shops and restaurants along Biltmore Avenue. The center is just a couple blocks away from Pack Square where the Colburn Earth Science Museum and the Asheville Art Museum are located.
Insider tip for visitors to the YMI Cultural Center
The building that houses the YMI Cultural Center is a historic icon in Asheville. Completed in 1893, the YMI (Young Men's Institute) was constructed under the direction of George Vanderbilt to provide educational, spiritual, and cultural support for the African American construction workers employed by the Biltmore Estate.
Author's bio: Carolyn B. Fraiser is a freelance journalist, photographer, and publications specialist in Asheville, North Carolina. Follow her on Twitter @carolynbfraiser.
The historic Grove Arcade is a 1930s-style shopping gallery that hosts a variety of shops, restaurants and art galleries. The largest building in downtown Asheville, with 269,000 square feet, the Grove Arcade was renovated in 2002 to incorporate several architectural styles of the era with archways and balconies for a unique shopping experience.
Parking and public transportation at the Grove Arcade
Visitors can park in one of the many metered parking spaces adjacent to the Grove Arcade or across the street at the Wall Street Parking Garage. Asheville transit has bus stops at the Wall Street Garage as well as on Haywood Street and O'Henry Avenue.
Best and worst time to go to the Grove Arcade
The best time to visit the Arcade is when the most of the shops are open: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission to the Grove Arcade
There is no admission fee to the Grove Arcade.
Must see/do at the Grove Arcade
The distinct architecture is a primary draw to the Grove Arcade, but visitors can also view regional artwork, enjoy a treat at True Confections, or browse the extensive book collection at the Battery Park Book Exchange & Champaign Bar.
Other places to visit near the Grove Arcade
The Grove Arcade is across the street from the Asheville Pinball Museum, within walking distance of Pack Square Park, the U.S. Cellular Center, and a variety of downtown shops, dozens of restaurants and museums.
Insider tip for visitors to the Grove Arcade
Although the ground level is most visited by the public, the second floor of the Grove Arcade hosts several local offices, and the upper levels house luxury apartments. Buncombe County also provides free wireless internet to the downtown district, which includes the Arcade.
Author's bio: Carolyn B. Fraiser is a freelance journalist, photographer, and publications specialist in Asheville, North Carolina. Follow her on Twitter @carolynbfraiser.