We got to the Biltmore Inn late and dined at their restaurant on site. Our room was beautiful with a gorgeous view.
The girls awoke and stared at the mountains making for a very pretty picture.
We had breakfast downstairs. It was delicious and all sorts of fancy.
We promised the girls a swim and so they anxiously waited through breakfast and the air temperature was still only 35 degrees. The steam rose from the infinity pool as they dove in the warm waters.
You can see the vineyards. They buy most of their grapes for their winery. George Washington Vanderbilt II envisioned his estate to be a working one with school, shops, offices and a church.
We took a shuttle to the largest private estate in America, the Biltmore. It was built between 1889 and 1895 and opened for its guests on Christmas Eve. It has over 178,000 square feet, and indoor pool, weight room, and a total of 252 rooms. Even though this was a turn of the 19th century home it had electricity and state of the art appliances, heat and plumbing.
We had the adult audio tour and the girls enjoy listening to the kid version where they would clue them in where the secret doors and passageways were. It was so interesting. The art, tapestries, books and architecture were amazing. I am a big fan of Downton Abbey and so I just could imagine what it would have been like for the Vanderbilts to be changing with their valets and lady maids 7-10 times a day to do different meals, hunting, tea and the like. On the tour we saw about 60% of the home. Our favorite room was the amazing library. We weren't able to take pictures inside the home on this tour as you can see. They were starting to set up for Christmas and they were getting the decorations and trees set up. I can't imagine how gorgeous it would be. I was thankful we were able to see the house though and it was so crowded today! They see over 1 million visitors each year. Descendants of the Vanderbilts still manage the estate.
We then walked to the gardens and greenhouse.
So many roses were bloomed!
The greenhouse was full of exotic plants, tropical and orchids.
Allie's selfie with my dslr and 35 mm.
After the tour we got ice cream.
Juliette is notorious for getting some bubble gum or fruity blue concoction and then stealing our chocolate laden cone.
But, we all enjoy taste testing each others cones!
What a fun and exhausting day! We headed to the Townsend area to get our hotel for the night. When we arrived it was not what we envisioned and we ended up staying in Pigeon Forge late at night. I spent the rest of the night searching for a cabin and found one in Gaitlinburg. Thankful!
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