The Biltmore House

The Biltmore House is the largest home in America. It has 250 rooms! It was built by George Vanderbilt, the 3rd generation of the original Vanderbilt who made his fortune in railroads. The first generation Vanderbilt was an industrious self made man, but Third generation George was just an aristocrat. He built this this enormous ostentatious home as a bachelor in the 1880's. He married Edith soon after and they had one child. So 135,000 sq ft of living space for 3 people. It was the Golden Age after all. 

We started the day with breakfast in the Biltmore Village, an area Vanderbilt built for all of the construction crew and servents the house would employ. Our little bakery was called "Well Bred," and again surprised me with how good it was. 

The Biltmore House was everything I had expected. It was grand and beautiful and impressive.

We did the audio tour and got to see many rooms including the indoor swimming pool and bowling alley. 

The gardens were beautiful too with roses in every color outside, and exotic tropical sin the conservatory.

We even walked all of the way down to the pond and waterfall. 

From there we went to the Biltmore Winery that is in what used to be dairy. It was so crowded so we didn't get in line for our free tasting but instead sat down and we each ordered a flight and a cheese tray.