Christmas at Biltmore Estates

Day One

Depart for Asheville, NC! Before checking in for your two night stay, stop at the Stone Ridge Tavern. This family-owned restaurant is an Asheville Favorite. An enormous rustic fireplace frames a beautiful wood covered dining room. Large cedar trees shadow over the restaurant with two large waterfalls that come alive with turtles, frogs and fish. It's warm, cozy, mountain lodge atmosphere will make you feel at home as you dine.

Day Two

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before departing for the WNC Farmers Market. The Market is on a thirty-six-acre site with a beautiful panoramic view of the mountains and the Biltmore Estate. The retail area features displays of high quality fruits and vegetables, mountain handmade crafts and gifts, souveniers, jams, jellies, sourwood honey, fresh baked breads, and other farm fresh items. Then depart to climb aboard the Asheville Trolley for a historic, fun and informative tour. This 90-minute tour includes the diverse Montford historic district, the stately Grove Park historic district, the legendary Omni Grove Park Inn, the Art Deco-rich downtown and the ever artsy and edgy River Arts District as well as the quaint and historic Biltmore Village. Enjoy lunch on your own in downtown Asheville before heading to the real life wonder, the Biltmore, George Vanderbilt's 250-room French chateau. Our visit this afternoon begins at Antlers Hill Village and Winery. Discover the new village that connects the estate's present and past, providing a relaxing place for dining, shopping, historical exhibits, and new ways to experience Biltmore's hospitality. The village is a casual place extending the Biltomore experience, from the fun and relaxing Winery to exhibits at the Biltmore Legacy to delectable pub fare and ale at Cedric's Tavern. You can also enjoy live entertainment on the Village Green, explore farm life in the early 1890s at our Farm, and get ready to explore our 8,00-acre backyard at the Outdoor Adventure Center as you explore the Biltmore grounds and gardens. You will be enjoying the candlelight dinner included at Stable Cafe located on the Biltmore Grounds. Guests can imagine what the space would have looked like decades ago when horses were calling it home. Take in all the woodwork and the caftsmanship that is displayed all over the cafe, where even the smallest detail is perfected. After dinner, we will finish our day with a self-guided visit of the Candleight Christmas Biltmore Estate. A majestic Norway spruce and pathway luminaries welcome you to America's Largest Home. Inside, with Chrimas music playing, thousands of ornaments reflect the soft glow of candles, fireplaces and twinkle lights. There is more than 100 hand decorated Christmas trees, 100,000 holiday lights, 1200 live pointsettias and 6000 feet of fresh evergreen garland that provide the Estate that magical ambiance satisfying all the senses. Retire to the hotel with visions of sugarplums dancing in your head.

Day Three

Enjoy a late breakfast at the hotel before checking out and departing for home. As a special treat we will be stopping in Bristol, VA at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. This Smithsonian affiliate is dedicated to the telling of one story only, an event that Johnny Cash called The Big Bang of Country Music. In 1927 a talent scout for the Victor Talking Machine Company had four men carry a portable recording device into a Bristol hat factory and invited local musicians to record the music of the Appalachians. Through this museum, because of "The Bristol Sessions" the region's rich music legacy sings loud and proud today. The legendary Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers were among the first artists ever recorded. Before continuing your journey home, enjoy the museum, a LIVE performance and included lunch!

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner