So where's everyone?
Unlike your eyes, the maps won't lie. Behind those verdures, you'd find restaurants and shopping centers. Oh, how I love it there. Truthfully, our visit is because I wanted to see if the city fits our lifestyle better than that in Austin, Texas.
But of course, convincing my other whole, the hubby, won't be easy. Understandable, since relocating to yet another city is expensive and stressful.
Entrance and Tickets
Imagine you're super rich and your friends don't know about it. Then one day you invite them to your place for a party.
From the gate to the main house, it probably took us 5 minutes to get there. Well, I could be overestimating. But the point is... it is huge. After all, it is an 80,000-acre estate.
We paid $80 per person, including our 6-year-old. For that price, we only get to see the gardens and the surrounding areas, not the grandeur inside the mansion. You have to pay more to get in. Pricing details are here.
Yes, it is expensive but if you think about the upkeep of such a ginormous place the cost is reasonable. Also, if you buy the annual pass it'll be worth it. Wouldn't that be advantageous if you lived in North Carolina? :)
Please excuse my son. It's challenging to get him to smile for our family photo.
Things To Do
Because we only got to visit that summer afternoon, we were only able to explore the Shops at the Biltmore Estate, which is also called the Biltmore Village. There's live music, restaurants, a confectionary shop, and a hotel on top of a hill. People were having a picnic in the small park. We saw others hiking, biking, fishing.
Can you believe there are still more fun things to do we haven't even explored at the estate? Check out the full list of activities here.
We also took a quick tour of the history of the place and about the Vanderbilt family, who were once the wealthiest and most prominent families in the United States. They made their fortune in shipping and railroad and expanded to other industries later.
When you hear the name it reminds you of the excess and opulence of the Gilded Age. They had their peak during the 19th century.
The vibe of the place reminds me of our visit to Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada. Probably because of the architectural style of the buildings inside the vast acreage. Which, by the way, is hugely inspired by Sir Vanderbilt's travels to Europe.
And speaking of Europe, I wish for us to visit there one day. :)
