“When someone asks if you want to go to Biltmore, you go to Biltmore. ” – Dating With Passports.
Biltmore Estate is known around the world for its elegance. Known as the largest private home in America, Biltmore sits on 8,000 acres – complete with a winery, several options for accommodations, various restaurants and shops, and even an equestrian center. Whether you’re looking for the perfect weekend getaway or a relaxing retreat, Biltmore will amaze all of your senses.
Last weekend, I stayed as a guest at The Inn on Biltmore Estate with fellow travel blogger, World of A Wanderer. I’ll give you all the details you want to know from the room, the food, activities, and some surprises along the way.
WHAT TO EXPECT
When you enter Biltmore, you will drive through the gates and speak to a greeter. They will ask for your name to verify your reservation and direct you to the right toward The Inn.
PARKING
It will require a car to get to The Inn – the estate is massive. Whether you take a cab/ride share or you decide to drive yourself (highly recommend), there will be ample parking space. There is a valet to park your car or you can leave your bags with the valet and self park. We decided to self-park and it was about a three minute walk from the lobby.
CHECK-IN
When you first walk in, you’ll be amazed by the floor to ceiling windows that bring in so much natural light. You may hear the piano man performing from the Library Lounge and that officially let’s you know – YOU HAVE ARRIVED. The check-in process is pretty standard as you will need to leave a credit card for any incidental charges. I wished the front desk was more helpful – instead of just giving us a map to the estate, it would have been nice if she gave recommendations on where to eat for dinner or worst case – direct us to the concierge desk if we had any questions. Neither happened – not mandatory, but customer service goes a long way.
THE ROOM
Our view from our room was breathtaking. The room is very spacious and the bed was oh so comfortable – soft, yet firm with plenty of pillows. The room was impeccably clean and everything worked; however, one of the light switches also operated one of the outlets, so keep that in mind. Each room comes with two bath robes and slippers to use at your convenience. There is also a Keurig for all the coffee and tea drinkers out there. Overall the room was traditional, yet had some modern touches that I truly appreciated. Biltmore never felt dated and has transcended well through time, while keeping its classic and unique touches. Each guest will have access to the fitness center, spa, and the heated pool (seasonal).
The shower was my favorite feature in the room. The pressure was strong, powerful and no wait necessary for the hot water. The toiletries go beyond your typical shampoo and soap bar and extended to lip balm, dental rinse, and a shoe mitten. You will also find a single rose in the bathroom, as well as, throughout the property.
SPECIAL TOUCHES
The staff offers turndown service, which I’m always a fan of. They close the curtains, leave chocolates on your pillow, clean your room, and “turn down the bed,” so you are ready to get in and sleep well.
It rained throughout our stay and the valet provided strong and sturdy umbrellas for us to use as we walked throughout the estate.
DINING
The Inn offers 24/7 room service; however, there are a couple places you can grab a bite on the estate and when I say a couple – I mean a lot. All of the restaurants participate in the Field to Table Program, which locally sources most of the food from the grounds. Yes, that cow that you just passed will be on the menu – not kidding! You will see quite a wide range of animals on the estate from chickens to lambs.
For breakfast, I would recommend Village Social, which services eggs straight from the farm. The bacon was easily top 3 of the best bacon I’ve ever had. I’m also a lover of smoked salmon, capers, and onions – GOOD MORNING!
For lunch, I would recommend Bistro, which won on me over with their tender pork belly and perfectly seared trout with shrimp scampi. The staff was fantastic as they got our order out in 15 minutes. We were rushing because we thought we could do the tour of Biltmore House in 1.5 hours – we were wrong. Thankfully, we had lunch quickly and made it to our wine tasting on time. Bistro is located right across from the winery and served the tastiest food throughout our trip.
The best cocktails are located in the Library Lounge, which is on the same level as the lobby at The Inn. I would recommend the Sangria or Biltmore Bloody Mary. Please note that they come at a higher price tag – averaging $13 bucks for a cocktail, but the ambiance makes it worth it – with the amazing views, roaring fireplace, and the beautiful music.
For dinner, I would recommend leaving the estate and heading to one of the local eateries downtown. I was disappointed with Biltmore’s Cedric’s Tavern, which is known for fish and chips; however, the chef did not cook my steak even after multiple attempts (4 attempts actually and never got it right).
If you’re looking for a fine dining experience, you’ll have a unique experience at The Dining Room. You will find typical lobster and steak entrees (I decided on the lobster), but the chefs also like to play with molecular gastronomy as noted by the blood orange and goat cheese “gift from the Chef” below. I personally wasn’t a fan of the flavor combination, but it was fun to try!
I will note that the staff was phenomenal at all the establishments – courteous, professional, and went above and beyond.
PERKS OF STAYING AT THE INN AT THE BILTMORE
The biggest perk of staying at The Inn is convenience. You are walking distance from several restaurants and you can enjoy various walking trails along the property. The complimentary shuttle to Biltmore House and Gardens is my favorite perk. Only resort guests are allowed to use the shuttle – exclusive. It will take you approximately 20 minutes to ride the shuttle from The Inn to the Biltmore House and a lot longer if you self-park. The complimentary shuttle will also take you to the winery, the equestrian center, and any additional hot spots.
ACTIVITIES
Even if you spent a week at Biltmore, you could easily find more to do. The Biltmore offers spa treatments, wine tasting classes, horseback riding lessons, biking trails, yoga, the botanical gardens, and so much more. My favorite activity was wandering the gardens at Biltmore House – I absolutely love flowers. Don’t skip the greenhouse – that’s where all the tropical flowers are kept.
Morning yoga spoke to my soul. It’s been awhile since my body has experienced some exercise. I loved every moment – from the stretching to the deep breathing. Our instructor was amazing and I’m seriously considering making yoga a lifestyle choice.
Did someone say wine? We enjoyed a chocolate and wine tasting at the winery (typically $25/per person,) but just to let you know – there are complimentary wine tastings in the tasting room. So go ahead – smell, sip and swirl your way to your favorite bottle.
We also decided to go on a horseback riding adventure, which also featured views of Biltmore House along the trail. My horse’s name was Pistol. Not going to lie, it’s been awhile since I’ve been on a horse, but I believe I handled it with grace as the horse used the bathroom quite a few times on the trail.
STAY OR GO
If you want a great getaway, especially a trip that is less than a four hour road trip from Atlanta, head to Biltmore. I’ve made so many fond memories there, and I would love to return with my boyfriend. The only negative was the food – several restaurants (the Dining Room and Cedric’s Tavern) lacked flavor or simply the food was not prepared well. I would definitely want to try more of the local cuisine in downtown Asheville. All in all – not only would I return, but I would recommend this as a great outing with friends and loved ones.
HOW TO MAKE RESERVATIONS
Interested in staying at The Inn on the Biltmore? You can book directly online or you can call 866-336-2345.
Have you been to the Biltmore? What has been your experience? As always, let’s keep the conversation going on Twitter.
