Thursday was the day we drove to Asheville for my birthday present - a tour of the Biltmore Estate. I have wanted to go to the Biltmore since I was a child and studied about the Vanderbilts in US History class. As an adult, I've been a huge fan of the TV show Downton Abbey and this trip was a bit like getting to experience behind the scenes of Downton's Highclere Castle. It was a wonderful experience and the boys did so very well with touring the house. We got them the audio tour guides and they were so caught up in listening to the information that they sometimes refused to move on to the next room until they had heard everything....
Some of the amazing public spaces in the house......
George Washington Vanderbilt II's master bedroom, shared parlor, and his wife's Edith bedroom.
This house was built in the late 1890s at a time when most houses in America didn't have indoor plumbing. And Biltmore house had 43 bathrooms!
Some of the 33 guest bedrooms in the house.
Downstairs we got to see the bowling alley, changing rooms, indoor heated swimming pool and also the gymnasium before heading to the servants quarters, kitchens and pantries, storage rooms and laundry.
The old stables converted to gift shops and restaurants.
Walking around outside the house, the portico and down through part of the gardens. A gorgeous way to finish up the day!!!
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