The Biltmore Estate is a house in the grandest sense. George Vanderbilt (yes, of those Vanderbilts) had this constructed in 1890. The house encompasses four acres. That’s interior space. Four floors housed George’s family, guests, and staff. At any given time, the house employed thirty-five people. There were parlor maids, chamber maids, butlers, grounds keepers, cooks, and many others. During the planning phase, designers built towers to heights matching the floors so that views could be chosen and showcased. A three-mile drive from Biltmore Village Historic District winds through the estate’s land. I felt sorry for the poor bastards. Biltmore House is one of America’s castles.

Mom and I took the guided audio tour. I would have had more interior photos, but a docent told me that interior photos would infringe copyright (wtf?). We saw 62 rooms from the Billards Parlor to the staffs’ quarters. Art from Renoir and John Singer Sargent hung on the walls. Fabrics and wallpaper patterns were restored to their original state. The images you do have from me are of the exterior and grounds. Still, that was more than enough. The only real unpleasantness was getting caught in a downpour while in the greenhouse. It made the walk back to the car…uncomfortable. After the Estate tour, we stopped at a coffeeshop. By this time the rain subsided. Mom, however, brought the umbrellas with us into the shop. You know, just in case, we got caught in another downpour.