The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina is one of the largest privately owned estates in the world. The daily admission fee includes self guided tours of the Biltmore’s house and gardens, winery, Antler Hill village and farm. Touring the Biltmore House and Gardens can take an entire day although a thorough trip can easily be spread out into several days.

The Vanderbilts were one of the oldest and best-known families in America. George Vanderbilt created this 8,000-acre estate as an escape from everyday life. Biltmore is more than a magnificent chateau in a picturesque mountain setting. It is the spirit of the people who envisioned its splendor and then lived, worked, played, and entertained here.

LODGING

The 213-room Inn on Biltmore Estate offers exquisite accommodations, relaxed elegance, luxurious spa services, and fine dining in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The Inn has been awarded Four Stars by Forbes Travel Guide, Four Diamonds by AAA, and has been on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List for seven years running.

The Inn at Biltmore is home to spacious, luxurious rooms. Enjoy afternoon tea in the library or relax with a glass of wine on The Rocking Chair Terrace. The Inn has a full service spa ready to indulge total relaxation. Every guest room includes nightly turn down service with chocolate, in room movies, high speed internet, custom robes and slippers and shuttle service around the Biltmore estate.

Looking down at the former stables at the Stable Cafe

DINING OPTIONS

The Stable Cafe offers traditional southern fare and Carolina barbeque. The Stable Cafe is located inside a comfortable restaurant transformed from 19th century stables and is open daily for lunch. Cedric’s is located at the Antler Hill Village and Winery. Cedric’s offers tavern fare and is open daily for lunch, dinner and offers late night entertainment. The Bistro is also located in Antler Hill Village. The Bistro’s offerings are delicious wood fire pizzas, seafood, steaks and lamb.

THE WINERY AND WINEMAKERS

America’s Most Visited Winery is comprised of vineyards established in 1971 and is available for guests who simply want to enjoy a wine tasting or learn more about the art of wine making. Guests can stroll through the historic wine cellars and head to the tasting room where Biltmore hosts are on hand to make sure guests have a memorable wine tasting experience. Upon exiting the winery stop by the Wine Shop to find hard to find wine accessories, gourmet foods and of course, Biltmore wines.

ANTLER HILL VILLAGE AND SHOPPING

There is no shortage of shopping at the Biltmore Estate. There are a wide variety of treats to discover such as sweet treats at the confectionery, toys at the Toymakers or a one of a kind Christmas ornament at the Christmas Past.

Antler Hill Village which connects the estate’s present and past, provides a relaxing place for dining, shopping, historical exhibits, and new ways to experience Biltmore’s hospitality. There are three restaurants, three places for lighter fare and four stores. The village’s name comes from Antler Hill, the “fine high ridge” where the Inn on Biltmore Estate is located. From the Civil War into the 1930s, the ridge was the site of Antler Hall, a residence and social center for many estate families.

A short drive away is the eclectic downtown Asheville area complete with a mix of stores ranging from art galleries to clothing stores and more.

THE LAND ROVER EXPERIENCE DRIVING SCHOOL

Consider the Land Rover Experience Driving School where guests can learn to navigate a Land Rover or Range Rover on a specially mapped out / designed course with a highly trained driver navigating you over broken bridges and over large boulders plus other unbelievable obstacles.

We set out on this early morning adventure and it was a surreal experience to say the least. Our guide took us through a brief overview of what to expect and then we set out in our fully equipped Range Rover.

Several times throughout the course I was suspended in the air only being held in by my seatbelt while the Range Rover was up on two wheels with one wheel as high as six feet in the air.

Check out the video taken by James of Mantripping of my husband driving a Range Rover on the Land Rover course:

The Biltmore Estate has lots to offer for fun family adventures, romantic getaways and wine enthusiasts. Whether romance or relaxation is on your mind, you can visit Biltmore by bike, river, horseback and/or carriage.

DISCLOSURE:  My husband and I were invited to visit the Biltmore Estate and stay at the Inn on Biltmore Estate.

I have been a travel writer for years and although I would love to be one, I am not at all a frugal travel writer. My niche? I share how to save the most money on the most luxurious accommodations that you can afford. I will tell you how to get the deals. I will share the stories of the places I stay. However, if you are looking for PB & J’s on a budget, I am not that kind of writer. Or traveler.

I pride myself in planning once in a lifetime trips. We save all year, I get the best deals available and then we enjoy ourselves. No one comes back from vacation tired.

It was more than 15 years ago that I went to my first all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. I worked a lot and I worked hard. I wanted to play hard too. By this point in my life, I had traveled all over the world and was a little tired of the “10 countries in 3 days” vacations that I had been taking. I wanted to relax. I wanted a beach. But I wanted a waiter too!

Some good friends of mine were getting married and they invited several of us to go along. We all wanted a place that was luxurious, where we did not have to do a thing and there were plenty of activities for everyone

Enter Grand Lido Braco. Endless beaches, mountains of food, every kind of drink you can imagine and daily activities made the Grand Lido one of the most memorable vacations ever. Many of the staff members remembered our names which was a fantastic touch.

I took part in pretty much anything that they would let me do. I took a bike ride to a local pottery place. I did yoga on the beach. I laid in hammock and read a book one day. I indulged in a afternoon tea several times.

At night we played board games at the beach bar while sipping fruity cocktails or we danced until dawn. The bartenders even made up drinks for us during our stay. We walked on the beach. We even dined at every restaurant there.

The day of the wedding came and the spa staff took amazing care of us. Everyone in the party had manicures and pedicures complete with reflexology.

For relaxation with a small hotel feel, the Grand Lido Braco was the place to stay.

*****

My next all-inclusive trip in Jamaica was to the Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach Villa & Resort with a boyfriend who shall remain nameless although this is partly because I cannot remember his name.

I was expecting a little more luxury than I found at Sandals but I enjoyed myself. It was large, crowded and noisy but so is Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. I kind of felt as if I was on Spring Break the entire time. I even thought of getting a tattoo (just kidding).

The large logo’d pool that Sandals is famous for beckoned to me on a daily basis. In fact, there were seven pools available at the Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach Villa & Resort, 12 bars and eight restaurants. The place is HUGE. The food was ok but there was no room service which was slightly annoying.

I played a few rounds of golf overlooking the lush greenery of  Jamaica. I played tennis in what felt like a jungle. The beach was short drive so we only went a few times preferring to spend our time at the main resort. I even made it to the Red Lane Spa a few times for a massage and a facial.

I most likely would not return as I felt the place was a little too commercial but for those who like that big hotel feel or desire a reasonably priced all-inclusive vacation, the Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach Villa & Resort makes a great getaway spot.

*****

Finally, I saved the best for last. The Ritz Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall made me like royalty from the second that I walked into the place. A beautifully decorated hotel with amazing private beaches on one side and the lush, green mountains of Jamaica on the other side.

Our room had the most comfortable bed and an inviting terrace where we spent a lot of time relaxing. We had a his & her massage at the spa, played many rounds of golf and took full advantage of the five restaurants available.

In true Ritz Carlton style, they ran this 427 room resort like a small, boutique hotel. We never felt crowded. I would definitely return to the Ritz Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall and perhaps bring my children this time as they offer the Ritz Kids program to entertain the little ones.

-This is a Traveling Mom dedicated post.