We heard about the Biltmore from friends who visited a year ago. We also knew we couldn't possibly see everything, because it is so huge and so grand.

We took the self-guided audio tour. Tip: definitely get the audio tour. It's VERY simple to use, and you can move at your own speed. I was amazed to see that the rooms actually have been maintainted as they were a long time ago, including all the furniture, paintings, wall covering, lights, etc.

I've been to other mansions on tours, but they have usually been mostly empty. The Biltmore has a real feeling of life inside it. You can actually imagine the guests enjoying the estate, while the many servants looked after running the place.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch in the stable, and also enjoyed the very nice shops. The gardens were beautiful too. I would definitely like to go back, and even take one of the other tours that are available.

This was my second trip to the estates and my wife's first. We both enjoyed the day and the breath-taking Biltmore house. It's an amazing tour into not only the lives of the Vanderbilt family, but also various eras of American/world history and those who worked in the house and the Asheville area. Lots of interesting facts and beautiful antiquities.

The house tour is quite a walk, which I enjoyed, but it's nice that they put seating in different areas for those who need to take a moment. Also, as others have mentioned, you need to really set aside 6 to 8 hours to complete the house and estates.

Finally, if you're on the property during lunch, I received a tip from one of the employees that proved to be right on. He recommended the out-of-the-way Deer Lodge Restaurant for a buffet lunch. It's a little pricey ($17 per person, as I recall); however, there were no crowds and the food was marvelous. Worth the price, in my opinion.

George Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate is simply magnificent. Anyone who loves lavish displays of wealth and grandeur should certainly make a visit. According to the travel brochures, the home covers four acres under one roof, with 250 rooms and 65 fire places.

This is one mighty tour, and you need to be there when the doors open, if possible. It gets crowded in a hurry.

You start out on the main level, and work your way up with a self-guided pamphlet, or a more detailed audio guide w/headphones for a fee. Once up, you go down....all the way to the basement to see the indoor pool, bowling alley and weight room of 1895.
From top to bottom you see priceless works of art and rare pieces of furniture, along with a huge cooking and food storage area, and room after room for servants, who had decent places to live here - not slaves for sure.
The over 8,000 acres contains a winery, a hotel, riding and recreation areas, plus a magnificent garden. Also, when the home was built, there were no trees. Through Vanderbilt's direction, and with the help of foreign experts, forestry restoration - the first in America - was started here.

Be sure to check out in the basement how the house was built, including the construction of a railroad to the house in order to bring in supplies. You'll see architectural examples from Europe that inspired the home's design.

The price ranges up to $42 per adult on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, $38 the other days, except on some holidays. Check the web site for details. This includes the winery, farm and gardens. Organization is wonderful here. You park away from the home, and are given a shuttle to its front door. No photography is allowed inside. Walking is in store, over a lot of non-padded stone and marble steps. Go prepared.

The Biltmore is the largest privately owned home in America. It's a home experience like no other I've ever been on.

The Biltmore Estate is amazing. We thought it was a little pricey, but we can understand that the place needs tons of up keep. The house was just beautiful. We just grabbed a brochure and walked through the house on our own. We ate at the Stable Cafe which was super tasty. Go hungry because the portions are big. The gardens were extensive. We also liked the winery. The tasting is free. We bought a few bottles of wine. Make sure that you take all day to hang out at the Biltmore Estate.