Despite COVID, my boyfriend and I decided to bite the bullet and head to the Biltmore over Labor Day weekend. This was my first time getting out of town since March (!), and our reason for going was to see the Downton Abbey Exhibits. The tickets were a Christmas gift from him, and Labor Day weekend was the last weekend the exhibits would be at the Biltmore. So we packed up the car and headed West!
Because of COVID, we decided we would just stay on the grounds the whole time and not venture into downtown Asheville. We stayed at the Village Hotel, and I was pleased with the procedures they put in place as it related to the pandemic. We felt safe for the most part and tried to be as careful as possible – from disinfecting all surfaces in our room – to hand sanitizing every five minutes when we were out and about (5 minutes may be a bit of an exaggeration….but, not really 🙂 )
Our room was fairly small, but the fixtures, furniture, bathroom, etc. were nice and up-to-date. It also had a mini fridge, Keurig, and some Biltmore Wine should you choose to open a bottle – at a cost of course. The lobby had a small “cafe” that sold coffee, smoothies, snacks, sandwiches, flatbreads, etc. This became convenient for us in the morning – we were able to grab something quick before we went out for the day.
We arrived later in the evening and were able to grab a late dinner at Cedric’s Tavern, one of the restaurants within the Village that was walking distance from our hotel. Because we didn’t have reservations, it was about a 15-20 minute wait. But, it was a beautiful evening, so we enjoyed a cocktail on the nearby patio area while we waited. I also had made reservations to Cedric’s the second night, so we were able to eat a bit earlier with no wait. Both nights, the food was great. Much of what they make is harvested on the grounds of the Biltmore, so that was a fun added touch.
Beyond the Downton Abbey Exhibits, we also went to the Biltmore House. We grabbed a glass of Biltmore wine, which was refreshing, and wandered the grounds directly around the house, plus a bit of the gardens. I also made reservations for lunch at the Stable Cafe which is right next to the Biltmore House. I got the Kale and Strawberry Cesar Salad and my boyfriend got the BBQ Sandwich – we enjoyed both.
On our first full day we visited both Downton Abbey Exhibits – there were two on the grounds. We got to the first one as soon as it opened, and we were happy that we did because a line had already formed! Luckily we were some of the first in the queue, so we did not wait to long to go inside. We visited the second exhibit that was closer to our hotel later in the afternoon, and lucked out, because there was no line at that one. I have to say, that both exhibits were a little underwhelming. I thought there would be more displays of the sets. But, all in all, they did a nice job with it and I enjoyed taking in the sets they did have on display and seeing the costumes up close.
Later in the afternoon, we took a walk around the Lagoon which has beautiful views of the Biltmore House in the distance. In the evening, we went to Cedric’s again for dinner, as I mentioned above, and then visited the winery. We had already done a wine tasting in the past, so we decided just to peruse the store.
On the day we left, we went back to the Biltmore House around 9am and walked up to the hill directly opposite of the House. It was so peaceful up there and super picturesque with the mountains in the background. After, we went back down to the Garden area, and walked the trails that lead further into the wooded area toward Bass Pond Waterfall.
All in all, the trip was great. The weather was perfect and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. If you’re planning a trip to the Biltmore, here a few things I suggest:
- Make reservations for anything that may require a reservation at least a week in advance, whether it’s dining, exhibits, or touring the Biltmore House. My philosophy is to always make a reservation, and if need be, you can cancel – barring the cancellation policy.
- Staying on the grounds was also nice. If you’re looking for a more secluded and peaceful get-away experience in Asheville, staying at the Biltmore will definitely scratch that itch. But, if you’re looking to explore more of the Asheville culture, food, and brewery scene, stay downtown.
- Research the Biltmore website and become familiar with the Biltmore map before you go. I took the Sunday before to research and get prepared for our stay. I got the lay of the land in regards to location of buildings, trails, roads, etc. The signage throughout the property is pretty good for navigating, but it also helped to understand where things were in relation to our hotel upon arrival. I also got a good understanding of dining options and when things opened.
- If you happen to visit in the age of COVID, make sure to read their guidelines and requirements, and bring extra PPE (sanitizer, masks, disinfectant, etc.) just in case.
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