Part of Katie and my hotel package in Asheville, North Carolina included a two day pass to Biltmore House and Gardens. Biltmore began in 1895 as George Vanderbilt’s vision and continues today under the stewardship of his descendants.

The family still owns 8000 acres of Blue Ridge Mountain land and this is just a fraction of what they started with. They sold thousands of acres to the Federal government which is now the Pisgah National Forest.

A view from the Loggia. No photography was allowed in the house but they had an area for a photo op that the house provided.

You could pay for a larger copy for $30.00, pricey. We opted for the free little version!

This is just a taste of the Biltmore. You can imagine with 8000 acres that there is more to share.  The gardens were bursting with color from thousands of Azalea bushes.  We ended our day at the Biltmore House with a meal at Antler Hill Village and a tour of the winery. Stay tuned!

My time is winding down here in Jacksonville. Tomorrow I’ll board a plane for Orlando and meet up with my Dear. Looking forward to it. I leave knowing our daughter will soon be reunited with her beloved and that makes me happy and oh so thankful.

One thing I know is that the Pacific Northwest is a very good location for me. I am quite intolerant of heat and humidity in my older years. My hair is very intolerant of the humidity, too. The “South” is fun to visit but I’m not looking to buy property here.