Biltmore

Yesterday, that first day of spring, we made the long trek to Biltmore! It took us a lil' over three hours to get there but it was well worth it. Just the drive had me excited, we saw mountains again and it felt like home! Around where we live now its just kinda hills. And the weather could not of been more perfect!
Known as America's largest home, Biltmore Estate along with its 8,000 acres (originally 125,000 acres) was just breathtaking. Pictures just don't do it justice. We finally arrived via shuttle and as soon as we rounded the corner and the house came into view, your mouth literally dropped. It's huge! And it's just gorgeous! I sat there in awe for a few minutes just taking it all in.
It took them over 6 years to build the house which was finally finished in 1895. It boasts 4 acres of floor space, 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, and a basement complete with a indoor tiled swimming pool and a bowling alley. The attention to detail and carvings and stone and woodworking leaves you bewildered as to how they did it. Not to mention the gardens, stables, winery, inn, farm, and the new Antler Hill Village! There was so much to see!

4 of the 5 of us outside the house. When my camera "stitched" some of the panoramic pictures together, I wasn't too steady handed, but you get the idea...it's big. Wish the shuttles cooperated a lil' more though and weren't constantly in my shots, hehe.

We were not allowed to take photos inside, but I did sneak a shot off one of the balconies. That's one of the views from the back of the house.

Beepa takin' in the scenery.

The only shot you will see inside the house, as it was the Biltmore folks that took it for us.
View from the side of the house...

After touring the house for a couple hours...you could literally get lost in the place and I know we didn't get to see half of it...we headed out to the gardens...
Course it looks better later in the season when everything is in bloom. Unfortunately it doesn't just all pop up on the first day of spring. Though that would of been really convenient!

Greenhouse

This place was chock full of happy plants and flowers!

Kathy strolling through the "tulips"

Mom and Dad

Mom and I

Us girls

Looky there, theres the tulips!

Mini-pineapple

Orchids...here...

...there and everywhere!

An interesting lil' flower

Antler Hill Village

This place just opened so they were sure to have flowers in full bloom everywhere!

You just have to see it for yourself!

The Vanderbilt family. Those who built and still own this home have summer "cottages" in Newport Rhode Island. Which I just so happened to visit and tour one of those "cottages" years ago. Located on the coast of Rhode Island is Marble House. It's huge all on its own. Lavishly furnished and even has a gold ballroom (every inch from the ceiling to the floor was covered in gold leaf, even the fireplace!) Unfortunately all my pictures from that 'venture are in my storage unit, but this is what the house looked like from outside...

And in the backyard they had the tea house...

Directly behind the tea house, is the ocean! I'd love to go back there again.

Here's a video I found that shows what some of the interior of the house looks like, course it doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea: