Thursday 21-June: Road trip to Biltmore Estate.
Wow … midsummers day already. Is it really going to start getting darker on us again? Summer is marching on and we are not even in Maine yet! Pressure is on.
We were supposed to be up and gone early today. But it didn’t quite work out like that. Another leisurely breakfast then we are off for the day with David and Caroline to see the Biltmore Estate. After an hours drive we arrive to a long queue of car entering then again a long queue to get tickets. And this is a week day! It must be something quite interesting.
After getting the tickets we drive the 3 miles up through beautiful parkland to the house. When we turn the corner and glimpse the house it is immediately breathtaking. Just as Caroline’s son has described it, it sure is a “big arsed” house! It was, and likely is still, the largest private house in the USA, built by George Vanderbilt in 1888-1895.
Before we go in, we first tour around the wonderful gardens which are also currently displaying Chihuly glassware sculptures. We wonder how on earth they erect and move these wonderful pieces of delicate artwork? The gardens around the house are just a small part of the 125,000 acres which Vanderbilt purchased at the time he build this 250 bedroom house.
Inside, the house itself is spectacular. And all decorated and furnished exactly as it was. George Vanderbilt was a traveler and a collector. He crossed the Atlantic 60 times and spent time in every corner of the civilized world, bringing back priceless items of art, sculptures, prints and books, which he filled his house with and are all still there.
The 250 rooms were all filled with friends and acquaintances, no one paying to stay. This was a 250 bedroom home, not a hotel. And included a bowling alley, gym, smoking rooms and a huge indoor pool. Because they had no idea on filtration or chemicals to keep it clean it was emptied, refilled and reheated every 3 days!
Visiting the basement and recreational areas, and then the Antler Hill Village was particularly interesting.
After lunch, which we have at Cedric’s, and the most amazing Biltmore ice cream, we head back. It was a full day to see the place and we didn’t manage to see it all. We plan to return in the fall, when we imagine the red colors will make the estate look even more beautiful.
In the evening we chat more with Caroline and David. We didn’t realize but David is from Boston originally, so we pick his brains on what best to see in that part of the East coast. Then to bed before our long drive back tomorrow.