Most people think they have to travel to Europe to visit authentic castles. One of the world’s best is actually not that far away in Asheville, NC.

The Biltmore Estate is a 250-room French Renaissance chateau that befits any monarch. What makes this visit even more enticing is the beautiful mountain city of Asheville.

 

Biltmore Estate

This real-life castle was the creation of George and Edith Vanderbilt. It seems like a fairy tale structure that we would only expect to see at Disney World. It was actually their family home and country retreat.

Inside the castle, the treasures include original works of art from masters such as Renoir, 16th century tapestries, Napoleon’s chess set, a library large enough for a small college, a banquet hall with a 70-feet-tall ceiling, 65 fireplaces, an indoor pool and more.

To equal a European castle, one needs ornate gardens, and Biltmore Estate has that as well. Famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead designed both the formal and informal gardens. From the formal Italian garden to America’s first managed forest, these are much more than “gardens.”

Biltmore Estate is a very large property encompassing 8,000 acres. Think of the entire town of Montecito and you are on the right track.

It includes a winery, equestrian center and a farm, all on the banks of the French Broad River. Water activities include float trips and fly fishing.

Visit  Biltmore.com  for more information.

 

The Inn

The Inn on Biltmore Estate is on-property and is a majestic hotel perched high on a hill overlooking rolling hills and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

This very elegant inn is one the Vanderbilts would no doubt be proud of. The interiors are decorated similar to Biltmore House, right down to the carpet and upholstery.

Rooms have the finest bedding including pillow-top mattresses, additional pillows and duvets. The relaxed feel here is enhanced by an afternoon tea in the library, a veranda offering sweeping views and a comfortable pool area.

If you are not expecting an invitation to Buckingham Palace or Fontainebleau any time  soon, Biltmore Estate is the next best thing.

Visit biltmore.com/stay/inn  for more information.

 

Grand Bohemian

Adjacent to the grand Biltmore Estate sits idyllic Biltmore Forest, Asheville’s premier residential community. The village here includes fine shops and restaurants built with a strict architectural code to fit in with its famous neighbor.

The Grand Bohemian Asheville sits right in the heart of the village. This Tudor-style boutique hotel has Old World charm combined with all the luxuries of a high-end property. The lobby is, in a word, amazing.

A huge, floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace sits in the middle surrounded by antique furniture. Extensive handcrafted woodwork can be found throughout, and they even have their own art gallery.

The elegance extends to the rooms that include marble bathrooms, oversized tubs and antique vanities along with the finest bedding and LCD TVs.

The Old World ambience continues with the hotel’s signature restaurant, the Red Stag Grill, that includes oak floors as well as hand-hewn tables and chairs.

For starters we had the fried green tomatoes and red stag escargot along with their spiced tomato soup. For entrees we tried the tuna steak and veal chop.

The food and service were excellent. This restaurant is very popular with affluent locals including supermodel and film star Andie MacDowell.

The location of the Grand Bohemian is ideal, with Biltmore Forest just out the door and downtown Asheville not more than a couple of miles away. The entrance to Biltmore Estate is very close as well.

Visit bohemianhotelasheville.com  for further information.

 

Asheville

This is the capital of the Blue Ridge Mountains with a distinct, four-season climate. The “leaf season” — fall — is very popular with all of its dramatic color changes. They have a “real” Christmas with just enough snow to satisfy even Bing Crosby.

Spring brings the bloom of flowers and green colors. Summer is extremely popular as the Blue Ridge area becomes a welcome escape from the heat of the southeast.

Asheville Airport (AVL) is very convenient.

If you choose to see more of the area, you might consider flying into Atlanta via Air Tran from LAX. Business class on Air Tran is quite reasonable compared to other airlines, and my pilot friends tell me they have some of the best flight crews in the business.

For more information, visit airtran.com. Hertz also has great service in Atlanta, which is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Asheville.