If you have never been to the Biltmore in Asheville, then you may think that it’s simply this big house nestled on a plot of land and that’s it. What you may not know is that the entire Biltmore estate when originally purchased by George Vanderbilt is an impressive 125,000-acre estate. And while many of the acreage have been sold off over to the federal government over the years to create Pisgah National Forest, one of the first national forests east of the Mississippi, today the estate currently still sits on 8,000 acres of land. Situated on this land is the Biltmore Estate and gardens, Biltmore hotels, Cottages at Biltmore Estate, the equestrian center, venues, Antler Hill Farm and so much more.
On today’s post I am going to take you through my visit at Antler Hill Village. Antler Hill Village is the Biltmore’s complex that consists of shopping, dining, their farm, winery a small museum and the Village Hotel. It’s a relaxed environment where one can come to immerse themselves more into all things Biltmore. After checking into my hotel as well as after my visit to Biltmore, I spent the afternoons wandering through Antler Hill Village and enjoying the many things they have to offer.
the village
The village itself is created in a Provence style for their buildings and overall theme. You’ll find plenty of pretty places to sit as well as many plants and flowers all over the property to enjoy while strolling. The Village itself is a quaint place and not particularly large, just particularly pretty. And the Chihuly event was going on, so there were also a few pieces strewn throughout Antler Hill as well.
shops
There are a few shops that you can visit on the property with different varsities of things. Here are the shops that I visited as well as what they offered.
Traditions is a shop that is for the ladies. The shop is described as a graceful mix of stylish apparel, décor, and other items that offer a modern take on the Vanderbilt legacy of gracious hospitality.
The Barn Door is a shop featurs an assortment of seasonal holiday décor, home accessories, and arts & crafts items.
The Wine Shop is my favorite and not simply because of the wine. This is a foodie haven full of home goods, cooking goods, seasonal items, international foods and so much more. Here you’ll find every wine in Biltmore’s vast award-winning portfolio, as well as gourmet foods, wine accessories, and thoughtful gifts for the wine enthusiast.
the biltmore legacy museum
While the Biltmore Estate is in and of itself a museum, there is a small Biltmore Legacy Musuem at Antler Hill Village that you can visit to get an opportunity to view rarely-seen treasures from the Biltmore collection, get a first-hand look at the Vanderbilts’ lifestyle and get deeper insights into George, Edith, and Cornelia’s personalities, both at home and on their extensive travels.
dining
There are some dining options that you can also visit while you’re at Antler Hill Village. You have restaurants such as The Bistro, Cedric’s Tavern, Village Social, The Kitchen Cafe (which was in my hotel), and The Creamery. While I was there, I ate at The Kitchen Cafe for breakfast, I also went to The Bistro once for dinner as well as an ice cream from The Creamery. There is something for everyone to be sure and I enjoyed having these options just steps away from my hotel.
the sunset
Since I was staying right at the Antler Hill Village, I was able to take a walk after dinner and enjoy the sunset over the property. I had such a lovely time visiting this cozy corner of Biltmore and I hope enjoyed visiting along too through the blog. Tomorrow’s post will be all about the Biltmore Estate and Gardens which will be broken into two posts for each one.
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