We were in Asheville a few months ago and decided to skip it when I saw the ticket prices. Figured it couldn’t possibly be worth it.

Anonymous wrote:This house is a symbol of capitalism gone wrong. The only positive aspect is that they spent money hiring craftsmen and buying art.

Not too many want to spend their money looking at Soviet bloc housing. Maybe that's where you belong, though.

I went 20 years ago and I went again a few months ago.

Years ago it was worth a visit. There were in-person guides who were very knowledgeable, groups were small, went through lots of rooms and were able to ask questions.

Now it is an audio device you have to hold up to your ear like a phone, there are only a few interesting rooms upstairs you get to walk through and then they send you down to the basement, the info is minimal and dumbed-down, and there are so many hordes of people it is an elbow-bumping experience the whole way.

The gardens are OK but nothing jaw dropping.

And to do this for more than $90 per person?!! Never again.

Spend your time elsewhere in Asheville. The NC Arboretum and gardens is free.

This house is a symbol of capitalism gone wrong. The only positive aspect is that they spent money hiring craftsmen and buying art.

I just walked around the gardens (toddler wasn't going to tolerate house tour) and I had fun.

I'm going to asheville this weekend and considering going to the Biltmore. Any reflections on the art collection itself at least the portion not given to the NGA? I tried to find some information out and was a bit turned off by the fact that they spell one of the artist's names wrong on their own blog.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hotel in Coral Gables?

You knew what OP was talking about. Playing dumb is not an appealing look.

Been to the hotel several times, never heard of the estate. But thanks for being helpful!

Anonymous wrote:We went a few years ago in Feb. It was interesting to see, but my main issue with it is the lack of access for people with mobility issues and families with strollers. If you have family members who fall into these categories, it would be a hard visit.

Disagree - my youngest was asleep in a stroller and it was easy. Elevators and handicap signs all over

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hotel in Coral Gables?

You knew what OP was talking about. Playing dumb is not an appealing look.

Actually, I assumed Coral Gables too!

But it says estate right in the subject line.

I actually think it's a great short trip with elementary school kids, regardless of what you think of the house. Granted, we are ex-DC and now live in NC, so it was an easy long weekend for us - I am not sure I would make a huge trip of it, but it was a fun two nights. We did the house (the kids LOVED the audio tour, which I didn't expect at all - it's narrated by the Vanderbilt's dog), the immersive Monet exhibit, a few touristy things in the area and had a couple good meals. (Personally I don't love Asheville but I seem to be in the minority on that.) We stayed in the less-expensive Village Hotel on the property and while it wasn't luxe, they do a great job with the Village. There's a petting zoo, an interactive barn thing, ice cream, lots of little restaurants and shops and walking around to do. Authentic? Nah. Good for a family weekend? Absolutely.

As for the house itself, I can't see how you wouldn't be impressed with the scale or the grounds. What they built, at that moment in time and that place in the country, is extraordinary. If you can appreciate it as such instead of trying to apply your own aesthetic, I think it's impressive and worth seeing.

I agree, I hate the house. Taking the tour is torture. Not only do I not like any of it aesthetically, I don’t care about the people. But I love the garden and the grounds, and I like the hotel.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hotel in Coral Gables?

You knew what OP was talking about. Playing dumb is not an appealing look.

Actually, I assumed Coral Gables too!

Dullard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hotel in Coral Gables?

You knew what OP was talking about. Playing dumb is not an appealing look.

Actually, I assumed Coral Gables too!

Anonymous wrote:Some people appear congenitally incapable of appreciating any house bigger than the one they live in, hence the pejorative labels.

Biltmore is a mcmansion on steroids. It was built as a display of excessive greed and excess of a robber baron. The house it so excessive that it couldn't be maintained as a private residence ironically. He wasted his money on a unmanageable freak show. It has no architectural merit. The gardens are more aesthecically pleasing that the mansion.

Headed there in September and hope it will be worthwhile because even the DIY tour is expensive! We're also doing the Backstairs Tour and the Da Vinci exhibit.