Last year I realized that as kids born & raised in NC, our four should see the Biltmore sometime when we were in that area.
Then we found ourselves with 4 extra (unplanned) weeks of summer. And we decided to road trip to see family in Arkansas. Which would lead us back through the NC mountains.
And did you know that kids get in free to the Biltmore all summer?!?!
Check, check, check.
Not only that, but adult tickets are up to $45 cheaper on weekdays than they are on weekends. And they’re already less expensive in the summer than they are at other times of the year (hey, Christmas).
And don’t forget that the NC mountains in the summer are pure gold. Wonderful weather, Carolina blue skies, and all that glorious room for exploring.
So here we go. We’re visiting the Biltmore Estate with kids.
Touring the Biltmore Estate:
When you purchase tickets, you’re selecting your tour time for the house itself. You’ll need to arrive at the tour 15 minutes before your reserved time so that you can get set with audio guides.
Audio guides are included in the ticket price and they have both a kids & an adult version. As someone who doesn’t always love an audio tour, let me just say that these were so well done.
Our kids LOVED the kid version. The kids audio tour is narrated by “the family dog” and shares such fun information about the house. Our kids (ages 7, 9, 9 & 11 at the time) literally wouldn’t let us move on from a room until the audio guide was complete. They learned so much!
The house is truly incredible to see and explore. So many rooms, so much history, lots of talking about the servant’s quarters vs the main bedrooms. The pool & bowling alley are highlights that stuck with everyone.
Just as a head’s up, no food or drink are allowed inside, no large backpacks, and no commercial photography. We left everything in the car, as parking was plentiful (and included in the ticket price) and not too far away!
Exploring the Biltmore grounds:
Depending on your family’s ideal schedule & time available that day, make sure to take advantage of being on the Biltmore grounds before and/or after your tour of the house itself.
The gardens around the house are absolutely stunning. We explored those right before our house tour and could’ve roamed for hours!
Quick tip – there are clean bathrooms in the garden store if you need then when you’re out in that area!
Our kids loved running on the front lawn (before & after the tour), meeting the animals in the farmyard, playing on the playground, and shopping in Antler Hill Village. We did Antler Hill & the farmyard after our house tour because that made the most sense for our day, but make sure to check closing times so you don’t miss out!
A complimentary wine tasting at the winery in Antler Hill Village is also included in your ticket price. The winery and/or a biking tour would be a great addition if you have extra time & interest!
While in Asheville:
Per usual, we rented a VRBO for our stay in Asheville. This one is in a great location and right across the street from a playground. It also has super comfy beds and a ping pong table inside (always a win for our kids).
We loved being in a spot where we could easily drive to the Biltmore, but could also access other places we wanted to visit in town.
French Broad Chocolates is one of our local favorites. We usually stop for a treat, but this time I planned for us to do a chocolate factory tour before we headed out of town. We all loved it and learned so much!
There are countless delicious food options in Asheville. A few of our favorites include Joey’s Bagels or Sunny Point Café for breakfast. Penny Cup Coffee. The Hop for ice cream. Sierra Nevada Taproom for beer & delicious apps or dinner.
All in all we loved visiting the Biltmore Estate with kids. It’s such a fun stop, especially on a weekday in the summer when it’s less crowded than peak times!
Looking for more places to explore in the North Carolina mountains this summer?
Visiting Grandfather Mountain with Kids
A weekend in Blowing Rock with kids
