Boogey Down for an Asheville Christmas

Christmas at the Biltmore is bigger and more beautiful than ever. Being America's largest home it is all aglow for it's candlelight evenings. Enjoy the majesty until Jan 3.

Downtown Asheville takes such pride in its independent shops and galleries. I just bet you will find that special present for that special person. Make a day of your shopping adventure and enjoy the many coffee shops and restaurants.

Fireworks will bring your downtown Asheville shopping adventure to a close at 7 PM on December 5, 12 and 19.

Gingerbread Houses at Grove Park Inn from the National Gingerbread House Competition are not to be missed this year. They will be on display until January 3. Just a little fyi...If not a guest of the hotel you can only visit Monday through Thursday.

Biltmore Village is so charming that I often wonder if it is the home of Santa's workshop. In walking distance to the estate this historic district of original architecture and tree lined streets boasts of 40 unique shops and 10 cafes and restaurants.

Antiques can be found in the many antique stores and barns within one mile of the Biltmore Estate.

Hiking is spectacular at this time of the year. In fact we fell in love with Ponder Cove in Winter without a leaf on a tree. The air is crisp and the views are long in WNC. Let us send you on one of our favorite hikes.

Christmas Trees you will find at our favorite Family Farm.Pick up your Cartner Frasir Fir. The Cartners will take special care of you and on your way you can stop at Linville Falls. We make a day of it every year.

Biltmore Set for Spectacular Season

Economy crunch or no economy crunch. The Biltmore House will be as spectacular as ever. And if you ever wondered.......note the "by the numbers" report.

50 decorated Frazier firs from 4-34 feet in the main house.
50 more at other estate facilities
1 55’ Norway spruce on the front lawn surrounded by 8 “islands”
300 poinsettias
500 other plants
1,600 bloomers
340 fresh wreaths
60 artificial
100 kissing balls made of white pine and Fraser fir
10,000 feet of garland
1,200 feet in the House and around 1,000 feet in other areas.
500 Bows
30,000 lights in the main house
125 candles
150,000 mini lights
500 gift boxes
500 ornaments
500 electric lights on the Banquet Hall Tree
12,000 on the trees inside the house
25,000 + on the estate.

There will be a quiz later. m

2009 Biltmore Christmas

This year’s Christmas Theme: A Gilded Age Christmas
Guests can take a step back in time when they visit Biltmore House for the 2009 Candlelight Christmas Evening season. Guests will experience an array of activities and that Mr. Vanderbilt offered to his own family and friends. Guests enjoy a self-guided walking visit that takes them through four floors and the basement. The self-guided visit requires the ability to maneuver approximately 400 stairs throughout the visit. An elevator is available for access between the first and second floors of the House (wheelchair accessible), but the third and fourth floors and basement will require maneuvering approximately 60 stairs (30 up and 30 down) per floor.
November 6, 2009 – January 2, 2010
Entry times vary and may begin as early as 5:30pm
Candlelight Christmas Evening not available on the following dates: Tuesday, November 24; Thursday, November 26;
Thursday, December 24; Friday, December 25

Christmas at the Biltmore

It's that time again and no better time than NOW to think about a visit to Ponder Cove when you can enjoy the Holiday festivities at the Biltmore as well. November is the best time to avoid the December crowds. Roam the house and just imagine how it must have been.... oh so long ago.

THEN:
"Although George Vanderbilt moved into Biltmore House in October 1895, the house did not officially open until Christmas Eve of that year. Great efforts were made to ensure all would be ready by the special day. Correspondence between Vanderbilt and his staff indicate that planning was intense concerning the best holly and the most desirable mistletoe. While staff scouted for the perfect tree for the Banquet Hall the estate manager, Mr. Charles McNamee wrote: “ I quite agree with you that we should have a very large tree for this occasion; in fact, I think a twenty foot tree in that large Banquet Hall would be rather dwarfed.”

NOW:

Guests can help Biltmore commemorate the start of our Holiday season with the Raising of the Banquet Hall Tree on November 5 at 10am. The 34-foot Frasier Fir will arrive in style as a team of Belgian draft horses pulls it to the front of Biltmore House. Guests will be able to watch as Biltmore staff carry the tree into the Banquet Hall and set it up. The Fraser Fir was the most popular type of Christmas Tree in 1895, and continues to be so today because of its fragrance and long-lasting needles.

New this year, during the evening hours for the Christmas Illumination, is a lit tree on the front lawn of Biltmore House. The tree is a 55’ Norway Spruce, weighing 6000 pounds. The Spruce tree was chosen because it grows to a greater height than the Fraser Fir. Earlier this week, the tree was set and placed on the lawn by a crane. It will be surrounded by other lit trees and shrubs on the front lawn of Biltmore House.

see you soon, m

BILTMORE CARPET OF FLOWERS

This is a must to see...the Biltmore has built the most amazing carpet of flowers. Come soon and come often and take advantage of our mid-week special at pondercove.com.