After a lovely night's rest (we almost slept through the hotel's continental breakfast!), the day was set aside to visit the famous Biltmore Estate in Asheville.
This is the beautiful Episcopal Church in the Biltmore Village. The bells across the front chimed the hour while we were sitting on a park bench outside, and it nearly left us deaf.
We had lunch with our friend Leah who lives nearby and was in Asheville for the day. Leah was the first of several Asbury College students who have lived with us for brief stretches through the years, and it was great to catch up with her.
The Biltmore
I wouldn't mind waking up to that view, would you?
Those oddly shaped windows line the winding grand staircase of the mansion.
The terrace
A view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the terrace
On to the gardens
Amy LOVES gardens.
The conservatory
Amy loved these double bloom, variegated geraniums.
Succulents
Side note from Amy: This is only a fraction of the photos I look of the gardens.
Snowball bush
The Italian garden
Koi ponds
If you're a fan of the movie The Last of the Mohicans (as we are), you will recognize this bridge from the movie scene below:
Late in the day we headed over to the Biltmore Farm.
Amy tries out Edith Vanderbilt's Fordson tractor
Matt and Chester say hello.
Of course, Amy had to get a good picture of the chickens.
Another of Amy's favorite things: the compost pile.
Amy poses in the Kitchen Garden...and begins making plans for her own plot back home.
We were worn out after a good 4 or 5 hours exploring the Biltmore Estate. Time to head back to the hotel and soak the sore muscles in the jacuzzi!
Beautiful pictures....my kind of get away :)
ReplyDeleteFunny how everything looks bigger in movies... maybe it's the panoramic?
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